Brazil

Brazil is a massive country with incredibly diverse landscapes, ranging from dense jungles to iconic urban architecture. Given your work as a professional photographer, these five locations offer some of the most visually compelling opportunities in the country:

• Rio de Janeiro: Perhaps the most photogenic city in the world, Rio offers endless variety. You have the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain and the panoramic views from Sugarloaf Mountain. For street photography and color, the Selarón Steps (Escadaria Selarón) are essential, while Mirante Dona Marta provides one of the best sunrise vantage points for capturing the city’s unique geography.

• Iguaçu Falls: Located on the border with Argentina, this is one of the world’s most impressive natural wonders. With 270 individual waterfalls, it offers dramatic landscape photography opportunities. The “Devil’s Throat” is the most powerful section and provides a perspective that feels almost otherworldly. Tip: Protect your camera gear well, as the mist can be pervasive.

• Lençóis Maranhenses National Park: This is a surreal landscape that looks like a desert, but during the rainy season, hundreds of crystalline, turquoise freshwater lagoons form between the vast white sand dunes. It is a dream location for minimalist and abstract landscape photography.

• The Pantanal: If you are interested in wildlife photography, skip the dense canopy of the Amazon and head to the Pantanal. It is one of the most biodiverse wetlands on the planet and is widely considered the best place on Earth to photograph jaguars in the wild, alongside giant otters, caimans, and a vast array of exotic bird species.

• Brasília: For a contrast to Brazil’s natural wonders, the capital city is a masterclass in modernist architecture. Designed largely by Oscar Niemeyer, the city is a playground for architectural photography. The Cathedral of Brasília and the National Congress building offer bold, geometric lines and structural designs that are unique in global urban planning.