by edin chavez | Jun 20, 2018 | Greece, Photography location maps
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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THE GEAR
The gear I used for all my photos: Nikon D800 with a Nikon 14-24mm and a Nikon 24-85mm. A MeFOTO tripod and a wide angle is a must. I edit all my images with my Lightroom Presets download them and give them a try.
If you are planning a trip to Santorini you can get some great hotel deals and great flight deals anywhere in the world. Use promo code WORLD30 to get a discount on flights.
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.
Other tours in Santorini you might enjoy:
by edin chavez | May 3, 2018 | Landscapes, Photography location maps
The Best Photography Spots Meteora Greece can be found here. If you are a photographer or a photo enthusiast you came to the right place.
When you think of Greece, you think of islands and beautiful crystal clear blue waters. However, Greece also has an amazing mountain range.
Meteora is located in Kalambaka Greece. What is Meteora? Meteora is the actual rock formations that you see in Kalabaka Greece and it stands for Suspended in the air. Meteora has a long history dating back 50,000 years. The oldest man-made structure can be found in here dating back 23,000 years. Crazy to think about right?
The easiest way to get to Meteora Kalambaka, (remember Kalambaka is the actual city), is via train. You can take a train from Athens to Kalambaka. The journey will take you about 5 hours possibly a bit more. If you want to rent a car you can do that too and drive your self to Meteora. There are no rental car companies in Meteora so you have to do everything in Athens.
If you are planning a trip to Greece you can get some great hotel deals and great flight deals anywhere in the world. Use promo code WORLD30 to get a discount on flights.
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These are the Best Photography Spots Meteora Greece
Photography Guide to Meteora Greece
Upon your arrival in Kalambaka, you will notice the epic rock formations known as Meteora. If you arrive there by train there is really only one way to do this and to do it right. What you need to do is contact my friends at Visit Meteora and sign up for their sunset tour. They will take you to all the epic locations listed here. That’s the way I do it.
If you arrive by car then what you want to do is take the Epar.Od. Meteoron-Kallitheas road. This is the road that will take you around all the monasteries, and of course all the epic photography spots.
There are four main photography spots you must visit. Do not get me wrong, every corner of Meteora is incredible, however, these three spots are a must when you are there. From a photographers perspective.
The Gear
The gear I used for all my photos: Nikon D800 with a Nikon 14-24mm. A wide angle is a must. I edit all my images with my Lightroom Presets download them and give them a try.
In No Particular Order The Best Photography Spots Meteora Greece
1. Sunset rock. this is an awesome view of the valley, make sure you walk around as there are many different places you can set up and get your shots. This is the shot to get if you only have time to visit one place this is the one or just finish here.
2. The observation deck. You can find this place up the road from the sunset rock. The view looks almost identical, but if you look close you can see that is quite different and just as impressive.
3. From the road. You can get this epic panoramic view of the valley. As you are driving to the next spot keep your eyes peeled and you will see this epic view. Stop and get your shots.
4. Holy Monastery of Great Meteoron. You can get epic views from this location. Make sure you walk down to the rocks and around to get the best views.
These are the best spots to shoot and to get the epic must have photos from Meteora Greece. If you want to facilitate your trip, take a tour with my friends at Visit Meteora, they will pick you up from your hotel and take you around for pennies on the dollar. This is how I’ve done it both times I’ve been to Meteora.
by edin chavez | Jul 12, 2016 | Greece, Photo Series, Photography location maps, Street photography
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.
by edin chavez | May 12, 2016 | Abandoned, Greece
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.
by edin chavez | Jan 5, 2015 | Greece
Temple of Hephaestus Athens Greece.
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
Camera settings:
1/250 sec f/16 ISO 100 14mm (14-24mm)
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