To me, the definition of an epic sunset is one that moves you. One that does something to you on an emotional level.
You know when you are looking into the distance lost in thought when all the sudden a really great memory pops into your head making you smile from ear to ear? That’s it, that’s what an epic sunset is all about.
I shot this photo in La Oia Santorini. As I sat there at the old castle ruins, with my feet hanging over the edge waiting for that epic moment for the sun to show up. I close my eyes, take a deep breath of fresh air, my lungs inflate like balloons right before I exhale. When I open my eyes, the overwhelming orange from the sun surrounds me putting a massive grin on my face.
I love when everything comes together. It all starts with you being there on time to catch the action when and if it happens. In this particular case, the movement began and it came with a fury. There were about 50 photographers around me, and as the sun made its way down, you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone sat still, all the sudden all you could hear was cameras clicking away into the sunset. Santorini is one of those places where there is something magical in the air. Something pure, I like to call it joy. As you look around, all you see is smiles looking into the epic La Oia Santorini sunset.
The gear I used for this particular shot: Nikon D800 with a Nikon 70-200mm I used this lens to compress the sun into my image. Notice how I made sure that boat was in place before I clicked the shutter. A MeFOTO tripod. I edit all my images with my Lightroom Presets download them and give them a try.
Where are the best places to photograph in La Oia Santorini? In this post, I will break down the best spots to take photos in Santorini.
When you think of Santorini you think of endless staircases leading into beautiful white homes that hang over a cliff. And that is exactly what Santorini is. A paradise in the Greek Islands that one must experience.
Santorini is packed with beautiful destinations, however, if you are a photographer you need to go straight to La Oia. La Oia is where all the action is, you can find the most epic photography locations in La Oia. The best part about it, it’s all walking distance, with epic views. Get ready for your mind to be blown.
When I got to the airport, I immediately went to rent a car. That is the easiest way to get around. Surprisingly enough renting a car is a lot cheaper then it is to get a taxi or a connection from the airport to La Oia.
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Best Places to Photograph In La Oia Santorini
1. Byzantine Castle Ruins. This is a must. You know all the sunset photos of Santorini you see? They are all shot from this exact spot. Come at sunset and come early. This place gets packed. I came here 4 Sunsets in a row it was all worth it. Come during the day also it is magical. Gear I recommend 24-70mm and a wide angle lens.
2. Byzantine Castle Ruins at Night. Same as above but come back at night when all the lights are on. It is a different vibe and all the people are gone.
3. Meteor Caffe. This place is awesome and it has incredible views. Stop for a beer or a cold drink and enjoy the scenery. Best lens to use is a 24-70mm.
4. Oia Sunset Photo Spot. This place is cool to come during the day. Depending on what time of the year you come, you can watch the sunset from here also.
5. 3 Blue Domes. This is the shot you see on brochures and just about everywhere. These are the famous 3 blue domes. The lens I recomend24-70mm.
6. The Post office parking lot. If you want to avoid crowds and enjoy a nice peaceful sunset, check out the Parking lot at the post office. This place is more relaxed than anywhere in La Oia. The best lens here is a zoom lens.
7. The Sunset Windmills. These windmills are really cool, you can see them from all over Santorini however they are best viewed from up close. The best lens to use is a wide angle lens.
8. The Donkeys. The way the locals transport their goods up and down the very steep hills is with donkeys. When you see them you can’t help to feel bad for them especially when you start walking up and down the hills. (locals advised me that the donkeys are very well cared for)
9. Ammoudi. To get here you have to walk down a very steep and long staircase, however, it is a lot of fun and the views on the way down are spectacular. Bring some comfy shoes. Best lens is a wide angle lens.
10. The Street Animals. There are so many friendly cats and dogs in La Oia Santorini. Go for an afternoon stroll and snap some photos of your new found friends.
11. Four Bells. This place has incredible views. Just bring your camera with any lens and start snapping away.
12. The streets at night. After you watch the incredible sunset and relax for a bit, go on a midnight walk. It is so peaceful and relaxing. The best part about it is that the streets are all empty.
13. The Hotels. Wonder off in the streets and check out different hotels. There are so many great photo opportunities in Santorini. Take advantage of them all and always keep a camera with you.
These are the Best Places to Photograph In La Oia Santorini. I really enjoyed this place and will certainly be back. It is a beautiful photo to be taken from just about anywhere on the island. Are you looking for other Photography Location Maps? Click the link.
Where is the famous shipwreck beach in Greece? Let me tell you how I got there. I took a 16-hour plane ride to Istanbul from there, I jumped on a plane to Athens, that was a quick 2-hour flight. From Athens, I rented a car and headed to Port Kilini, that took 6 hours but I got pulled over and got a pricey speeding ticket, add one more hour to the trip.
From Port Killini, I took a ferry to the island of Zakynthos that took about 1.5 hours. Upon my arrival at the port of Zakynthos, I had to pee really bad, so I stopped and used the bathroom. After my much-needed pee break, I purchased a Coke from a local store so I wouldn’t fall asleep. I started driving to Navagio, that was about 1.5 hours. I pulled over, jumped out of the car and hiked for about 30 minutes.
Finally, I laid eyes on this incredible place and watched the sunset over the Ionian Sea. A must on anyone’s bucket list. It is a far travel for me, however, when you see the shipwreck beach in Greece with your own eyes, it makes it all worth it. I am not sure if there is a faster way to get there, however, I am ok with the long way. Making all those memories and taking loads of photos along the way is the icing on the cake.
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The fish market in Athens Greece is amazing. I was on my way to Acropolis when I stumbled upon this awesome fish market. I could smell the freshness as soon as I walked in. You would think that it would stink in there, but it’s quite the opposite it smelled really good, like fish but fresh fish.
The people were extremely friendly and they always wanted to pose for photos, as soon as they saw the camera they would pick up a fish and strike up a pose with a big fat smile. It’s always great meeting happy people, it always rubs off.
If you find your self in Athens Greece, make a stop at the market and buy your self a piece of fresh fish, make some amazing dinner and check out the incredible sunset.
How can you forget about the 2004 Summer Olympics. I mean it has been a massive deal for a very long time. I have heard about this place for years now, and I have always wanted to visit. When I visited Athens I finally had the opportunity to check it out. Designed by one of my favorite architects Santiago Calatrava.
It was not until my last day in Athens that I made a trip down there. Actually I was on the way to the airport when I made a pit stop to see and photograph this place. I didn’t have time to visit all the other spots such as the Baseball stadium, Tennis courts and other swimming pools, but I did cover quite a bit of ground. I tried to go into the main stadium but unfortunately could not get in.
When you first get off the train, you get this really weird feeling, its quiet and somber. Walking in I could imagine the crowds of people rushing through the gates to see their country compete. It was just imagining, because the place is a ghost town.
At first view the place does not look that bad, but as you start exploring deeper and deeper you can see how the place was left to decay. I went into some rooms that were really destroyed, super creepy specially since this particular day was overcast and cold.
Recently the Greek government has stepped in and started slowly fixing it up and using it again. Talking to some locals they were very happy about the changes. Unfortunately you can still see and feel the emptiness of this place.
Do you have any memories of this place? Did you attend any of the games? Did you experience its rise and fall? I would love to hear some stories about this incredible place. If you have any please leave them on the comments below.
I arrived here early in the morning and met up with a few friends, after walking around the park we decided to go chill out and get something to drink, but when I sat down I noticed the clouds were moving just right, so I got up, told everyone I would be back (they all looked at me like I was crazy) ran up the hill and took this shot.
About the Temple of Hephaestus:
The Temple of Hephaestus or Hephaisteion is a well-preserved Greek temple; it remains standing largely as built. It is located at the north-west side of the Agora of Athens, on top of the Agoraios Kolonos hill. Wikipedia
