Travel Photography in Paro | Bhutan
I am on 3A and peek out the window; I suddenly feel awestruck by the stunning Himalayan mountains around us. The peaks are covered in a blanket of snow and mist, and I am filled with excitement and anticipation as the plane starts to descend in Paro. I am finally back in Bhutan, and I know this is just the beginning of an unforgettable travel photography journey.
As a travel photographer, I've had the opportunity to visit many beautiful places around the world, but Bhutan is definitely one of my favorites since my first visit there back in 2014.
The remote Himalayan country is known for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and friendly people. I always wanted to go back and bring a small group of people with me, and that's what I did a few weeks ago while leading our 2022 Bhutan Photography Tour.
I documented our fourteen days in video and am putting everything together on our YouTube Channel. In this post, you'll see the first two days in Paro. The other Bhutan locations will come in the following posts.
We only had a little time in Paro; nevertheless, we managed to photograph two of the country's most iconic and picturesque places: Tiger's Nest and the Paro Dzong.
The Paro Dzong, also known as Rinpung Dzong -a must-see place in Bhutan- is a fortress and Buddhist monastery that dates back to the 17th century. Located in the heart of the Paro Valley, the Dzong is an excellent example of Bhutanese architecture, and the views of the valley from the top are stunning. The Dzong is also home to a community of monks and is a great place to learn about Bhutanese culture and Buddhism. I spent the first morning in Paro, mainly photographing the interiors of the Dzong before moving to hike Tiger's Nest.
Afterward, we hiked to Tiger's Nest, also known as Paro Taktsang, a sacred Buddhist site on a cliff in the Paro Valley. Although this place is the most prominent location in Bhutan, it can only be reached by hiking through a steep and rocky trail. However, the effort is well worth it, as the views and photographic opportunities once you reach the top are absolutely breathtaking. It is considered one of Bhutan's most important pilgrimage sites, and it's easy to see why; the architecture of the temple complex is beautiful, and the location is simply awe-inspiring. While most visit the temple early morning, we went in the afternoon, as I knew from my prior visit that the light is much better at that time to photograph it.
So, here are the video and stories behind my two days in Paro; I strongly recommend you go watch it directly on YouTube for a better experience.
Overall, I am happy with the results of the photos; I wish I had more time there. I could've stayed later and photographed during blue hour at Tiger's Nest, but the hike down in the dark is challenging; maybe next time.
Here are the photos; let me know what you think about them in the comments below.
If you plan to photograph Tiger's Nest and Paro.
If you plan to visit and photograph in the area, I leave you with some tips to capture the beauty of these places:
Plan your visit: Tiger's Nest and the Paro Dzong are both popular tourist destinations, so it's essential to plan your visit. I recommend visiting the Dzong early in the morning, then hiking Tiger's Nest in the afternoon. Plan to get there at least one hour before sunset; this will help to avoid the crowds and to take advantage of the best light.
Bring a medium and a wide-angle lens: Tiger's Nest and the Paro Dzong are best photographed with a wide to medium tele lens. Something similar to a 24-70mm is ideal, as you can capture the wide vistas at 24mm and zoom all the way to 70mm to capture architectural details at the Dzong.
Experiment with different perspectives: When photographing a place for the first time, I like to walk around and explore different perspectives. This can be as simple as moving a few feet to the left or right or climbing a nearby hill to get a different view. If you first feel overwhelmed with so much stuff, that's normal. If you watched the video, you'd see me struggling at the Dzong, not knowing where to point my camera, so take a minute, try different perspectives and relax, which brings me to the next point.
Be patient: Sometimes, the best photos are the ones you must wait for. If I find a scene that I like, I usually wait until I find the right subject to walk into. I used this approach on the Paro Dzong, where you see people walking into the fortress or going thru colorful stairs. Then, I spent a few hours at Tiger's Nest, waiting for the right light to hit the temple. Patience paid off as I captured some lovely photos.
Use a tripod: I always use a tripod when photographing landscapes, allowing me to take sharp photos even in low light conditions. So use the same approach when taking photos of Tiger's Nest.
Overall, the experience of taking photos of the magnificence of the Tiger's Nest and the Paro Dzong in Bhutan was truly unforgettable. The country is not only beautiful but also rich in culture and heritage.
I have more content and photos coming from Bhutan, as this was just the beginning of the trip.
As always, let me know what you think of the photos, and feel free to comment; more coming soon...
