The Best Place to Photograph Natural Landscapes

Who hasn't stood in front of a beautiful landscape and pulled out a camera to take it home as a keepsake? When nature is at its most splendid, it's hard not to want to photograph it. That's why landscape photography is such a favorite. Here we share the best place to photograph natural landscapes (also known as Sierra Lago), plus 5 tips to help you take better landscape photos.

Sierra Lago, a Photographer's Paradise

When we travel, the world amazes us with its beauty, and ever since photography became popular, travelers have carried cameras to capture the wonders of their trips. The classic image of a tourist always includes a camera hanging from a strap around the neck. Today, with ever-better smartphone cameras, taking great photos is easier than ever. Features like slower shutter speeds, panoramic shots, self-timers, cropping, filters and even Photoshop have put excellent photography within everyone's reach.

Sierra Lago is a postcard in itself: everything here begs to be captured in a photo and shared on social media. Whether you come on a family vacation, a weekend for two or a solo trip of self-reflection, you'll want photos that preserve the memories of your stay forever. Here are some ideal places to photograph during a visit to Sierra Lago, so you can relive their beauty back home:

The Lake

Juanacatlán lake, around which Sierra Lago sits, is one of Mexico's best-kept secrets. This large body of water, surrounded by conifer forest, lies in the crater of an extinct volcano at almost 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet) above sea level. It is a kilometer and a half (about a mile) long, with depths ranging from 1 to 50 meters. It's a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. You can admire its vast, mirror-like surface, and any photo with the lake in the background will simply be stunning.

The Orange Tree

Located next to the pool, and contrary to what you might think, the Orange Tree isn't a citrus tree but a tree that is orange in color, an iconic symbol of the Sierra Lago landscape. The color orange has a special power, quality and essence, and it can strongly influence our emotional state and spiritual well-being. Orange can attract creative energy. The Orange Tree is meant to draw in your peace, happiness and success. It symbolizes an extraordinary moment in time, when we stand before a luminous mystery, a symbol of interconnected branches, much like our intertwined dreams. Sitting near it creates a sense of purpose: the start of a golden vacation. Its vibrant color and the contrast with the green lawns around it make it one of the best photo spots at Sierra Lago.

Sculptures

Along the resort's trails you'll come across interesting statues, most of them dedicated to childhood and the animal world, placed there on purpose to represent the innocence and beauty of nature and add a touch of symbolism and spirituality.

The Forest

The countless pines surrounding Sierra Lago help give it its magical character. At the end of the day, the trees offer a direct connection to rich, majestic nature. To appreciate the beauty of a tree, you first have to understand its role, its invisible contribution, in order to see it in all its reality and magnificence. A tree offers countless blessings: ecological, cultural and spiritual benefits for everyone. Sitting next to one, you may feel euphoric, content or fulfilled; in a word: alive. All of these feelings mean you're having an amazing vacation. Capture its beauty with your camera and enjoy it forever.

The Dock

Standing on this small dock facing the wide lake, you'll get a photo that makes the beauty and grandeur of the place crystal clear.

The Chapel

A popular venue for wedding ceremonies, its rustic, romantic look makes it a perfect backdrop for your photos.

Your Cabin

Show your loved ones the comfort and warmth of your cabin in the middle of the forest. Whether you stay in a Standard Cabin, a Suite Cabin or the romantic Honeymoon Cabin, everyone will agree it's a truly cozy spot. And if you're lucky enough to stay at Casa Lago, be sure to take plenty of photos of its sensational facilities.

5 Tips for Photographing Landscapes

Here are the best practices for taking spectacular photos of natural landscapes.

Use Natural Light Whenever Possible

Photography is made possible by light, which makes it the single most important element. So it's best to work with natural light whenever you can, even indoors. If you're inside, look for the same qualities: plenty of light, ideally soft and diffused.

Avoid Using the Flash

The built-in flash on most phones produces harsh light that creates strong shadows and is rarely useful, so avoid it as much as possible, and if you do use it, make sure it's because you have no other choice.

Look for New Points of View

If we want to impress with a landscape photo, we can't limit ourselves to shooting from the lookout everyone climbs to. We should look for strategic spots, even if reaching them takes more time and effort.

Include People in the Shot

Sometimes the best way to show how grand a place is, is to add elements whose size we know. For example, placing a person in front of a landscape gives us an idea of how big it is compared to them. Adding a human element to landscape photos also makes the shot more interesting and can help give the image a story, making it even better.

Try Different Formats, Like Panoramas

When a landscape is so wide that not even a wide-angle lens can capture it, there's another way to fit it into one image: the panorama. A panorama combines several shots stitched together to cover a wider field of view. Many smartphones include this feature.

Now you know: if you're coming to Sierra Lago for an all-inclusive vacation, get ready not only to enjoy yourself but also to capture beautiful photos at the best place to photograph natural landscapes. The perfect shot can appear at any moment: watching the sunset from your terrace, enjoying one of the outdoor activities or simply wandering around. Every corner of Sierra Lago offers scenes that will delight us with their beauty and bring back fond memories of an unforgettable vacation, and whenever we look at our great landscape photos, we'll want to return to this magical place soon.

Plan your getaway to Sierra Lago

Pack your camera and book one of our luxury cabins so the lake and forest are the first frame of your day. Between hikes, horseback rides and stargazing nights, our activities will take you to the best spots to shoot, and with the all-inclusive plan the only thing you'll need to worry about is the light.