My last actual holiday (outside of work) was back in New Zealand. All too often I find myself dreaming of the mountains and craving that feeling of standing on the edge of the world, most likely with tear-stained cheeks. It is hard to disconnect from work and take a ‘holiday.’ It is hard to consciously make a decision to put my camera down and separate the two, to allow myself to just be. I’ve spent countless hours over the years photographing this sublime world. Often choosing adventure filled destinations where I simply couldn’t just leave my camera behind. And so, the cycle continues.

I remember last year, I was standing with my friend Will Patino in Port Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia. We were on a job together and in the midst of one of our many deep life chats. Will told me about his upcoming solo trip to Patagonia to scout for one of his workshops. Before he even finished saying the words, I interrupted with ‘I REALLY WANNA GO THERE!’  Patagonia: a dream destination for me. That ‘why don’t you just come to the workshop?’ conversation turned into me packing my bags less than a year later and leaving with two people I consider my dear friends, work colleagues and some of the people I admire most in this world, Will and Lauren Bath. But nothing could have really prepared me for the adventure, or rollercoaster, that was my trip to Patagonia…

First stop was Buenos Aires, otherwise known as BA, and considered the gateway to South America. Lauren and I left the Gold Coast, boarded via Brisbane, onwards to Auckland and made the final route to BA with Air New Zealand’s business class.  I love Air New Zealand as an airline and experiencing business class felt like a real treat and the beginning of a real holiday. For all the traveling I do with my job, I never fly business and it was nice to arrive in a country and feel rested, at least until the onset of jet-lagged knocked us all around. I’ve been to Buenos Aires before on my way to Columbia, but it was a stopover and not somewhere I had a chance to explore. I’ve written so many times how I am not a city girl, but honestly BA surprised me.

After a few days of incredible food, nightlife and the occasional nigh time tango, it was time for us to move onto our final destination. Our time in BA alone was worth the trip alone, however the adventure was just beginning….

We caught our flight from BA to El Calafate. I couldn’t sleep the night before, likely still jet-lagged, but mostly excited. I had my head stuck to the window the entire plane flight (sit on the right hand side going down) as the tears literally rolled down my cheeks at my first glimpse of the Patagonian Andes piercing through the thick layer of clouds. I couldn’t believe my eyes at the turquoise blue of the glacial water. The scale here, from the sky, was expansive.

When picking up the car that Will had hired for the next 10 days of adventure I was dancing around in the car park, freezing already but unable to control every particle inside me screaming and moving for joy.

P A T A G O N I A.

South America’s Gem; an undiscovered paradise for adventurous trekkers.
Where nature is wild, remote, barren.
Space so expanding, that silence engulfs it.

After a night in the cute little town of El Calafate, our epic crew ( Will, Lauren, Davey, Ben, Grace, Nick) set off around 3am, bleary-eyed and yet still hopeful Patagonia’s notorious weather would hold out.

After the three hour drive, I found myself away from the group, standing alone at the top of the road towards El Chaltén, literally almost getting blown over by the sheer force of the Patagonian wind, left speechless by the explosion of pink in the sky as the sun rose behind me. Facing the towering granite peaks of the Patagonian Andes with my heart exploding, I caught my first, very brief glimpse of Mt Fitz Roy before the clouds swallowed it up.

Little did I know that would be the first and only glimpse of the infamous peaks that soar over El Chaltén.

I was prepared for all the elements. But I wasn’t prepared for this…

The worst window of weather in 7 years.

Some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, the most vast, incredible landscapes, those iconic mountains I’d grown up dreaming of, the vibrant turning autumn colours were all just out of reach. The roads were flooded and closed, although we tried a few hikes despite the weather, the chill got into our bones and our clothes soaking wet.

Disheartened. Devastated. Discouraged.

We left the town of El Chaltén without so much as unrolling our sleeping mats, my camping food uneaten, my tent still inside my suitcase – completely dry….

Photographically speaking, I’ve crafted a life by making sure I was in the right place at the right time, and I’d dreamed of visiting this place since I first laid eyes on an image of it. That image was burning in the back of my brain as I stood exactly where it was created and could not see a single thing. There were tears, but of frustration this time. For two weeks leading up to this trip, I was looking at stories being shared of picture perfect weather, so this felt like some sort of cosmic message, a form of universal rejection.

It was another lesson on letting go. I firmly believe that expectation is the root of all evil. If you can learn to let go and leave your expectations behind, that is when the real adventure starts. No this wasn’t what I pictured, it wasn’t even close to what I dreamed of, but I was happy. What a privilege it is to have the ability to travel and explore a new country, to open yourself up to new enriching experiences and create lifelong memories with new hearts.

Travel is about the experiences, about finding a shift in your perspective and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Although what I came to Patagonia for did not eventuate in full, it is not all doom and gloom.

The picture I just painted through my disappointment in the circumstances, and the emotional rollercoaster that was brewing in my heart and mind, is not the only story of our trip. I often ponder the detriments of social media’s highlight reel and how I may contribute to only sharing the final or “hero” images, as always I want to be transparent about all emotions – about the life of one that is on the road.

That week I met some of my idols. I was in a small town with world class photographers and there were only a few cafes and restaurants open (due to shoulder season) so I ended up at the same places, sharing meals and sitting with the same glass of Malbec. These very photographers paved the way to do what I do and I have spent countless hours pouring over their work, studying and learning from them and now I was there, in real life, having a conversation (about the weather) with them.  Wow!

We were a determined group and spent our days attempting to trek in the rain. Even in thick overcast weather the autumn leaves still burned so irresistibly vibrant, we saw Canyon Falls rushing and when it began snowing around us it felt like we were in some kind of wonderland.  How lucky we were to be there. Just to spend hours waiting in the cold for the smallest window and chance to see an opening in the sky. I’ll never take the sky for granted again, and I didn’t realize I ever had until this experience.

And yet, still the story was far from over..

Upon arrival at the breath-taking Perito Moreno Glacier we were greeted by the thundering echo of a chunk of the electric blue glacial tongue breaking off the 70m face, crumbling and plummeting down causing waves bigger than 20m below. Right place, right time? I think we just found it.

The tears were frozen to my cheeks. I wore a smile that spanned from one ear to another. We all stood together in disbelief, simultaneously exclaiming a series of “WOAH” whilst holding onto our heads, hearts and each other. The significance of this moment I will remember forever.

* For those interested in some nature froth: The Perito Moreno Glacier is in a state of equilibrium meaning it’s advancing as fast as it’s declining. This ice field is the third largest reserve of fresh water in the world (only 3 % of all water on our planet is fresh). Glaciers are a climate regulator, which means they keep our beautiful planet cool by reflecting back 45 to 85 percent of the sunlight.

From here we leaned forward to the next crazy adventure and began driving the 6 hours south towards Chile, where it felt as though our luck had started to change before our very eyes.

Crossing through the border security was an event, or interesting spectacle, with seven photographers all carrying a camera bag and suitcase each. However, as we stepped foot into my 30th country I recall feeling an overwhelming sense of immense gratitude. I had unintentionally made it to 30 countries before turning 30. Over the years I have worked really hard, sacrificed a lot and have been incredible lucky at the same time. I wrote an Instagram story thanking those of you who follow my journey (and my little feet) around the world. I truly feel so grateful for you.

Good road-trips often evoke buried emotions; I was deep in thought contemplating life and why I do what I do despite the loneliness, sleeplessness and stress at times. There is of course the undeniable connection with nature and love of sharing the beauty of the natural world. Deep in thoughts of the full circle of nature to our very existence, wandering down into the life I have created through photography and the interplay with seeking the light – for even on the gloomiest of days there is light. And then, there it was – the light – towering before me in all its ancient wild and rugged glory; the Patagonia Andes of Torres Del Paine National Park.

A simple reminder, a gentle nudge from the universe that we travel for more than just photography. It is all about those moments that take your breath away.

I am left, again, feeling breathless, humbled.

This is everything I ever dreamed of.  Writing this right now sends a shiver up my spine as my body erupts in goosebumps thinking of those majestic glaciers and mysteriously carved mountains, which were formed over 12 million years ago. It felt like it would be completely natural to see a dinosaur stroll past me (of the herbivore kind of course!)

The emptiness was impressive, those jagged peaks and the ruthless terrain, pristine turquoise rivers; I was worlds away from anything I have ever known and I couldn’t have been more captivated.

I’ll forever cherish the memories of us here watching the sunset together by the edge of the lake, trekking by star light and opening up to the most unexplainable beauty I have ever seen. Beauty that can only be seen with the eye and felt with the heart.

Those days consumed me. Everywhere I looked was something larger than life, be it in the smile of a stranger along the path, the waterfalls, the autumn flora, the cheekiness of the infamous locals Guanaco (Chilean Alpacas) or just me feeling so small beneath the most dramatic scenes on the planet.

The Three Towers hike will remain a mental and physical challenge that I proudly accomplished. Due to the weather, this trail only opened for one day in the 3 weeks prior, so we slept under the stars and woke up at 3:30am to take the chance for sunrise. An 18km return hike and 4 hr steep incline was among the most challenging hikes of my life. It was my first snow hike and at times I was falling into waste deep snow, laughing hysterically, cold and soaking wet. But we made it and right on sunrise.

Looking back now I’m still speechless, the scale of what I witnessed is indescribable. Those three striking granite Towers above the glacial lake are higher than two of the tallest buildings in the world stacked on top of each other.

It changed me.

When I really fall in love with a place, I struggle to look at the photos…for months. I feel like I will never be able do something so beautiful justice. I struggle to write about it, or even to collect my thoughts. How do you capture the way your heart feels like it’s going to burst through your chest? To put emotions into a single image? How does one convey the feeling when your eyes become wide, child-like, and fill up with tears that don’t break, as your smile is frozen breathlessly across your face and your legs are quivering, burning so deeply, but every part of your being is SO alive.

Travel turns you into a storyteller. It opens your heart and mind in more ways than one. It invites you to seek the beauty, find the light and never let go of hope.

To me, it’s a chance to learn about yourself, who you are and what you want from life. It allows you to see how different the world is and to put your life in perspective. When you remove yourself from your life back home, you’re able to take time to reflect and see things in your life a little differently.

Going to leave you with my favourite quote –
“To live is the rarest thing in the world
Most people exist that is all “ – Oscar Wilde

Don’t stop dreaming, don’t stop exploring. Don’t stop living.

A version of this blog post originally appeared on Melissa Findley’s website. 

Follow Melissa Findley on her Instagram and Facebook. 

The post Mountains And Storms: My Adventure in Patagonia appeared first on Resource Travel.

And I wasn’t the only photographer there. Not by a long shot. While the summer crowds have mainly departed, the vibrant fall colors that begin to dot the landscape attract some of the world’s best photographers, who are eager to capture the stunning mountains with the bold red and orange foregrounds.

One of those accomplished photographers was Michael Matti, who has contributed to Resource Travel some of our favorite stories. After years of knowing Matti online, it was a pleasure to sit down with him and talk shop as we waited out a not uncommon autumn rainstorm. Matti had told me that he was there capturing content for Venture Patagonia, and that they had something big up their sleeves. When we both arrived home, Matti told me.

Venture Patagonia is giving away a trip for two to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile! While the prize does not include airfare, everything else is taken care of by the tour guides at Venture Patagonia in their most popular tour, ‘The Out Route’. While the winners will have two nights booked in the Puerto Natales hostel (which has one of the best views of the famed Paine Horns), the real adventures of Patagonia can be found when trekking and camping in the pristine backcountry and ‘The Out Route’ includes 4 nights of camping along the famous ‘W’ trek.

Having just spent almost 2 weeks in Torres del Paine, I am sure of two things. One, it is some of the most stunning landscape I have ever seen, and two, it is crucial to explore this park with an experienced guide, especially when in the back country. So if you have ever wanted to check Patagonia off of your bucket list, this is the perfect opportunity to do so!

I sat down with Matti to look at some of his favorite photos from this year’s adventure and talk about what makes Torres del Paine so special. But before you read on, make sure to enter the contest today!

You have traveled the world in search of incredible locations. How would you rank Torres Del Paine against all of the locations you have visited with your camera?

Torres del Paine is definitely up there near the top, and maybe even at the very top. For me it’s always been a toss up between Patagonia and New Zealand for my favorite place I’ve been to so far.

What makes Torres del Paine such an unique and inspiring location to adventure in?

It is such a wild and rugged place full of dramatic mountains. The weather here can be harsh and I think the landscape reflects that.

It is also so far away from most places so the effort it takes to get there and explore the area makes it feel more special.

What is the most challenging aspect of photographing in this remote region? And what is the most rewarding aspect?

The most challenging part about shooting here is definitely the weather. It can be unpredictable and can change so quickly here. Plus the winds are like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. There have been a few times where its been a fight just to stay on my feet, and then trying to photograph in that just adds a whole other level to it.

The most rewarding aspect are those unique moments of beauty you get to experience here. Whether its a rainbow after a storm, or a break in clouds that reveal jagged mountain peaks, it is those moments that make all the travel and effort worth it.

You recently shared a eye-opening photo of the rapid retreat of the Gray Glacier since the last time you visited Torres del Paine, just last year. In your opinion, is this the end of visitors being able to see the glacier? What went through your mind the moment you saw the incredible change since last year?

We had planned on taking a shot like the one I took there last year so when we got to that bridge and saw the glacier, we were shocked and wondered if the glacier would even be visible in the shot. While the glacier may keep receding and not be visible from this particular spot, it is a massive glacier and can still be seen from further up the trail. There is even another suspension bridge up the trail where you can see the glacier from.

The Gray glacier last year and this year. 

Follow Matti on his website, Instagram, and Facebook.

The post Win a Tour for Two in Torres Del Paine, Patagonia appeared first on Resource Travel.

Filmmaker Martin Heck’s from TimeStorm’s Films latest offering seems to abide by Chatwin’s observation.

Though the images captured by Heck  are no doubt beautiful, the jagged, looming snow capped mountains, smothered by the transient clouds in the ever-changing light reveal a wild and unpredictable place. That being said, the images are amazingly stunning and if the film doesn’t invoke feelings of pulling a Walter Mitty right now, then I don’t know what will.

We have written about Heck’s work before with his awesome timelapse video of the Atacama Desert in Chile.  His other videos are worth checking out as well. He explores New Zealand, Norway, and offers mind numbing images of an Volcano Calbuco (also in chili) erupting in 2015. We have done you a favor and just put them all in one place. Get ready to slip off into a daydream of pure remote wanderlust.   

See more from Timestorm Films on their website, Vimeo, Facebook, and Twitter.

The post Experience the Ever-Changing Spring Weather In Torres del Paine, Patagonia appeared first on Resource Travel.

Martin Heck from Timestorm Films is no stranger to harsh conditions though. From his stunning films highlighting the eruption of Calbuco volcano to a frigid winter in the Dolomite mountains, Heck has sacrificed his camera equipment time and time again to bring us into the places that few dare brave. His most recent film, ‘Nox Atacama’ is no different. Heck shows us why this rugged strip of land just west of the Andes mountains in Chile is one of the most spectacular locations in South America, although not for travelers looking for luxury, comfort, or clean camera equipment.

See more from Timestorm Films on their website, Vimeo, Facebook, and Twitter.

The post See the Stunning Night Sky and Vibrant Landscapes of Chile’s Atacama Desert appeared first on Resource Travel.

The economic golden age may have passed with the opening of the Panama Canal, but recent revival efforts have earned this city its official status as the cultural capital of Chile. And the historic quarter was declared a UNESCO world heritage site. It’s a treasure for anyone interested in the arts and a veritable playground for a photographer. The quarter is a maze of alleyways and passages. Getting lost in winding streets with a camera or pen in hand is perhaps the best way to spend an afternoon.

The city carries itself with an attitude, quiet and cool, with a contemplative stare toward the sea. It’s no wonder that it’s been a traditional home to so many artists, musicians, and writers, including the Nobel Prize-winning Pablo Neruda. Yet the beauty of Valparaiso isn’t a traditional one. Things are often run down. The town, from certain angles, seems almost threadbare. The concrete crumbles. The paints have been muted by the salt water air. Trash sometimes gathers conspicuously in the alleys or abandoned lots.

It doesn’t matter. For anyone obsessed with capturing images, these flaws become features. Around every corner is a glimpse of a cityscape as unique and mystifying as the last—trash, dirt, broken concrete and all. And, of course, there’s the ever-present graffiti. Brightly colored graffiti murals are integral to the city, and the artists who painted the murals often did so as part of the revival movement. Like no city I’ve been in, the residents of Valparaiso celebrate the beauty of a graffiti mural on a stone wall as much as they do a 19th-century historic building.

We stayed at the Tricahue, a quaint guesthouse that is one part hotel, and one part crash pad for your wealthy uncle. Quaint and homey, we felt right at home as we were greeted by the kind receptionist, who handed us the keys to the building, and left for the evening around 5pm.

Our few days were spent getting lost in the winding maze of streets. Even a map can’t fully capture Valparaiso. It’s simply too three-dimensional. Streets next to one another on a map may be 50 feet apart in vertical distance. We were told by local residents that if you get lost, just keep going downhill. Everything pours out into the sea eventually. So we made our way down, down, down, poked our heads into local shops of leatherworkers, visual artists, or clothiers, visited Pablo Neruda’s home, found some good ice cream (a staple of the Chilean diet) and drank nice Chilean wines.

For people who love city traveling, like we do, this was not the single most magical, most romantic, or most exciting place we visited. But the photographs speak for themselves. What sets Valparaiso apart is that every angle, every inexplicable turn, every stray dog lapping at a puddle, every broken building and every piece of graffiti look carefully placed, just waiting for the lens.

The romance one finds here is wedged between two narrow rows of old-world inspired buildings covered in the neon dayglow of spray paints staring at the port below where stacks of sea containers await the arrival of vessels from the vast expanse of the Pacific. One leaves the town with the impression that Valparaiso is an old photograph, faded and smudged and scribbled over with a bright crayon, and all the more beautiful for it.

Article by Bradley Geer, photos by Kira Morris.

See more from Kira Morris on her website, Facebook, and Instagram. 

The post Exploring the Color Filled Streets of Valparaiso, Chile appeared first on Resource Travel.

The shared Argentinian-Chilean region of Patagonia lures adventurers from around the world. They come for the glaciers and staggering mountains, such as El Calafate and El Chalten, but it’s the peaceful, wild expanses of nothing but nature that stay with them forever. The sparsely-populated region at the southern frontier of South America is a prime spot for mountain climbing, horseback riding, whale watching and penguin spotting.

This short film from French filmmaker Benjamin Aubray is making us hungry for wild, beautiful South America, a day spent in the mountains and most simply, time spent in the great outdoors.

To see more of Benjamin’s work, check out his website, Twitter and Vimeo.

Below are some of our favourite screenshots from the film:

The post French Filmmaker Captures the Staggering Beauty of Patagonia appeared first on Resource Travel.

French writer Gustave Flaubert had no idea how his quote could resonate with generations of travelers. For Slovenian based filmmaker Rahela Jagric, these words remained in her mind during a recent adventure in South America. “This quote really reflects what I felt while exploring magnificent and picturesque country of Chile” Rahela says. Known in her industry as a ‘Hodophile’ (one who loves to travel), Rahela mostly works on international projects, which allows her to explore unique locations that aren’t close to her back yard.

Taking time off from her filmmaking duties, Rahela and her boyfriend Metod Pirc went on a cross-country trek of Chile, witnessing splendid scenery while crossing paths with friendly locals along the way. “We started the journey at the very south in Punta Arenas, and traveling by bus, we reached the Atacama desert in the north of Chile about a month later. This was really a unique experience, especially going from the snow-capped mountains to the dry dessert in only a few weeks time. We enjoyed trekking, volcanos, glaciers, and wildlife. The Chilean cuisine was delicious, but our favorite part of our trip to Chile was meeting the local people, who were always very kind and generous.” says Rahela.

From all of the locations in Chile that Rahela visited, from the marvelous countrysides to the quaint little towns, ice-capped mountain peaks, jagged boulder trails to long stretches of desert dunes, Flaubert’s words couldn’t be any more true. The couple experienced how tiny they were in the grand country of Chile.

Because “food blends cultures”, they capped their experience by sampling an array of mouth watering Chilean dishes and made friends with the local residents by joining pockets of small festivals in various villages. The couples short film is bound to have many travelers adding Chile to their bucket list.

“Every single day in Chile was an adventure for us, and we truly hope to visit this beautiful country again. I’m grateful for everyone appearing in the video, (they) added authenticity and honesty” Rahela says. “We shot the video using a Canon 5D (mark II) with 3 lenses (35mm, 50mm, 85mm) and a GoPro Hero.”

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Trekking in Patagonia #trekking #patagonia #torresdelpaine #amazingview #instaday #photooftheday #rainbow

A post shared by rahela jagric (@rahelajagric) on Nov 26, 2014 at 1:50pm PST

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Just the two of us #patagonia #torresdelpaine #trekking #us #love #instalove #nature #amazingview #photooftheday #picoftheday #instamood #instagood #love #lovelyday #exploringchile #exploring #chile

A post shared by rahela jagric (@rahelajagric) on Nov 27, 2014 at 9:21am PST

Asked where they plan to head next, Rahela eagerly shares “We are hoping to visit South America again at the end of this year, most likely Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador”

To follow along with Rahela and Metod’s adventure in South America, follow them @rahelajagric on Instagram and Rahela’s website.

The post Wanderlust Film Shows The Beauty Of Chile’s Landscapes, Cities, And People appeared first on Resource Travel.

We all remember seeing the unbelievable images that started to flood news outlets on April 22, 2015. Volcano Calbuco, located outside of Puerto Varas in southern Chile, had erupted in a beautiful, yet frightening show after four decades of laying dormant. Martin Heck and his team from Timestorm Films were nearby, and rushed to get their photo and video gear together. They found an open patch in the forested land and set up both 8k and 4k timelapses, using the Pentax 645Z and Canon 6D. Additional 4k footage was captured using a Sony A7s.

In his Vimeo description, Heck recalls the greatest challenge of photographing this rare eruption.

We filled almost all of our memory cards in the prior night so I had to do backups while shooting all this stuff.

After watching this two minute film with our jaws wide open, we are thankful that Heck was able to find a way to backup his footage in order to continue to capture the dramatic eruption.

See more from Timestorm Films on their website, Vimeo, Facebook, and Twitter

The post Incredible Film Shows The Dramatic Eruption Of Volcano Calbuco appeared first on Resource Travel.