The Columbia River Gorge is one of the crown jewels of Oregon state and being only 15 minutes from my house for 4 of the last 7 years, it was an obvious choice for me to go shoot. Vista House is one of the most iconic places in the Gorge as it’s a beautiful building that stands 600+ feet above the river. I had always known that twice a year the sun rises out of one of the peaks on the Washington side of the river and the sun's rays bathe Vista House in glorious backlighting.

Do you have more than a few days to explore Istanbul? Have you already walked along the Hippodrome and seen Istanbul’s old town in Sultan Ahmet? Here are a few off-the-beaten path locations in Istanbul that are sure to inspire your creative direction. Follow along with this 4 part photography guide, outlining some of the best locations across Istanbul and Turkey to photograph and explore. I was lucky to travel through Istanbul/Turkey in 2014 with my first digital camera.