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?? To my surprise, Toulouse is a vibrant city, largely dominated by young people. This, however, becomes understandable once you realize that Toulouse is one of the largest university cities in France. The city center is closely tied to the Garonne River, which divides it into two parts. In the past, wine, grain, and the pastel dye (which made Toulouse wealthy during the Renaissance) were transported along the river. Today, its banks serve as a meeting place and promenade for both students and locals. On the left bank stands the majestic dome of La Grave Chapel (historically part of a hospital), one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Nowadays, it functions as a venue for concerts and exhibitions. I must admit that up close, the building itself isn’t particularly impressive, but it truly makes an impact when seen against the backdrop of the Saint-Pierre Bridge and the Garonne. ? From a technical perspective, this photo is a collage. Unfortunately, during the exposure, the sky was terribly flat, so I used another sunset image as the background. I feel that such colors in the sky perfectly emphasize the tones of the chapel itself.

2025-08-24

?? It’s been a long time since I visited Iceland, but the island still remains in my memory. From volcanic landscapes to surreal coastlines such as Gatklettur, every corner felt like I was stepping into another world. ✅ So far, Iceland easily tops my list of places worth photographing. ? Tucked away on the rugged coast of Arnarstapi, Gatklettur is one of Iceland’s natural wonders. It is simply a volcanic rock arch carved over centuries by wind and crashing waves. Formed from ancient basalt lava and shaped by erosion, this dramatic formation offers a perfect “window” to the sea. Surrounded by bird cliffs and lava fields, Gatklettur is a must-see on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula.

2025-08-10

?? The Colca Canyon is one of the deepest canyons on Earth (4,160 meters). This unique place is important for Peru both in terms of nature and culture. Above all, however, it is the realm of the majestic Andean condor. Few people know that the condor is a scavenger and does not hunt live animals. ? For us, the Colca Canyon turned out to be quite a trekking challenge. Descending to the bottom and climbing back up the next day to the same altitude (almost 1,000 meters of elevation difference and nearly 12 km of hiking) proved to be quite demanding. Once again, the old truth was confirmed: going down is definitely harder than going up.

2025-07-27

?? In theory, this place is pretty much like a lot of others: ocean, waves, rocks and sun. And yet, as the photo clearly shows, the Paracas National Reserve in Peru is one place you'll never forget. It's one of the few places in the world where you can actually see the desert meet the ocean. Here, the rocks are especially vulnerable to erosion by wind and waves, which creates extraordinary arches, cliffs, and natural bridges. The most famous of these formations is called La Catedral, and it used to look like a Gothic cathedral, but it mostly collapsed during a powerful earthquake in 2007. You can still see the remains today, even if they're not as spectacular as they once were. As well as its impressive cliffs, Paracas has lots of beaches, which make the area even more fun to visit.

2025-07-13

?? Not far from Cusco in the Peruvian Andes lies the Sacred Valley of the Incas. It is quite a large area that includes well-known sites such as Pisac (the Inca fortress ruins shown in the photo in panoramic view), Ollantaytambo, Moray, and the Salineras de Maras. Its special significance for the Incas stemmed from its geography (the river that enriched the soil and its proximity to the Andes) which also contributed to its mysticism. ? The characteristic green terraces that can be seen might seem like defensive structures, but in reality, they were a kind of experimental field. The Incas could test the cultivation of different plant species in various conditions here. Each terrace has its own water drainage system, which prevents it from collapsing during the rainy season. ? Pisac is also home to one of the largest known Inca cemeteries. Walking around, you can see hundreds of tombs carved into the cliff walls. Most of them were unfortunately looted, but apparently, some have yet to be archaeologically explored.

2025-06-29

?? Founded during the dark chapter of the Spanish conquest, Lima still bears the marks of its colonial past, visible in its distinctive architecture. Though built on a desert coastline, the city surprises with lush greenery, thanks to an impressive irrigation system – just like in the photo. ‼️It’s often considered one of the less safe cities in Peru. During my stay, a state of emergency was declared following the death of a famous singer who had previously been threatened with extortion. The atmosphere was tense, but I still managed to explore the most fascinating corners of the capital safely. ?Lima sits in a seismically active region – earthquakes are a part of daily life here. The most devastating one struck in 1746, destroying much of the city and triggering a massive tsunami. Luckily, the earth stayed calm while I was there. ?And of course – food. Lima is the culinary capital of South America. Its legendary ceviche – raw fish marinated in lime juice – truly lives up to the hype.

2025-06-15

?? Islas Ballestas is a group of small islands located near Paracas. Due to the numerous protected bird and mammal species that live there, they are sometimes called the “Little Galapagos.” During my trip, I encountered species such as penguins, cormorants, seals, and sea lions. However, these islands will always remind me of the incredible rock formations that rise directly from the ocean waters. The one visible in the photo is simply covered with guano, or bird poop. ? Guano is rich in micronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making it an excellent natural fertilizer. It was already being used by the indigenous people of Peru (the Incas).In past years, guano began to be harvested and exported on an industrial scale, which led to massive environmental damage and ecosystem disruption. Aware of this, the Peruvian authorities have implemented responsible and seasonal policies for guano collection. ? The value of guano is demonstrated by the fact that in 1856, the United States of America passed the “Guano Islands Act” – a law that allowed USA citizens to claim uninhabited islands rich in guano.

2025-06-01

?? This iconic and truly unique spot in the Peruvian Andes, shown in the photo, is the breathtaking Vinicunca (a.k.a Rainbow Mountain). It’s pretty obvious how it got its name, right? ?⛰️The secret behind its stunning colors lies in the minerals. The visible layers are rich in iron, copper, and sulfur compounds, which give the mountain its characteristic red, green, and yellow hues. ? I did the hike when there was still a blanket of snow on the mountain. That added some extra contrast to the view, which was a nice bonus – although the ground was quite wet, making the colors appear darker than usual. During the dry season, the mountain bursts with much brighter shades, almost surreal in their vibrancy. ?‍??The trek itself takes about 1.5 hours, but keep in mind that the summit sits at an altitude of 5,200 meters above sea level – so altitude sickness can be a real challenge. Interestingly, treks to Vinicunca only became popular around 2015. Before that, the mountain was permanently covered in snow, and its magical colors remained hidden beneath the glaciers. ❄️

2025-05-18

?? There’s simply no better way to experience the incredible and mysterious Nazca Lines than from the air in a small plane ✈️. These breathtaking geoglyphs, stretching across the Nazca Plateau in Peru, were created over 2,000 years ago by an ancient Indigenous culture. The figure shown in the photo is known as „The Astronaut” ?‍? and as you might guess, it’s one of the main inspirations behind theories of alien visitors. What’s truly amazing is how well these lines have been preserved. Even more exciting, thanks to advanced imaging technologies, new geoglyphs are still being discovered today! Since the desert landscape is quite monotone in color, I decided to use a cinematic cold blue color grading variant ? to give the photo a more striking and dynamic look.

2025-05-04