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You are listening to Adorama Narrated, a collection of our favorite blog posts presented in audio format. Top 10 photography spots to Visit this Summer Written by Peter Dam Published on August 1st, 2025 let's face it, summer is the best season for photography and traveling. Warm weather, long days, amazing blue hour and golden hour light and an overwhelming wanderlust drive us out of our homes and studios and into the sunlight. The problem is not that we can't find a good spot for summer photography, but that we can't decide on one. There are so many of them all around the globe. So let's start with our top 10 favorite locations. The Best Destinations for Summer Photography like always, we advise you to be intentional and choose a photography spot to visit this summer based on your artistic purpose. Think about what you want to say with your photos and how you intend to go about saying it. Consider photographic genre, subject matters, aesthetic and workflow. Far away or close to home, exotic or mundane, it doesn't matter as long as a place inspires you. Everything goes for a travel photography challenge. Tokyo, Japan Tokyo is one of the most popular summer destinations worldwide. A huge metropolis with a population of over 14 million and a very photogenic place, it is crowded, eclectic, colorful, full of contrasts and vibrant. Tokyo has a unique rhythm and atmosphere that keeps on going day and night, especially in the summer. Thus, finding good subjects here won't be a problem. However, deciding on composition and framing will be. All street photographers dream of taking photos in Tokyo, but getting them right is really hard. If you are up for a challenge this summer, head head to Japan and try to photograph the famous Shibuya Crossing in a way it hasn't been photographed so far. For something off the beaten path Tu National Park, Denmark at the other end of the world from Tokyo and on a very different note, Tu national park is Denmark's wildest national park, a peaceful place shaped by the wind and the water. If you want a summer location off the beaten path where you can set up the camera in silence and take in the view undisturbed, this is the place for you. You can camp in the wilderness, document the traditional lifestyle of coastal communities, photograph dramatic dunes and forest, and explore over 200 km of hiking and biking trails in two there is room for a quiet, minimalist approach of a landscape and nature photographer and for the curious approach of a documentarist or explorer. For a more adventurous photographer looking for action shots, Cold Hawaii at Kiltmoler offers surf and other water sports opportunities for hiking. Reunion Island, France Situated in the Indian Ocean in the southern Hemisphere. Reunion island is in its winter, the dry season, when the rest of France experiences the hot summer. This means dry weather and pleasant temperatures perfect for hiking. Add the diverse landscape of the island with plenty of hiking trails and stunning beaches, and you have the ideal location for your next photo album. In addition, because it is French territory, Reunion island embraced the best of French culture, its tendency toward luxury, the appreciation of good food and wines and the famous joie de vivre. The lush landscape with dramatic volcano mountains and turquoise waters, paired with a bit of Parisian air creates a unique combination you can easily incorporate in your photography. For wildlife Photography Galapagos Islands, Ecuador For a wildlife photographer, summer in the Northern Hemisphere means winter in the Galapagos Islands. The dry season brings to the islands whale sharks, albatrosses, blue footed boobies, penguins and many other marine and bird species. It's a unique opportunity to photograph wildlife and experience the stunning beauty of this small but rich ecosystem. Keep in mind that the Galapagos Islands are a protected area, as they should be. Respect the animals welfare, don't feed them or interfere in any way and travel accompanied by a naturalist. Guide for the ultimate street photography Istanbul, Turkey with one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, Istanbul is one of the oldest settlements in the world. A complex mix of religions, cultures, foods and lifestyles. For a street photographer, the city offers exquisite architecture, busy streets, colorful bazaars, diverse people and an atmosphere that can't be found anywhere else. Istanbul is definitely photogenic and full of stories. It looks amazing from any angle and seems to show a different face at every corner. Regardless of the subject you are focused on, its richness and generosity are impressive. You can visit Istanbul all year round of course, but but Summer is its peak season with museums and monuments having longer opening hours and lots of events happening everywhere. For a peaceful photo shoot on a secluded beach. Canary Islands, Spain Spain is famous for its luxurious beaches and any of them would be a great background for a photo shoot. However, in summer they are crowded with tourists. If you want a great view and a bit of quiet time, head to the Canary Islands instead. The volcanic islands of this Spanish archipelago offer beaches with both white and black sand, a very pleasant subtropical climate and outstanding turquoise waters. All seven of them are beautiful and deserve a visit. But if you want something more secluded, choose Lanzarote instead of the popular Tenerife. Wide angle and aerial shots will do justice to this beautiful scenery, so pack a wide angle lens and a drone for turning the lens on. Food Alassio, Italy Food photography may also benefit from a bit of summer traveling in Alassio, food is art. With more than 20 Michelin starred restaurants spread around the area, this small town on Italy's Ligurian coast is a jewel for food photography. With the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the lush green mountains on the other, Alassio seems squeezed between beauty and more beauty. It's hard to pick a place to eat, but harder to pick a background. So pack your camera and indulge in an Italian holiday you won't forget. For Celebrating Arts and Culture Edinburgh, Scotland if you have a chance to visit Edinburgh, take it regardless of the season. It's a place rich in history, culture, impressive architecture and unique views. But if you can plan a trip to Edinburgh, let it be during the summer. The weather is more forgiving and the city is buzzing with festivals and events. For instance, August is the month of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, one of the most famous arts and culture festivals in the world. If you prefer street photography, the streets of old Edinburgh, filled with performers, will provide the subject matter and stories you need for the wow factor. Otago Region, New Zealand who says you can't photograph snow in July? Take advantage of the austral winter and plan a trip to the Otago region in New Zealand to photograph outstanding scenery, ski and snowboard adventures and wildlife. The region offers a broad range of subject matter. You'll capture vast landscapes to Victorian architecture, from picturesque road trips to adrenaline fueled hikes from albatrosses, penguins and seals to various species of spiders and insects. The weather is cold but not freezing cold which is ideal for outdoor photography and the scenery is so diverse and rich that you won't notice the cold anyway. For Celebrating Nature Yosemite National Park, USA Yosemite National park has been protected since 1864 and for good reason. California's Sierra Nevada Mountains are home to ancient sequoia trees, granite cliffs, waterfalls, canyons and glacial features. If you want to step in Ansel Adams footsteps, this is the place to visit this summer and indulge in the ultimate nature photography experience. Be aware that the summer months are hot here. They are also very popular amongst tourists, so make reservations in advance. Yosemite national park is a well known hiking destination and has an online reservation system in place to manage the crowds and protect the natural habitat. How to Plan a Summer Photoshoot the biggest mistake people make when planning a summer photoshoot is overlooking the weather. Summer is by definition the season with good weather, so why waste time on that, right? However, summer weather may mean high temperatures that may lead to burns and dehydration, even heat stroke. It may also mean high humidity, which is bad for your gear, heavy rainfall or even typhoons. Summer in the Northern hemisphere is winter in the Southern hemisphere, which means you may experience low temperatures and snowfall. All these should be taken into consideration when planning a summer photoshoot because they influence your choices in terms of gear, photographer protection, location and workflow. In addition, sunny days are not as good for photography as you may think. Instead of the harsh midday sunlight, you may prefer the more spectacular Blue Hour and Golden Hour light. Instead of a clear sky, you may prefer a few fluffy clouds to add depth and enrich your compositions. You may also want to know where the sun comes from at a particular time of the day to frame your shots mindfully. For example, if you want to photograph reflections on the Blue Lake in Otago, you must know to be there during the golden hour. When you travel, all these become unknown variables. Luckily, we have the Internet and apps that tell us everything we want to know about the sun's position, journey, intensity and duration. Final Thoughts the world is full of beautiful places ready to be photographed. It doesn't matter that many other photographers turn their lenses to the same places before you. Be mindful about your photography and capture the stories and details that speak to your heart. I assure you you can capture unique shots even in popular places. Our top 10 photography spots are just a teaser to encourage you to see the world this summer and we are looking forward to finding out about your travels. This has been top 10 photography spots to Visit this Summer Written by Peter Dam Read for you by Nikki Haller for more posts like this, check out the 42West blog on adorama.com blog links are in the show notes. Be sure to follow adoramanarrated on your favorite podcast app and leave us a review if you enjoy the content. Remember, create no matter what.