Happy Holidays from Anshar Photography!

2018-12-25 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

The holidays are approaching, and I would like to thank my subscribers and friends for support throughout year 2018. This year, I was able to visit and photograph many fantastic places in Switzerland, Spain, Patagonia, United Kingdom, Italy, Croatia, Iceland and Myanmar, and it has been a privilege to share those places with you.

Aerial View on Zermatt Valley and Matterhorn Peak at Dawn, Switzerland

We all live in an incredible world and traveling has the power to open our minds and hearts. The places we see become more than a memory; they become part of us. The people we meet and the experiences we have as we travel change our perception of the world; we realize that the world is far bigger than we imagined and that our lives are but tiny pieces in the human drama. And no matter how far our travels take us and no matter how exotic the location, we learn that humans are more alike than different.

Thank you again for your support. I hope you’ve enjoyed my photographs this year. Happy Holidays!

Posted in News Tagged , |

Dead Forest in Torres del Paine, Chile

2018-12-22 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

The beauty and vastness of Torres del Paine continually lured me deeper and deeper into the park. It was possible to wander far enough into the park, away from other travelers, that I lost all sense of being in a park; I felt that I was exploring some remote, yet-to-be-discovered place, far removed from modern life.

Pehoe Lake and Cuernos Peaks in the Morning, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Single shot, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 16 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/5, ISO 64, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>


No matter how far I ventured into Torres del Paine, I was struck by the remarkable landscape. It’s a savagely beautiful place, marked by the spiky summit of the Cuernos Peaks and ancient glaciers. But there were haunting, unusual landscapes there as well, strangely beautiful places that put me in mind of some of the sun-scorched terrain of Namibia.

One morning’s explorations brought me to one of these strangely enchanting places. I found a field where the trees were scorched gray by sun and fire, leaving them gnarled and twisted. In the early morning, they were dusted with frost, giving them a still eerier appearance. They appeared to me to be twisted, imploring arms reaching toward the Cuernos Peaks in the distance. It seemed that virtually every living thing had departed from this place, and it was hauntingly beautiful.

I still had much more of Patagonia to explore, but I was finding it hard not to linger in each of the hidden places I found there. I still had miles to go, so I took my photographs of this haunted landscape, and packed my gear for the next destination at Torres del Paine.

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Pehoe Lake, Chile

2018-12-19 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

Aware that I had been granted remarkably good luck in seeing Pehoe Lake in a calm state, I was determined to make as many photographs as I could while the weather held. Stormy weather may make for dramatic photographs, but it isn’t very good for gear.

Pehoe Lake and Cuernos Peaks in the Morning, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Single shot, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 14 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1 second, ISO 64, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>


I walked down to the water’s edge, amazed at the stillness. Though Pehoe Lake is a place that teems with a wide variety of animal life, it was completely silent. I had the sense that I was the first person awake that morning, stirring before the rest of the world came to life. Even the water barely moved.

With the Cuernos peaks in the distance, I set my tripod in a few inches of water and looked for the right shot. The water was motionless, and the spiky granite peaks were reflected perfectly on the lake’s surface. The sun was only beginning to penetrate the mist of the night before, and the lake and the surrounding vegetation were still threaded with tendrils of frost.

Pehoe Lake, whatever its capacity for tumultuous behavior, was still this morning, and exceptionally beautiful.

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

2018-12-15 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

At more than a million square kilometers, Patagonia is vast. It straddles Argentina and Chile, and traveling from one part of the region to the other is time-consuming and only possible at certain times of the year. I planned my trip to fall in the warmer months, when the weather would be more agreeable and the roads — hopefully — would be safe for driving.

Panorama of Pehoe Lake and Cuernos Peaks in the Morning, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Panorama from 2 horizontal shots, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 24 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/8, ISO 64, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>


As charmed as I was by what I’d seen of Patagonia in Argentina, I eventually had to make my way across the border into Chile to Torres del Paine National Park. Torres del Paine is undoubtedly one of the world’s most beautiful places, and certainly one of Patagonia’s most famous. Search for images of Patagonia, and chances are, you’ll find photos of this remarkable landscape.

I began my exploration of the park at Pehoe Lake, a turquoise blue expanse of water known for its famously changing moods. At times the lake is placid, its surface as smooth and still as glass; at others, it become terrifying and furious, with almost sea-like waves. Locals told me to expect the latter. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

On my first morning at the lake, I awoke early, hoping to catch some of the delicate frost I’d seen in Argentina. Pehoe Lake, as it happened, was in a tranquil mood. The water was still, with hardly a ripple on its surface, and the surrounding trees and grass were threaded with silvery frost, exquisite as lace. As I watched, low-hanging silver clouds drifted in, hovering over the Cuernos peaks like a veil.

Pehoe Lake is beautiful and would be stunning in any conditions, I’m certain. But I can’t help but feel that I was fortunate enough to capture the lake at a uniquely beautiful moment.

This photo received following awards:
* FEP Photographer of the Year Awards 2019 – Merit Award – Landscape
* Prague International Photographic Salon 2019 – FIAP Bronze Medal – Section C : Nature
* MIROC circuit 2019 (4th MIROC Exhibition Penza 2019, Russia) – Salon Honorable Mention

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Mount Fitz Roy and Rio De la Cascada, Patagonia

2018-12-09 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

My first glimpses of Mount Fitz Roy were breathtaking. Seeing the great peak in the early morning light left me invigorated, and the long hike in the darkness was forgotten. I wanted to see more of the mountain before the frost melted, and I was acutely aware of the sun rising higher above me.

Rio De la Cascada and Fitz Roy in the Morning, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Single shot, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 19 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 0.5 seconds, ISO 125, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>



This is the kind of place that beckons. The wind was bracing and the temperature was only beginning to rise, but the cold didn’t deter me. I was exhilarated by the environment and the feeling that I had stumbled on an unknown treasure, a secret place laced with silver and hidden away from view. I wanted to capture as much of it as possible before the sun is too high and the light is too harsh for photography.

A river courses through this area, with small cascades breaking over rocks. Following the course of the river, your eyes naturally focus on Mount Fitz Roy, and I wanted photographs that captured this — the icy splendor of Patagonia and the lordly presence of the mountain. I put on rubber boots and waded out into the stream, positioning myself so that Mount Fitz Roy was the focus and stood my tripod in the water. I hardly felt the cold now; I was fixated on the scene before me: the water, the frost, and the jagged peaks of Mount Fitz Roy.

I’ve had this feeling before in my travels, the feeling of seeing a landscape so magical that it might have been the creation of child’s imaginings. I felt it in the dunes and salt pans of Namibia, and now, in a very different environment — a landscape of ice and water — I felt it again.

There was more of Patagonia to explore.

This photo received following awards:
* MIROC circuit 2019 (2nd MIROC Exhibition Bergen 2019, Norway) – FIAP Honorable Mention

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Mount Fitz Roy in the Morning, Patagonia

2018-12-04 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

Patagonia. A vast expanse of rugged terrain at nearly the bottom of the world, Patagonia has for years loomed large in my imagination. Nearly inaccessible for much of the year, the region beckons adventure travelers and those — like myself – who are drawn by its breathtaking and formidable beauty.

Panorama of Rio De la Cascada and Fitz Roy in the Morning, Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina
Panorama from 5 vertical shots, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 24 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/5, ISO 80, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>




It’s a massive region roughly three times the size of Germany that extends across the southernmost regions of Argentina and Chile. I began my trip in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, more than half of which is covered in glaciers.

Here, near the border between the two countries, Mount Fitz Roy towers over the massive ice field. The peak is regarded by climbers as one of the most difficult ascents in the world. It isn’t the great peak’s height that makes it challenging, but the ice and wind that are ever-present, even in good weather. Ancient people referred to the mountain as “Chaltén,” which means “smoking mountain.” They believed the mountain to be a volcano because of the heavy veil of clouds at its peak.

To explore Patagonia at all requires planning and stamina, and photographing Mount Fitz Roy was no different. I wanted to photograph the peak at sunrise, which involved a two-hour hike up a steep path before daylight, a challenge in the best conditions. For two days, it rained, making it too risky to climb the path in the dark. On the third day, the weather improved and I packed my gear and headed out into the Patagonian darkness.

I reached my location just at dawn, and gasped at the sight. All of the trees and bushes were dusted with delicate white hoarfrost, and in the early morning light, it glistened like silver and diamonds. It was a magical landscape, and it seemed to me to be a fitting image for Patagonia — a landscape that is challenging and difficult, but one that rewards you with gems of the most incredible beauty.

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Christmas 2018 Sale – 30% off

2018-11-30 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

Dear subscribers and followers, I am happy to offer a special Christmas discount till the end of December 2018!

All my photographs can be purchased as Fine Art Prints to add to the decor of your home or office. I offer Metal Prints and traditional Paper Prints with various finishes. Metal Prints always come framed and ready to hang. For Paper Prints you can choose – to order already matted and framed prints or to frame it yourself. The details and colours of my photographs look fantastic on prints and cannot be adequately reproduced on computer screens.

These prints make great gifts for your friends and family, especially those who love to travel and appreciate the world’s beauty.

Fine Art Prints Christmas sale - 30% off

All my best works from the last 2 years are organised in 7 collections:

• “Silver of Patagonia” — striking fairytale landscapes from Patagonia:
Shop “Silver of Patagonia” Collection >>

• “Realm of Light” — haunting mountain landscapes from the Dolomites in Italy:
Shop “Realm of Light” Collection >>

• “Bay of Biscay” — magic seascapes from the Northern Spain:
Shop “Bay of Biscay” Collection >>

• “Isle of Eigg” — moody seascapes from Isle of Eigg in Scotland:
Shop “Isle of Eigg” Collection >>

• “Gems of Namibia” — vibrant and energising landscapes of Namibia:
Shop “Gems of Namibia” Collection >>

• “Inspiring Cities” — photos of the most beautiful European cities:
Shop “Inspiring Cities” Collection >>

• “Romantic Santorini” — views of the most romantic Greece island:
Shop “Romantic Santorini” Collection >>



I offer worldwide shipping, any sizes are available.

As a special Christmas 2018 offer, I will give a discount of 30% through the end of December 2018. Use code XMS2018 at checkout to get the discount.

To make a purchase, simply choose the photo you want, click on its preview. When the preview is open to full screen, click the green “BUY” button at the bottom left corner and follow the instructions from there.

Other Fine Art Collections also eligible for Christmas 30% discount. Use code XMS2018 at checkout to get the discount.

Posted in Promo

Refugio Lavaredo, Dolomites

2018-11-28 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

My time in the Dolomites was nearly over. I’d hiked the most well-known trails and photographed the range’s most famous peaks and valleys. The muscles in my legs ached from almost daily climbs, but I was content and deeply satisfied with all that I had seen and done.

Refugio Lavaredo at Sunset, The Tre Cime Natural Park, Sexten Dolomites, Italy
August 2018, single shot, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 70 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 0.8 second, ISO 64, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>




On my last day, I again ventured into Tre Cime Natural Park. It’s one of the loveliest places in the Dolomites, and I wanted to see it once more before I packed up to fly back home. It was nearly sunset by the time I reached my destination, a rocky ledge overlooking the Refugio Lavaredo, a lodge near the base of the Tre Cimes.

From that vantage point, looking down a rocky ledge toward the imposing peaks in the distance, the refugio appeared tiny and insignificant, a diminutive bulwark against nature. Though it seemed very far away, I could see lights in the windows of the refugio, and I knew that for a few hours, it would be a home to someone, a place of welcome amid the harsh, rocky terrain of the mountains. It struck me then, looking at the savagely beautiful peaks of the Dolomites, that sometimes this is all we need in life: a small refuge, a place of comfort, in what is sometimes a savage and unforgiving world.

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Torre di Toblin, Dolomites

2018-11-24 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

My family and I had spent several days hiking through the Dolomites and it was near the end of our trip. We’d undoubtedly hiked many miles, but it seemed that we’d barely begun to explore the region. It was rich with history and natural beauty and I felt that I could have stayed and wandered its winding paths for months without ever seeing everything the mountains had to reveal.

Torre di Toblin (Toblinger Knoten), Sexten Dolomites (Sesto Dolomites), Italy
August 2018, single shot, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 14 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/24, ISO 64, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>




We weren’t the only ones who were fascinated by the region. For most of the trip, we shared hiking trails with travelers from around the world who explored just as eagerly as we did. You get used to the crowds as a travel photographer — after all, they’re drawn by the same beauty that attracted me.

But towards the end of our trip, I found myself alone on a hike to the Torre di Toblin. It was early in the day, so perhaps most people were not awake yet, but I had the area to myself. It’s a stark, desolate expanse, devoid even of plant life. I had the sense that I was the only living being in that part of the Dolomites, witnessing the earth before the creation of life. And it wasn’t a distressing thought; it was oddly peaceful to look out over the world as it might have appeared before it was populated with all of the earth’s creatures.

The sun rose higher and far below the peaks of the Torre di Toblin, life began to stir.

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |

Cinque Torri, Dolomites

2018-11-06 by Anshar Photography | Comments Off

It’s a beautiful place, this part of Italy. It’s easy to forget yourself here. You can become so entranced by the spectacular natural beauty off far-off peaks that you miss things close at hand. You don’t see them at first, the strange gouges that pockmark many of the trees. In other places, hikers occasionally kick up bullet casings and bits of barbed wire among the wildflowers.

Cinque Torri at Sunset, Dolomites, Italy
August 2018, single shot, additional exposures for highlights, focal length 17 mm, aperture f/11, shutter speed 1/13, ISO 64, tripod.

You can buy this photo as Fine Art Print >>




They are grim reminders of a dark part of the region’s history. From 1914 to 1918, a bitter — if little-known — battle raged here between the forces of Italy and Austria-Hungary. The terrain itself — marked by soaring, 3000 meter peaks — was treacherous, as was the weather, and men died of hypothermia as easily as they died from gunfire. The casualties were enormous — Italy alone lost more than half a million men among the craggy spires of the Dolomites.

Few people remember that fighting now, a century later. A popular spot for hikers, Cinque Torri is now lined with trails and signs pointing in one direction or another. Looking out over the Dolomites on a summer day, it’s almost impossible to imagine the horror that once took place here. The only sounds are birds and the voices of fellow hikers, and wildflowers bloom from a land once scarred by battle. It’s hard to imagine that that the region was ever anything other than surpassingly lovely.

I call this photograph the Valley of Peace. I chose that name because now – one hundred years after the guns fell silent – it’s a place of serenity. Once, countries fought over this land. Now, people from around the world come here for the sole purpose of admiring its beauty. This particular spot is a reminder to me that for all of the harm that humans may sometimes do, we still possess the ability to be deeply moved by the natural world and to look out over creation with a profound sense of wonder.

Posted in Landscape Tagged , |