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
Fjords of the Untamed North
Feb 17th-23rd 2019
Norway
Lofoten Norway…where do we begin…
From the moment your plane breaks through the clouds on its final approach into the small regional airport of Leknes, you realize the dramatic beauty and incredible diversity of the archipelago of Lofoten. It’s as if the Norse gods carefully planned each detail of what makes this small slice of our planet so breathtaking and unique. The perfect storm of coincidences starts with its northern location. Lofoten lies between the 68° and 69° parallels north, placing it in the arctic circle, known for freezing temperatures and midnight sun. However, you may not even need your sub-zero parka as Lofoten is warmed by the gulf stream, keeping it a comfortable 27°-37° Fahrenheit (-3°- +4° Celcius) during our tour. The days start growing longer in February as well and the sun arches low across the sky, providing the perfect light for landscape photography all day long!
And the landscapes…words cannot describe them, but we’ll do our best. Chiselled peaks rise from the clear waters of the Norwegian sea as if they were summoned by Odin himself, creating a maze of inlets and fjords at every turn. These seemingly endless mountains of dark stone outlined by fresh white snow serve as the quintessential backdrop of each Lofoten landscape.
Photography tour guides
Standing on the rocky shores of stone polished from millennia of crashing waves, you can imagine the sails of Viking Longships passing by, returning from a voyage of exploration or conquest. As we venture to the southern regions of Lofoten, we are transported back in time to the red fisherman cabins used for hundreds of years by the Nordic cod fisherman. We not only will capture many of these small fisherman villages during our stay but will also be staying in them as well! Of course, they will have all the modern conveniences you’d expect to keep you warm and comfortable after a long day of shooting.
We’ve explored the fjords, beaches, towns and coastlines of Lofoten and found an endless stream of photographic opportunities. Join us and together we will traverse the Nordic countryside in search of wonder, chasing auroras, and basking in the greatness of this land.
Overview of shooting locations
See our latest
Upcoming Tours
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 Ryokan accommodations and much much more. This tour (our most elaborate) will touch your soul.
Italy Spring
May 5th-12th
Endless photo ops, incredibly delicious food, rich and deep culture - this tour is unrivaled! Join us as we travel through the heart of Italy with stops in Rome, Florence, Val D'orcia, Cinque Terre and much more. Together with our professional photographers, we will capture all the incredible sights this country has to offer. Don't wait, this is our fastest selling tour!
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!