Tag: Photography

Merry Christmas to You. And now some Christmas Awe.

By Jennifer Vishnevsky for Redbook©

Although the winter season gets a bad rap for correlating with flu season and dark, gray skies, there’s also something beautiful happening around the world, all the way from Wyoming to Switzerland. These photos may even inspire you to start planning a winter getaway when it’s safe to do so. If seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, the bitter cold temperatures of winter might just be your best shot at catching a glimpse. So grab the hot chocolate, sit back and enjoy a virtual tour to these inspiring winter wonderlands.

(Here is just a tease for those still in their jammies):

Slide 6 of 30: A church and castle on a rock above Lake Bled in Slovenia.

© MistikaS – Getty Images

Slovenia

A church and castle on a rock above Lake Bled in Slovenia.

Slide 5 of 30: A polar bear in Kaktovik, a part of northern Alaska.

 © Michael J. Cohen, Photographer – Getty Images

Alaska

A polar bear in Kaktovik, a part of northern Alaska

.

Slide 7 of 30: A group of horses running in the snow-covered hills of Shell, Wyoming.

© Betty Wiley – Getty Images

Wyoming

A group of horses running in the snow-covered hills of Shell, Wyoming.

Slide 10 of 30: A rare snowstorm covers Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

© Barcroft Media – Getty Images

Japan

A rare snowstorm covers Yoyogi Park in Tokyo.

Slide 12 of 30: An empty Red Square in Moscow, with St. Basil's Cathedral in the background.

© Elena Liseykina – Getty Images

Russia

An empty Red Square in Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral in the background.

Slide 14 of 30: St. Stephen's Basilica and Zrinyi Street at dusk in Budapest.

 © _ultraforma_ – Getty Images

Hungary

St. Stephen’s Basilica and Zrinyi Street at dusk in Budapest.

Slide 16 of 30: Spirit Island, a landmark in Jasper National Park. With a view of the Canadian Rockies, this island is only accessible by boat.

© TONNAJA – Getty Images

Canada

Spirit Island, a landmark in Jasper National Park. With a view of the Canadian Rockies, this island is only accessible by boat.

Slide 17 of 30: The Northern Lights on display at Kirkjufell mountain.

© FEBRUARY – Getty Images

Iceland

The Northern Lights on display at Kirkjufell mountain

.

Slide 20 of 30: A snowy owl perched in the sand at Jones Beach in Long Island.

 © Vicki Jauron, Babylon and Beyond Photography – Getty Images

New York

A snowy owl perched in the sand at Jones Beach in Long Island.

Slide 27 of 30: A fresh coating of ice at Yosemite National Park.

© Provided by jp2pix.com – Getty Images

California

A fresh coating of ice at Yosemite National Park.

Slide 30 of 30: Mount Cook and Mount Tasman reflected in Lake Matheson at sunset.

 © primeimages – Getty Images

New Zealand

Mount Cook and Mount Tasman reflected in Lake Matheson at sunset.

Source: Awe-Inspiring Winter Scenes From Around the World (msn.com)

The world’s most beautiful mountains

Standing tall

There are few things on Earth as intimidating and equally fascinating as mountains. From small, but perfectly formed peaks to grand monoliths rising tall into the sky, mountains come in all shapes and sizes. Here, we travel across the globe and discover some of the fascinating stories behind the world’s most stunning mountains.

  • Slide 1 of 31: There are few things on Earth as intimidating and equally fascinating as mountains. From small, but perfectly formed peaks to grand monoliths rising tall into the sky, mountains come in all shapes and sizes. Here, we travel across the globe and discover some of the fascinating stories behind the world's most stunning mountains – click on 'full screen' to see these photos at their best.
  • Slide 2 of 31: We've all heard of Everest and Fuji, and while these peaks are mesmerizing in their own ways, Kirkjufell in Iceland is altogether more ethereal. The gorgeous mountain can be found on the island's western coastline, an area defined by crystalline fjords, geothermal pools and dynamic waterfalls. And while it might be the smallest on our list, it's the most photographed peak in all of Iceland due to its incredible beauty and the Northern Lights that often dance in the night sky above.
  • Slide 3 of 31: An unmistakable sight in St Lucia, The Pitons are one of the island's best-known views. The two volcanic plugs are now covered in a dense green jungle and the Pitons – Gros Piton and Petit Piton – are home to no less than 245 different plant species, including eight rare tree species, and 27 bird species, five of them endemic.
  • Slide 4 of 31: The grande dame of Yosemite National Park (along with Half Dome to the east), El Capitan rises proudly from the western side of the Yosemite Valley. Its granite face appears near vertical – a result of glacial action that shaped many of the mountains within the national park. El Capitan, meaning the captain, is indeed a fitting name for the monolith. Take a look at nature's greatest spectacles that will inspire you.
  • Slide 5 of 31: Tangles of native bushland, waterfalls, forested valleys, cliffs and caves – the scenery in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area is nothing short of spectacular. The area’s most famous landmark is the Three Sisters. According to an Aboriginal legend, the towering rocks represent three sisters – Meehni, Wimlah and Gunnedoo – who were turned to stone for protection. Here are 40 of Australia's most stunning natural wonders.
  • Slide 6 of 31: It's not Scotland's highest or most famous mountain so it often gets overlooked in favor of others, however, the spectacular mountain and its landscape has to be seen to be believed. Surrounded by the peaks of Glencoe and offering incredible views over the Loch Etive, Buachaille Etive Beag is one of the Scottish Highland's most perfectly formed mountains. The name, pronounced booachil etiv bek, means small herdsman of Etive.
  • Slide 7 of 31: Watching over the South African city of Cape Town, there's no doubt Table Mountain is one of the most famous in the world. Known for its distinctive shape, as the name suggests, it's actually one of the planet's oldest peaks at more than 200 million years old. The first recorded ascent also happened a while back – Portuguese explorer António de Saldanha conquered it in the early 16th century. Discover fantastic travel photos that will make you feel better about the world. 
  • Slide 8 of 31: No visit to Snowdonia in Wales is complete without seeing the awe-inspiring Snowdon – the highest summit in England and Wales. Almost as famous as the mountain itself, the Snowdon Mountain Railway is a masterful feat of engineering that was constructed over 14 months in 1894 and has been running ever since. Impressively, three of the five Swiss-manufactured steam locomotives bought in 1895 are still in service today too.
  • Slide 9 of 31: Located within the remote Auyuittuq National Park, Mount Thor (officially known as Thor Peak) is named after the Norse god of thunder and for very good reason as it's so intimidating. Featuring the world's longest vertical drop at a hair-raising 4,101 feet (1,250m), the slope isn't easily ascended either. In fact, it's so difficult, the mountain wasn't conquered until as recently as 1985, when a four-man American team completed it in 33 grueling days.
  • Slide 10 of 31: Although Huangshan Mountains, or the Yellow Mountains, are not among China's tallest, they definitely are among the most spectacular. Nicknamed the loveliest mountain in China, Huangshan and its otherworldly pine-clad rock formations have captured people's imagination for centuries. The misty mountains have inspired many Chinese forms of art, especially the shan shui style of landscape painting.

View more at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/secrets-of-the-world-s-most-beautiful-mountains/ss-BB15zcTp?ocid=msedgdhp#image=1

Most Exotic and Beautiful Beaches Around the World

Article by Krystyna Chávez of Marie Claire

For those moments you need something to look forward to, allow me to present: the most dazzling and jaw-dropping beaches around the world. Get out your bucket list and a pen, and prepare yourself some intense future vacation inspiration.

Slide 3 of 51: Live the hut life on Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia.

© Michael and Monica Sweet

Ora Beach

Live the hut life on Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia.

 

Slide 6 of 51: As you drive down the California coast, stopping at Laguna is a must. The sunsets are unmatched and that cool, California wind in your hair is fabulous.

© Lagunatic

Laguna Beach

The sunsets are unmatched and that cool, California wind in your hair is fabulous.

 

Slide 7 of 51: Translated to "Cathedral beach," it's no wonder where this stunning Spanish beach gets its name.

© bbsferrari

As Catedrais Beach

Translated to “Cathedral beach,” it’s no wonder where this stunning Spanish beach gets its name.

 

Slide 8 of 51: This stunning white pebble beach is found in Kefalonia, Greece.

© Cavan Images

Petani Beach

This stunning white pebble beach is found in Kefalonia, Greece.

 

Slide 11 of 51: Heaven on earth does exist, and you can find it in the Seychelles.

© Jon Arnold

Anse Source d’Argent Beach

Heaven on earth does exist, and you can find it in the Seychelles.

There’s more to dream about at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/travel-photos/the-50-most-exotic-and-beautiful-beaches-around-the-world/ss-BBZisn8?ocid=spartanntp#image=1

 

Stunning Pictures of Earth

Article by Amanda Prahl of Popsugar

Nowadays (especially right now), it’s easy to get caught up in the stresses of life. However, there’s a lot of beauty to be found even in the toughest times, and sometimes, it just takes zooming out to see the whole picture. And by zooming out, we mean literally! We’ve assembled 30 of the most breathtaking pictures of Earth taken from way out in space that will give you a little perspective whenever things feel heavy. So, take a break from your social feeds, and have a look through these pictures of our incredibly gorgeous planet.

Slide 3 of 31

Slide 6 of 31

Slide 7 of 31

Slide 10 of 31

Photo copyrights credit to:

  •  Getty / Science Photo Library NASA-NOA
  •  Getty/ Jose Luis Stephens/ EyeEm
  •  Getty Blackjack 3D
  •  Getty James Cawley

See all 30 photo’s at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/travel-photos/30-stunning-pictures-of-earth-that-will-make-you-appreciate-this-stellar-little-planet/ss-BB12yLGP?ocid=spartanntp#image=10

Crashing Wave’s

Take a look at these powerful wave photos to get a glimpse into what mother nature can do.

Dangerous wave

Big wave

wave hits rock

riding the surf

wave hitting lighthouse

 

Breathtaking wave

See more wave photo’s at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/did-you-know/20-breathtaking-wave-photos-you-wont-believe-are-real/ss-BBZlELu?ocid=spartanntp#image=2

Photo credit:

  1. ©Fleck/Getty Images
  2. ©Nuture/ ”        “
  3. ©olga_Favvilora/ ”  “
  4. ©Horacio Villalobos/ ”  “
  5. ©johnnorth/  ”  “
  6. ©Erlantz Perez Rodriguez/  ”  “

These are the world’s most beautiful waterfalls

Article by Love Exploring

Wonder falls

Waterfalls are a source of endless fascination, from vertiginous cascades like Angel Falls in Venezuela to broad beauties like Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Then there are the spectacular settings, with incredible waterfalls deep in rainforests and thick jungle or set against backdrops of dramatic cliffs and mountains. Here are some of the world’s most spectacular, from tall trickles to sculptural masterpieces.
Angel FallsHavasu Fallsiguazu fallsSeljalandsfoss Falls
Image 1  Angel Falls, Venezuela
Image 2 Havasu Falls, Arizona, USA
Image 3  Iguazú Falls, Brazil and Argentina
Image 4 Seljalandsfoss, Iceland

Photo Credit:

  •  Alejojimenezyt Shutterstock
  •  Juancat                       “
  •  Nido Huebl                “
  •  Filip Fuxa                   “

There’s more wonderful images of waterfalls at:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/travel-photos/these-are-the-worlds-most-beautiful-waterfalls/ss-BB125rM1?ocid=spartanntp#image=2