My Favourite places to photograph in 2023
Last year offered up a variety of photogenic locations with the earlier months marking the latter half of my extensive trip around Asia, with a few subsequent excursions occurring closer to home after adjusting back to life again in sunny old England. Whilst the places visited all had their charms in one way or another, there were a handful that offered a thoroughly memorable and enjoyable experience when it came to photography.
Not only is the following line-up representative of places (both specific and wider) that offer stunning environments to be captured, but they also stand-out for how easy and enjoyable they made the process of either getting that one signature shot, or a series of photos that reflects life in that location. Without any further ado then, here are my favourite locations to photograph in 2023.
Hue, Vietnam
It would be wrong to label Hue as a ‘hidden gem’ given that it is a city in its own right and plenty of travelers do pass through during their time in Vietnam. Instead it’s probably best to describe its reputation as understated given just how impressive the place is, especially in contrast to the main stops of Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi for example. Of significance is that the two and a half days which I spent in Hue felt more like a week, not because I was bored and time seemed to flow at a snail’s pace, but because so much was seen and photographed while never seeming pressured or rushed.
A simple stroll around the centre offered captivating urban scenes with swathes of motorbikes on the roads, the incense village provided cultural insights with a pop of colour, the nearby temple was marked by greenery and a sense of adventure, while the abandoned waterpark was unlike anything I’d seen before - let alone taken photos of. Finally, and coming full circle back to the core of Hue, the high walls and stretching lanes of the Imperial City allowed for an array of shots that made the most of the setting sun both indoors and out.
It’s this sheer diversity of environments and atmospheres that meant Hue simply had to make this list; magically combining creative exhilaration with a sense of calm and the reassurance that you’ll have at least one memorable photo to mark your visit - or in my case fortunately several. If anyone was ever in a creative rut, I’m pretty sure this place would pull you out of it.
Galata Bridge, Istanbul, Turkey
Turkey’s capital has now reached almost bucketlist status for photographers focusing on travel, marked for its blend of rich history with authentic and gritty street scenes around every corner. It’s only right therefore to ‘zoom in’ as opposed to the general approach taken to the description of Hue, as simply identifying Istanbul would be far too broad both in an uninspiring sense and for my own sake when writing this post. Amongst an impressive range of ‘spots’, the toss up was ultimately between the Galata Bridge and Grand Bazaar district with the former coming out on top for both the end results and what it meant to me when visiting.
The shopping district does however deserve an honourable mention given the relative ease at which aesthetic images could be created in the half hour or so in which I shot around there. Despite at first thinking it would be the bazaar that would be my main ‘subject’, in fact it was the surrounding streets that made for a photogenic environment due to their light-cutting narrowness and the bustling atmosphere which contributed to meaningful scenes worth capturing.
Nevertheless it was the Galata Bridge which took the top spot when shooting in Istanbul, and not just for its appeal in front of the lens. Purely based on the metric of times visiting it’s number one, although to be clear this was almost a given as it needed to be crossed in order to access most of the places on my itinerary. This however just added to its sentimental value too when looking back, as the bridge was where I would both start and end my days in the city, allowing me to warm up my trigger finger and creative eye while also capturing dramatic frames with the sun setting.
Understandably the bridge itself wasn’t the subject, but rather the numerous fishermen dotted along its sides. At first this could infer a notion of similarity and repetitiveness, therefore calling into question why the location had such an impact, but what can’t necessarily be put into words is the uniqueness of each individual both as people and as photographic subjects. Close up an intimate and authentic moment could be captured, while panning out they could be utilised as foreground elements with the stunning backdrop of grand mosques, the river, and lively crowds to give an all encompassing flavour of Istanbul.
Hoi An, Vietnam
At first the reason for including the Vietnamese city of Hoi An was similar to that of Hue, however on closer inspection the more appropriate word to define my experience would be contrast rather than variety, which the latter offered plenty of. Street scenes here were abundant yet simultaneously limited, at least in terms of authenticity, due to the density of the old town combining with the fair number of tourists present - although this of course could fluctuate depending on the time of year.
This simply meant that the challenge was one more of timing and opportunity though, as Hoi An itself is extremely photogenic and, like most locations in Vietnam, almost film-set-esque. This ‘issue’ subsequently also made the photos that did come off that extra bit fulfilling, for example the second image below that just required an earlier shoot and a bit of patience.
Whilst the city is captivating, as hopefully demonstrated by the images just shown, what left the biggest mark were the few hours spent in the rice fields just a 10 minute drive from the old town centre. Similar to all the locations mentioned in this blog post, the number of quality photos could be seen as an indicator of their significance in relation to photography. Alternatively one may make a judgment based on the best photo taken in each particular place visited, in which case Hoi An would still make the cut based off of what I believe to be one of my most underrated shots [No.3]. On the contrary though this decision was made almost regardless of how impressive any photo was, as the aforementioned shot only topped off what was already a wonderfully calming creative experience which involved a stroll around the paddies with my headphones on and camera in hand.
Ultimately this moment in Hoi An was one of a handful that have served to remind me that photography isn’t explicitly about the end result, but rather the entire creative process and therapeutic values it offers to those of us who are passionate about the craft.
Porto, Portugal
There was something ironic about the fact that a variety of Lisbon related photos and Youtube videos inspired a week long trip to Portugal, all for Porto to end up taking the top spot. The timing of course played its part with the visit taking place in May as the crowds gather for that early Summer sun, and it was the more relaxing vibes of the city 195 miles north that made for a memorable experience.
Admittedly though the ‘debate’ here is the most subjective of this whole post, as for the more intimate street photographer Lisbon would certainly be the standout location given its intricate details, captivating tones, and the abundance of typical everyday scenes. Even for my style though the atmosphere and several of the shots taken in Lisbon meant that the city did leave a lasting impression - mainly physically given how far I walked, but that’s a discussion for another time.
Nevertheless as someone who often opts for (forgive me for the cringe-inducing term) a cinematic look that often incorporates scale and leading lines, the architecture and topography of Porto were the main factors in deciding between the two cities. For example pitching up at the monastery allows for grander style photos of the Luis I Bridge, the Douro river which it crosses, and the wider city itself. Although dramatic, the fact that this style of shot more falls under the ‘Instagram banger’ category devalues it at least in my opinion. Instead I actually prefer the shot shown further down taken just the other side of the river which combines an interesting layered composition with an expression of Porto’s hilly terrain.
On the flipside, more spontaneous and unplanned shots were just as effective too. The point has been made several times already regarding the joy in simply walking around with a camera, and Porto was no exception to this experience. Again, similar to Istanbul, the tight streets not only made for some really captivating manipulations of light, but the buildings themselves provided a colourful backdrop that really complimented my editing style and palette.
My favourite photo from the whole Portugal trip encapsulates all the points just made. A colourful spectrum of classic terraced buildings, morning sunlight beaming through, and a quiet atmosphere allowing me to capture this gent mid-stroll.
Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong
Hong Kong was a guarantee with this list, but with the beauty of its coasts, vibrant lights emitting from the thousands of neon signs, and iconic architecture that’s synonymous with the region, once again the challenge of whittling things down struck me. On one hand this is similar to the approach taken to talking about Istanbul, although funnily enough it’s actually the reasons as discussed in the Hoi An section of this post that draw the most parallels.
If the decision was purely based on photographical results, either where my best shots individually were taken (quality) or where a high number of opportunities to shoot arose (quantity), then simply venturing through the streets would suffice as an answer. In fairness it actually does, as this is one of the best things about visiting Hong Kong as a photographer - examples below.
Specifically though it was Victoria Harbour that was my favourite place to shoot here. Whilst it was somewhat lacking in the former of the two criteria just mentioned, as in no photos taken were particularly portfolio or printworthy, the abundance of shots taken coupled with a sense of creative freedom and the absence of pressure made it a memorable location to explore. As much as photography is at the core of this post and my creative expression, it’s almost as if the camera taking a backseat added to its appeal.
Sunset strolls along the Hong Kong side were a calming experience, resulting in a feeling of being present which in turn opened up more opportunities to capture both intimate and authentic moments by the water. Of equally worthy note was what was happening on the water too, with the iconic junk boats providing an interesting contrast of classic and contemporary with the city’s skyline in the background.
The same can be said from the opposite side, primarily at night as well. The daily lightshow illuminating said skyline is naturally a phenomenon for the eyes rather than the lens, however with the crowds gathering and ferries continuing to take trips across the water, an abundance of compositions become apparent from street scenes to wider cityscape frames.
In short, Victoria Harbour physically offers an ample number of photographic opportunities while allowing us photographers to connect more with the environment around us both mentally and creatively.
