“Don’t miss the opportunities to photograph birds as you cross the causeway onto Florida’s Gulf Coast islands of Sanibel and Captiva,” says Florida nature pro Sara Lopez. “There are pelicans, royal terns, least terns, and ospreys fishing in the waters next to the three-mile road.”

More than two-thirds of these adjoined islands are wildlife sanctuary and are home (or a migration stopover) to nearly 300 bird species, according to Lopez’ shooting (and life) partner Dick Fortune. “You won’t find fast-food restaurants, stop lights, or any buildings higher than a palm tree,” he says. “But there is a lot to photograph, including the endangered Florida woodstork, manatees, dolphins, butterflies, flowers, and crocodiles.”

Among their favorite stops: the 6,300-acre J. N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. “There are more than four miles of wildlife drives where you can stop to photograph,” says Lopez. She suggests grabbing a map and tide chart at the visitors’ center. “Low tide is best for wading birds and when this happens in the golden hours it is magical.” The refuge is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. in March (closed Fridays). A particular highlight: the roseate spoonbill roost. “They preen there in morning and then return again at the end of the day,” she says.

Two other productive venues: The Sanibel lighthouse and the fishing pier. “Beaches at the lighthouse provide access to wading birds and the dolphins when they’re around,” says Lopez.

SEEING MORE SANIBEL

Because much of Sanibel and Captiva is either inaccessible by land or best explored with guides, here are four popular tour operators who can show you the hidden sights:

● ADVENTURES IN PARADISE CRUISES www.adventurein­paradiseinc.com. It specializes in narrated morning, afternoon, and sunset dolphin cruises, sea life and shelling excursions, as well as holiday and fishing charters. You can also take a two-hour history-related trolley tour of Sanibel.
● CAPTIVA CRUISES capitvacruises.com. It offers a variety of nature cruises, including dolphin- and wildlife-watching rides on nearby Pine Island Sound, plus sunset, beach, and shelling cruises to secluded Cayo Costa State Park and other inaccessible out-island sites.
● JENSEN’S TWIN PALMS RESORT + MARINA 15107 Captiva Dr., Captiva. Visit here for boat rentals (from 16-foot skiffs to 24-foot pontoon boats), private boat excursions, fishing guides and excursions, water taxi service to out islands including Cayo Costa State Park, historic Boca Grande, and Pine Island, home to the historic Calusa Indian Shell Mound.
● TARPON BAY EXPLORERS tarponbayexplorers.com. This is the officially licensed concessionaire within the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge and offers a variety of guided kayak and canoe tours, as well as rental kayaks, canoes (including electric-motor canoes), standup paddleboards, and bikes. It also rents 20-foot pontoon boats that hold up to eight people. You can start your own photo workshop!

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In May, Savannah’s city parks are decked out in the brilliant pink plumes of crepe myrtle and showy white magnolia flowers,” says local photographer and history teacher Winthrope Hiers. And mixing scenic beauty with history is a Savannah trademark.

Forsyth Park, first laid out in the 1840s, is a favorite of Hiers. The north end, its paths lined in magnolia and live oak dripping with Spanish moss, is particularly pretty, he says. “The moss photographs nicely backlit in the early morning or late day sun.”

He recommends photographing the park’s historic fountain. Installed in 1858, it appears in photos that a Mathew Brady associate took during Gen. Sherman’s famous march. Best vantage point: Where Bull Street meets the park looking south.

Savannah has the largest historic district in the country—perfect for walkers and history-lovers, says Hiers. He suggests:

• Bull Street: Starting at City Hall on Bay Street, head south on Bull to pass through picturesque squares and admire historic homes and Civil War-era sites.

• Streets around Forsyth Park: Classic ginger-bread homes line three of the park’s four sides.

• Factors Walk: Between Bay Street and River Street, this offers striking stone archways for warehouses that have been linked to slave auctions.

• Talmadge Memorial Bridge: It dominates the skyline. Go at sunset and add a well-lit river-boat as a fore-ground focal point.

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“Bermuda is one of the smallest countries in the world but probably one of the most photographed by area,” says photographer and lifelong resident Gavin Howarth. “Beauty is all around.” Start your tour by hopping a local bus (no rental cars in Bermuda) and take the #7 that travels along South Road on the South Shore, home to pink-sand beaches. “Get off at Warwick Long Bay and walk along the various coves to Horseshoe Bay, our most famous beach,” Howarth says. “You will pass by small, sheltered Jobson’s Cove. The next few beaches, Stonehole Bay Beach and Chaplin Bay Beach, are often overlooked and both have beautiful, natural rock formations jutting out into the ocean.” Pathways connect all of the beaches.

Another of Howarth’s favorite stops? Devonshire Bay in Devonshire Parish. “It reminds me a lot of the Bermuda from the past—a very quiet neighborhood with a small park and lots of character,” he says. “The park is on a peninsula that allows you to look for miles in either direction along the coast.” It’s also home to a small active fishing fleet.

St. George, formerly the capital of the island, is a real treat for architectural shooters and history buffs. Howarth suggests starting at King’s Square, where you can visit the historic Town Hall and stroll to nearby Ordinance Island. “Heading along the main street, Water Street, you quickly appreciate the beauty of this small town, now a World Heritage site,” he says. Turning up Duke of York Street will lead you to the pretty St. Peter’s Church—a Bermuda icon and the oldest Anglican church in continuous use outside the British Isles.

Then you can walk to Cooper’s Island, once part of a U.S. military base. “It’s a protected sanctuary and often you’ll be the only one there.”

Beyond the Beach Only 21 miles long and less than 2 miles across at its widest, Bermuda has many pretty places and fun things to do. Here are a handful of options.

•Bermuda Railway Trail National Park Runs 18 miles from end to end. Hike or bike this the path where trains used to run from 1931 to 1948. The footing is a bit rough in places and the trail not unbroken (you’ll cross some busy roads), but you’ll find views of Bermuda that tourists rarely see. The trail is divided into nine 1- to 4-mile sections. Pick up a trail map at the Visitors’ Service Bureau in either Hamilton or St. George.

•Crystal and Fantasy Caves Wilkinson Avenue in Hamilton Parish; bus #1, 3, 10, or 11 Two of Bermuda’s most spectacular and accessible limestone caves. Walk a boardwalk over a 55-foot deep crystal-clear lake. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., guided tours run every 20 minutes (last tour at 4:30 p.m.). Phone: (441) 293-0640

•Hartley’s Undersea Walk Heritage Wharf, in Dockyard These helmet dives are held in 8–10 feet of water less than 2 miles from shore. Trips last 3–4 hours with 30–40 minutes submerged. Bring a waterproof camera or housing, and a towel; wetsuits are provided. Boats depart at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Phone: (866) 836-3989

•Heydon Trust Bermuda Park and Chapel 16 Heydon Drive, off Somerset Road, Sandys; bus #7 or 8 Bermuda has many lovely churches, but this is the smallest and one of the oldest, from the early 1600s. The chapel (and other historic buildings) is set on 43 acres of gardens and orchards with views of Heydon’s Bay. The chapel is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; grounds, dawn to dusk. Phone: (441) 234-1831

•Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Bus #7 or 8 from Hamilton This 117-foot tower (the light perches 362 feet above the sea) was first lit in 1846; ships can see its beam from 40 miles away. Climb the 185 steps to an open-air platform with panoramic views. Monday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sundays and holidays, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Phone: (441) 238-8069

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The best way to pierce the rural heart of Vermont is to simply wander, advises Middlesex-based shooter Kurt Budliger. “It has thousands of miles of dirt roads and is an intimate-landscape shooter’s paradise,” he says.

Route 100 is a great place to start. This road meanders from Massachusetts to near the Canadian border. The Mad River Valley between Warren and Waitsfield is particularly pretty, says Budliger. “It has picturesque farms and mountain views. And there are great covered bridges in Waitsfield and Warren.”

Further north, Moss Glen Falls offers one of the most photogenic spots in the state. “The access is very easy, with a large parking area just north of the nearby falls,” the photographer adds.

Groton State Forest in Plainfield provides wild woodland, lots of small ponds, and the possibility of moose and loons. A favorite stop for both misty morning and good sunset lake views: Ricker Pond State Park in Groton.

Center-state near Wood­stock, you’ll find classic views of the Jenne Farm (dubiously claimed to be the most photographed farm in North America) and Cloudland Farm (north of Woodstock on Cloudland Road).

For northern Vermont, Budliger suggests Lake Willoughby, a fjord-like lake that was carved by glaciers. “Its southern tip provides amazing views of the nearly vertical cliffs, which are not to be missed,” he says.

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“Any view of Baldy is iconic,” states Idaho photographer Tory Taglio (torytagliophotography.com) of Sun Valley’s majestic Bald Mountain, Idaho’s ski magnet. “A morning view from the deck of the Sun Valley Nordic Center offers ski trails in the foreground with the towering mountain behind.”

Evening and sunset, he says, are great times for landscape lovers: “Alpenglow gives the snow a hue of saturated magenta or pink just before sunset,” he says. For panoramas, take the gondola (non-skiers welcome) up to the Roundhouse Restaurant’s deck.

Action shooters flock to nearby Dollar Mountain where extreme skiers work on their games. “Dollar offers half pipes and a terrain park where athletes and locals provide nonstop photo ops,” he says. The world-class half pipe is only 100 yards from the lodge, so access is easy for photographers.

For alpine scenery, Taglio suggests driving out to Trail Creek Road just north of the resort. “Try shooting the beaver ponds four miles from town, with Trail Creek Pass in the background,” he says. Best time: the golden hour, with snow-covered peaks bathed in gorgeous light.

Also nice? Proctor Mountain Trail, a snowshoe hike from the Trail Creek Cabin Restaurant. “Sunrise hikes will reward you with stunning views of all Sun Valley,” Taglio says.

And finally, action shooters can hone their skills at the 2014 Sun Valley Nordic Festival (January 25 to February 2). It celebrates Nordic (a.k.a. cross-country) skiing with races, snowbike races, demonstrations, a film festival, and a bonfire with costumed revelers.

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“My first impression of Sedona was that it looked like a movie set,” says Arizona-based photographer Valerie Millett. She first visited the area 15 years ago and was so hooked by the landscape’s beauty that she decided to move there.

Millett’s favorite Sedona hike is the West Fork Trail along the westerly fork of Oak Creek. The maintained section meanders waterside for about 3.2 miles to a narrow slot canyon known locally as the “subway” area. “I like to enter the trail before dawn so that I can catch the first warming rays of sun as they set the sandstone canyon walls aglow,” she says. “You’ll find lush hanging gardens, weeping walls, and beautiful patterns, colors, and textures in the canyon varnish.”

Slide Rock State Park, where Oak Creek glides over the naturally created slick rock chutes, is another of her favorite stops, but it’s a popular swimming hole and crowded at times, so again Millett suggests choosing an earlier hike. “The natural slides and rock formations are great to catch when the beautiful morning light bounces off the canyon walls,” she says.

Sedona’s buttes offer great sunset shooting opportunities. “The best might be the Cathedral Rock from Red Rock Crossing,” she says. “Cathedral Rock is incredibly stunning as the sun sets and casts a fiery red glow onto it.” Another favorite: Schnebly Hill Vista. This 6,000-foot vantage point, which requires a high-clearance, 4×4 vehicle to access, offers Verde Valley and Sedona views. For a more adventurous hike, try the Wet Beaver Wilderness Area. “Hiking along the Bell Trail has some of the most beautiful red rock formations, large pooled creek areas, and dense forest canopies in the region,” says Millett.

More Sedona

Arizona’s Verde Valley, home to the city of Sedona and the Coconino National Forest area, is brimming with interesting historical and natural sites. Here are five photogenic favorites, from north to south:

●Pink Jeep Tours 204 North State Route 89A, Sedona. It’s hard to swing a bag of crystals in Sedona without hitting a Pink Jeep. They’re a great way to explore off-road sites. Eight themed excursions include custom photo tours. (Bring the crystals.)

●Red Rock Balloon Adventures 105 Canyon Diablo Rd. Your Flickr pals will turn green with envy over your views of red rocks shot from a hot air balloon. Flights begin with a predawn inflation and finish with a commemorative picnic. Up, up, and away.

●Jerome, Arizona About 28 miles Southwest of Sedona on SR 89A. Jerome bills itself as the “Largest Ghost Town in America.” A mecca for artists of all kinds, this nearly vertical village—”one mile high with a 50-mile view”—will require a lot of memory cards.

●V Bar V Heritage Site 2.8 miles east of the junction of I-17 and SR 179. The largest and best-preserved such site in the Verde Valley, it contains 1,032 photo-worthy petroglyphs.

●Montezuma Castle National Monument SR 179 S and I-17 S to W. Middle Verde Rd. One of America’s first national historic sites, it offers a large, photogenic pueblo lodge carved out of a mountain. Open daily.

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As photographer Kathleen Parker says of her hometown, “New Orleans is a mixture of mystery, history, love, despair, decay, activity, and beauty. In this unique and compact city you can photograph them all.”

Nearly a decade after Hurricane Katrina, the French Quarter’s Jackson Square remains one of the city’s most colorful, vibrant, and crowded gathering spots—a great place for people shots. The square is jammed with an eclectic mix of artists, from magicians and musicians to self-proclaimed mystics. “If you photograph a performer or entertainer there, you’re expected to tip,” Parker says.

The square’s late-18th-century Spanish architecture is another visual draw. The Cabildo and Presbytere (both museums now) and the St. Louis Cathedral fill one side of the square. “The ornamental sculpture on the Cabildo is particularly interesting,” says Parker. She also recommends the Pontalba Apartments on the square: “The red brick buildings are decorated with the original lacy ironwork balconies and were built about 150 years ago.” City Park, a 1,300-acre oasis in the heart of New Orleans with centuries-old live oaks, is another one of Parker’s favorite spots. “Moss grows wildly on the ancient trees that are wider than a bus,” she says. Best time to shoot: early morning or late afternoon, when the light slants in from behind. For an unusual perspective, take a gondola ride on the park lagoon.

Along the riverfront, travel pro Robert Wojtowicz, who shot the image shown here, strolls the Moon Walk promenade. “Head to the Steamboat Natchez docks and to Woldenberg Park for shots of the steamboat, river, and the bridge over the Mississippi in the distance,” he says. “Go in early morning for the steamboat in fog.”

To catch streetcars in action, he explores the area near the corner of St. Charles and Canal streets. “The best time is early in the morning, when the streetcars still have all their inside lights on and the street lamps are on but there is enough natural light already for the background,” he says.

Bigger Easy More places and events in and around New Orleans, in order of distance:

•The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc Parade French Quarter This annual parade on January 6, dedicated to the city’s French heritage, commemorates the birthday of Saint Joan of Arc. Its organizers describe it as “a poetic and theatrical experience for participants and viewers.” The 2015 event starts on Decatur and proceeds along Chartres in the French Quarter; from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Bring a flash.

•Ninth Ward Rebirth Bike Tours The Lower Ninth Ward, one of the hardest-hit areas during Hurricane Katrina, is now making a remarkable physical and cultural comeback. Four-hour tours (often lasting longer) on cruiser-style bikes leave daily at 9:30 a.m. Along the way, stop at the former home of lifelong resident Fats Domino. $60 per person; buy your own lunch along the route.

•Chalmette Battlefield 8606 West St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette Part of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, this is the site of the January 8, 1815, Battle of New Orleans that ended the War of 1812. Highlight: Chalmette Monument, a 100-foot obelisk (open Fridays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)—climb its 122 steps for a view. Visit Jan. 7–10 for special bicentennial events. Open Tue.–Sat., 9 a.m.– 4 p.m.

•Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge Accessed from I-10, U.S. 90, and U.S. 11 Just 15 minutes from the French Quarter, this 24,000-acre marshland is the largest urban wildlife refuge in the country. It’s home to more than 25,000 migrating birds in the winter (340 species year-round), as well as white-tailed deer, otter, feral hog, nutria, mink, alligators, and turtles. The Ridge Trail (Route 90) has a 2/3-mile boardwalk and info kiosk.

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PARK PANO

“One thing that I really like about Atlanta is how green and verdant it is,” says photographer and lifelong resident Scott Robertson (slrobertson.com). “Atlanta has flowering trees that are beautiful in the spring, including dogwoods, crepe myrtles, tulip poplars, and cherry and Bradford pear trees.”

Robertson’s favorite place to shoot the spring display is the Atlanta Botanical Garden (atlantabg.org). “It’s located in a corner of Piedmont Park in the Midtown Atlanta area and it’s a great place to relax, wander, and shoot landscapes, botanical and floral macro shots, water features, and more,” he says. A favorite stop: the Levy Parterre formal boxwood garden and its Dale Chihuly glass sculpture atop a fountain.

Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, created as a gathering spot for visitors to the 1996 Olympic Games, is a good bet for interesting city views. “The park offers the downtown skyline, including the new Atlanta SkyView Ferris wheel at the south end of the park,” he says. The north end is home to several museums, including the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca- Cola, and the new Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum. The Fountain of Rings show, synched to music and colorful lighting, runs four times a day, 365 days a year (12:30, 3:30, 6:30, and 9 p.m.).

Lake Clara Meer at the heart of Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta offers great views of the skyline. “My favorite vantage point is standing on the eastern shore of the lake looking west toward the Dockside visitor center,” says Robertson. “Shoot at dawn on a still morning and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful reflections.”

Midtown is also a good neighborhood for architectural shots. Among Robertson’s favorites: the High Museum of Art, the Fox Theater, and the neon-lit Majestic Diner. “My favorite time to shoot there is in the evening golden hour and on into the night,” he says.

FLOWER POWER…PLUS ATLANTA IS A SPRAWLING CITY WITH LOTS OF FUN PLACES AND EVENTS TO EXPLORE:

•ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER, 130 WEST PACES FERRY ROAD NW, BUCKHEAD A one-stop collection of museums, it’s set on 33 acres with highlights including the 1928 Swan House mansion and the 1860s Smith Family Farm—a working farm peopled by costumed characters— and the 22-acre Goizueta Gardens (azaleas should be stunning this month). Open daily. INFO: (404) 814–4000; atlantahistorycenter.com

•GEORGIA AQUARIUM, 225 BAKER STREET NW The largest aquarium in the hemisphere offers marine habitats like Ocean Voyager: with a 100-foot, glass-walled, walk-through tunnel and 6.3 million-gallon tank with whale sharks. Open 365 days a year. INFO: (404) 581–4000; georgiaaquarium.org

•OAKLAND CEMETERY, 248 OAKLAND AVE SE “A magnificent sculpture garden, botanical garden, flourishing wildlife habitat, and public park,” this 88-acre cemetery is too enticing to resist—at least on a temporary basis. Open 365 days a year; free. INFO: (404) 688–2107

•SOUTHEASTERN RAILWAY MUSEUM, 3595 BUFORD HWY, DULUTH Exploring this 35-acre indoor/outdoor museum in Duluth will get your photo engine steaming. Explore a restored 1871 passenger depot and more than 90 items of historic rolling stock, including the 1911 Pullman private car Superb used by President Warren G. Harding. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday to Saturday. INFO: (770) 476–2013; srmduluth.org

•ATLANTA DOGWOOD FESTIVAL, PIEDMONT PARK, APRIL 8–10 Celebrate spring at a three-day art festival featuring more than 250 artists and craftspeople showing their wares. The glorious dogwoods will keep you (and your camera) busy for hours. INFO: (404) 817–6642; dogwood.org

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“The light in Miami is mesmerizing. In winter, its clarity takes your breath away,” says Robin Hill (miamiphotographer.com), who wandered there as a travel shooter some 25 years ago and never left. “Combine this with the vibrant colors of the buildings and the environment, and you have a very attractive location for photography.” We recently asked Hill, who now works primarily as an architectural photographer, to share his favorite Miami haunts.

Ocean Drive (between 5th and 16th Streets) on South Beach is home to the legendary strip of 1930s Art Deco hotels. “This is the iconic center of Miami’s visual essence,” says Hill. Sunrise until midmorning is a good time to shoot these east-facing facades. For a cool foreground: A few hotels have cars from the 1950s permanently parked out front. Be sure to return at dusk when colorful neon signs come on.

Nearby, the pedestrian-only Lincoln Road is home to Frank Gehry’s New World Center. “The outside is fairly conventional,” says Hill, “but inside it’s magical.” On Friday nights he suggests hanging around to people-watch and grab street shots as performances are projected on a giant outdoor wall.

In the city proper, explore the Wynwood Art District, which contains one of the world’s best collections of graffiti. Best spot: Wynwood Walls on NW 2nd Avenue at 25th Street. A few miles south is Little Havana (SW 8th Street); check out Maximo Gomez Park for local characters playing dominoes and chess, says Hill.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens offers one of America’s great historic house museums, with grounds that boast classical statues, topiary, and fountains with marvelous views of Biscayne Bay. For a more immersive nature experience, Hill suggests Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens in Coral Gables—an 83-acre oasis of tropical plants.

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Candy-bar-sized, LED-powered pico projectors are thebig thing in mini multimedia. Aimed at business traveleers, these have onboard memory, rechargeable batteries and a range of ports to let you project virtually anything, anywhere. LEDs mean no burned-out bulbs and no heat.

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