Welcome to
Discovery Photo Tours
Take your photography to the next level with Discovery Photo Tours.
Discovery Photo Tours takes you to exotic destinations around the globe alongside our team of internationally acclaimed photographers. Our all inclusive tours are a life changing experience, filled with culture, cuisine, incredible photographs and unforgettable memories. We think you’ll enjoy them.
Discovery was created by photographers, with the goal of designing tours that we would like to go on. So before you dive in, we’d like to tell you about our Gold Standard, it’s what makes our tours truly unique and is woven into each and every tour we create.
We only photograph places where we love the food, culture and the people.
Each of our tours is designed around the “Discovery Gold Standard”, which means you’ll join some of the best photographers in travel photography, experience the culture that makes our destinations so unique, and capture it all from our favorite locations.
If you’d like to be treated as a friend being shown around to the best and most intimate discoveries we’ve made, we think you’ll enjoy our approach.
Discovery Gold Standard
01 Locations
Our tours are designed specifically for photographers – typically a step beyond what other tour operators offer… therefore destinations are chosen based on our ability to offer the highest level of expertise, on all fronts, for our guests.
02 Culture
Our passion is to create extraordinary cultural discoveries – through people, cuisine, art, architecture and more – to compliment your unmatched photographic experience.
03 Photography
We’re seeking talent devoid of ego; our aim is for you to work, elbow-to-elbow, with the photographers of greatest acclaim, in your chosen destination.
Tour Highlight
Antarctica...the Final Frontier!
Jan 26 - Feb 10, 2019
Antarctica & South Georgia
We’ve been waiting a long time to launch this tour, and the moment is finally here!
Join us on our inaugural small group scouting expedition in January 2019 to the ultimate bucket list destination… Antarctica.
Have you ever dreamed of following in the footsteps of Shackleton, Amundsen, and Scott? Us too but without the early twentieth century hardships and canned food! So, instead of just sitting around and dreaming about Antarctica we decided that it was high time to make this dream come true. For our clients (and let’s be honest, for us too) we’ve put together an exciting itinerary that will have us all sailing across the legendary Drake passage, exploring South Georgia Island, before navigating our way to the icy continent itself.
You’ll sail the south seas in luxury on our state of the art ship, the Ocean Endeavour, which was designed specifically for polar region sailing.
Our intrepid crew arrives in the beautiful capital city of Buenos Aires before embarking on our private charter flight to Ushuaia, Argentina. Take some time to explore these two very unique South American destinations before your icy adventure begins. If you’d like to extend your journey in Buenos Aires either before or after the tour, our team is there to help you arrange your extended stay
As we cross the Drake passage you’ll be in good hands with our intrepid photography leader and the stalwart crew aboard Endeavour. On the crossing, you’ll have the opportunity to work on your photography and post-production skills with expert guidance in both group and one-to-one sessions. Your expert crew will also impart their knowledge about penguins, seabirds, elephant seals and all the other wildlife that you will encounter on this epic journey. You’ll also learn about the history and exploration of the region dating back hundreds of years.
South Georgia island, also known as the Galapagos of the poles is the home to hundreds of thousands of seabirds and penguins. In fact, South Georgia’s king penguin rookeries are the largest in the world. You’ll have no trouble capturing incredible photographs at this amazing destination and you’ll be the envy of your friends back home when you show them your best shots. Visit abandoned whaling stations and learn stories of inhabitants who called this island home.
Photograph stunning ice formations on a Zodiac ride, hike glistening glaciers, share fun-filled moments with inquisitive penguins, and witness the rugged coastline of the Antarctic Peninsula from a sea kayak. Antarctica will astonish and delight, and never disappoint. This will be a trip you’ll be dreaming about for years.
Overview of shooting locations
See our latest
Upcoming Tours
Antarctica & South Georgia
Jan 26 - Feb 10, 2019
Join us for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as we explore the frozen continent of Antarctica and South Georgia Island. Sail the south sea with us on a bucket list photo expedition that you'll never forget. Spaces are extremely limited on this exclusive offer.
Norway
Feb 17th-23rd 2019
Join us on this epic once-in-a-lifetime adventure capturing and exploring the breathtaking archipelago of Lofoten. Situated in northern Norway, this remote region offers stunning snow covered mountains, pristine fjords, quintessential nordic fisherman huts and some of the most captivating scenery you'll ever experience. Don't miss this incredible opportunity!
Spring in Japan
March 27th-April 7th
Travel with us to the Land of the Rising Sun as we follow the Sakura blossoms from the southern island of Miyajima all the way north to Tokyo. This tour is an all encompassing cultural journey featuring ancient temples and shrines, breathtaking landscapes, unbelievable japanese cuisine, authentic Ryoken accommodations and much much more. This tour will touch your soul.
what our guests have to say
Testimonials
The team at Discovery photo tours had put together a truly amazing and life-altering trip, and I was only on the scouting tour! The locations, the guides, the quality and of course the photo ops, were truly top class. Even better, these guys are genuinely talented, humble and helpful.
The trip to Tanzania had it all. Animals, wonderful accommodation, an excellent and knowledgeable guide, organisation (it just ran smoothly!) and a small group of strangers who have now probably become lifelong friends with a common passion. The companionship, laughter, and fun cannot be underestimated.
This trip changed my life and I aim to do a trip with Discovery Photo tours each year, or every second year at worst. Book a tour, you will not be disappointed.
Ashley Sowter
Tanzania Safari
Leaders: Patrick & Ken
Ken Kaminesky is a star amongst photo tour leaders. I had the pleasure of traveling with him twice, first to Jordan and then to Japan. He showed enthusiasm and passion for both photography and the countries we visited. Ken is one of the most friendly and fun people I know. And yet, he is organized and ready with a solid plan for getting the best shots in the best light possible. I also have to commend him for selecting excellent local guides who miraculously open doors closed to most tourists. We stayed after hours at Petra, an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life. We spent time speaking with and photographing a geisha and we dined and stayed in unique local places not found in typical guide books.
One look at his website will tell you that Ken knows photography. His images are strikingly beautiful and he is generously willing to share his techniques and knowledge. What his website won’t tell you is that Ken’s tours will give you a chance to travel with folks who will become friends, who will laugh with you, who will teach you and who will be there to offer all the support you may need. I can’t wait to chase the light with him again soon.
Susan Flickinger
Jordan, Japan
Leader: Ken Kaminesky
Thank you for a wonderful experience, thank you for all the planning and preparation and blood, sweat, tears and worry you put into it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences and your personalities. Thank you for getting us around safely (big props here). I went to Norway to experience a new culture, immerse myself and understand what it is like to live in a world foreign to my own. I got all that, but I also made (at least from my side) two wonderful new friends, and when I say friends, in my world, that means family.
I will see you again. Jordan and Tanzania are next!