Travel Lightbulb

Today's shot comes courtesy of Paul Ashley who took it on a recent trip to Brussels. It might take you a moment to work it out, but what a clever shot! This is Grand-Place, the central square of the City of Brussels. It's considered as one of the most beautiful places of the world, and was registered on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1998. The square is surrounded by public and private buildings dating mainly from the late 17th century.  It follows on nicely from my recent blog post about photography - if you look at things differently, this is proof you can get an amazing shot unlike your fellow travellers - thanks for the donation Paul!

Tomorrow sees the start of the legendary Milan-Sanremo cycling race - the longest one day race in the professional calendar. It's the 109th edition of the race , and is famously referred to as the 'Sprinters Classic'. Contenders race over 291km, before finishing the competition with a flying descent into the Ligurian city of Sanremo.  If you're inspired by those sprinters; love cycling, or just love stunning scenery, then this part of Italy is definitely worth a look. It's in the northwest of the country, and is also known as the Italian Riviera.  The long and narrow coastal region is recognised for its capital Genoa, the UNESCO World Heritage Cinque Terre villages, and for being the home of pesto! Renowned for its incredible beaches, beautifully preserved medieval villages, stunning mountains and unique cuisine - what's not to like!

You've chosen your location; booked your flights; and now it's time to capture the local sights on camera. I've got some top photography tips for you from the Jessops Academy team to help you plan ahead and take photos you'll be proud to show off when you return.  Do your research Before you arrive, research the best places to visit and the top tourist attractions. Sometimes I have a look and see how others have captured it, and think about what I could do differently. Would it look great with the sun high in the sky, or at sunset? The rule of thirds The secret to mastering this technique is to visualise a grid of lines running horizontally and vertically breaking your image into thirds. Compose your key point of interest by placing them in one of the thirds or intersecting points of the grid, and that will instantly draw attention to them and make your photo pleasing to the eye. Foreground detail Finally include something in the foreground...

You may have been told that December to March is the ideal time for a holiday in Lapland, and that's because both snow conditions and the northern lights displays are at their peak. However if you're not on the hunt for Santa, then the melting snow between April and June gives a wonderful hint of the phenomenal landscape that has been hidden for months.  In fact, Laplanders say late March-early April is their favourite time of the year. The daylight hours are longer, the temperature improves, and with less cloud cover, your chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis increases. My flashback today features a hotel where you can opt to stay in an igloo - and that option is available until April. To view my original post, click  here.

I recently had a wonderful flight up to Edinburgh. Normally the cloud cover in the UK drives me crazy, but on this day, the skies were clear and I had a fabulous view over the snowy hills below. I love taking photos from the plane - it just feels like you're in another world when you're flying high! Have you got any photos you'd like to share that you took on a flight? Feel free to get in touch via my contact page.

When I first saw the photo below, it reminded me of the scenery in the film Jurassic Park. I thought it was taken on a remote island somewhere....but it's not.....and you may not believe me, but this stunning photo was taken in Spain! 2018 marks the centenary of the official opening of the Picos de Europa national park. That makes it one of the oldest parks in Europe. It's accessible not only by flights to Bilbao, but also via ferries which dock in Santander. If you love the outdoors, then make plans to visit the Picos this year. The limestone peaks stretch over 250 square miles, and are the perfect place for those looking for a big of adventure. As well as canyoning you can go mountain biking; and do one of the best day hikes in Europe. The Cares river route is one of the most breathtaking trekking trails that can be done in Europe, and follows the course of a hydroelectric pipeline through some of the most dramatic scenery you could imagine. The journey is just over ...

If you are a fan of places like the Seychelles or Mauritius, then I may have found a new holiday destination that you'll love. The pure white sand and turquoise seas are just as beautiful, but this is the remote Andaman archipelago of India.  In my opinion, the Andaman islands tick even more boxes than the likes of the Seychelles, and that's because very few people have heard about these 200 little-known islands so they're less popular with tourists - at this moment in time!  The islands are located in the Bay of Bengal, and are surrounded by incredible coral reefs. It's those reefs that visitors will relish, from snorkelling to kayaking through mangrove forests - there's plenty to do. Accommodation is quite limited, but there are new luxury but sensitively built beachside hotels starting to appear on the stunning coastline. Thanks to an increase of flights from four of India's major cities to the capital Port Blair, the archipelago has b...

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, you may be thinking about whisking your loved one off to a romantic destination. If you need a bit of inspiration, I've compiled a little list of some of my favourite spots to make sure that love is in the air! Positano, on Italy's Amalfi coast is one of the most romantic villages I can think of. This glamorous little seaside town tumbles down the mountain to the breathtakingly blue waters. It's the perfect place in which to chill out; browse the local markets, and spend time on the beach. The sunsets are stunning here too.  Seville is one of my favourite cities in the world. There's nothing more romantic than simply wandering round the beautiful winding streets stopping off for a glass of cava or two! The architecture is stunning - and make sure you visit the cathedral, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. You may have expected Paris to make my top 3 but while I love the city, I do find it ...