Acclimatization in the Andes
Your sleeping elevation drives altitude illness. The highest point you reach during the day matters much less. You can stand on a 4,700 m/15,420 ft pass for an hour, photograph it, and drive back down to sleep at 3,800 m/12,470 ft, and your body treats that as a 3,800 m night. Breathing slows and becomes irregular during sleep, blood oxygen drops to its lowest point of the twenty-four hours, and that long low stretch is where the trouble starts.
Land-Based Galápagos: Why I Don’t Photograph the Islands From a Ship
Most people come to the Galápagos to check it off a list. I come to photograph it, and that turns out to be an entirely different trip — different islands, different hours, a different pace.
More Birds Than Anywhere on Earth: Photographing Colombia
On Global Big Day, the world’s biggest single-day bird count, Colombia has finished first on Earth five years running — 1,566 species logged in one 24-hour stretch in 2026 alone.
Photographing Madidi National Park & the Yacuma River Wildlife
Madidi National Park covers about 19,000 square kilometers (7,300 square miles). To put that in something you can picture: it’s more than twice the size of Yellowstone, and about as big as Wales or Slovenia. It sits in the La Paz Department of Bolivia and falls almost 6,000 vertical meters — from the glaciers of the Apolobamba Andes down to lowland Amazon rainforest and open savanna.
Colombia or Ecuador? Inside the Two Richest Bird Countries on Earth
Colombia and Ecuador sit shoulder to shoulder on the map and hold a slice of the planet’s birdlife that’s hard to believe until you’re standing in it. One is the richest bird country on Earth, the other the densest. Here’s an honest look at both, with real numbers, so you can pick the trip that fits you.
Photographing the Salar de Uyuni: When the Mirror Happens, and How to Shoot Both Seasons
Most people think the Salar de Uyuni is a three-month trip. It is not. The famous mirror belongs to the rainy months, but the largest salt flat on earth is worth photographing in all twelve, and the two seasons hand you two completely different photographs. It is the flattest place on the planet, so flat that satellites use it to calibrate their instruments, and you can pick it out from the space station.
Photographing Torres del Paine in Autumn: Why March to May Beats Summer
The Cuernos mirrored at dawn, red autumn forests, Grey Glacier from the water — Torres del Paine’s icons, shot the slow way. There are no secret spots here, only time, access, and the light. Here’s the park, place by place, and why autumn wins.
Photographing Peru’s Cordillera Huayhuash – What It’s Like, and Why You Are Better Served by an Expert Team
The Cordillera Huayhuash packs six 6,000-meter peaks and a string of mirror lakes into a few days’ walk. Here’s what it’s like to photograph, and why you don’t do this one alone, but go with an expert team.
How To Use Your Mobile Phone When Traveling Abroad
Before departing on your trip, it’s important to contact your cellphone provider and know exactly what your existing plan offers in terms of international coverage. Some U.S.-based plans come with unlimited free calls and texts if you’re traveling to a neighboring country such as Canada or Mexico, but they may tack on roaming charges if you’re traveling to another continent. Review your plan details in your online account or call and speak to a customer service representative who can explain your current benefits in greater depth.
Navigating Flight Delays and Cancellations
Flight delays and cancellations don’t have to ruin your trip. By understanding your rights and using tools like the DOT’s dashboard, you can navigate these situations more effectively. Always advocate for yourself and don’t hesitate to file complaints if you feel your rights as a passenger have been violated.