Deborah Sandidge

The village of Oia in Santorini, Greece is breathtaking, inviting you to capture the rolling wave of yellow-gold as city lights begin to illuminate the whitewashed houses, and unique architecture. I was there with my 24-70mm lens to photograph the picturesque beauty of that moment as clouds playfully passed the island.

I waited for the moment until the sun peeked across the silhouetted horizon, filling the sky with rich colors of gold and pink. The layers of color, and pattern, and stillness of the water is what drew me to this shot of Lake Bled, in northwestern Slovenia.

The moments between sunset and night hold the most interest for me. The sky takes on deeper and varied shades of blue, and the golden glow from city lights on Pont Alexandre III, cast fascinating reflections on the river Seine in Paris.

Buckingham Fountain in Chicago’s Grant Park is captivating both night and day with its romantic, wedding cake architectural style. Throughout the evening, the fountain is lit with a variety of colorful lights, creating a multitude of options for the photographer.

I have always wanted to photograph the Flatiron Building in NYC, but instead of the building alone, it was the surrounding frenzy of taxis and cars that drew me to the scene. Shooting from a street corner with my 24-70mm lens gave the wild impression that I was standing in the middle of the street to take this picture.

The pink-hued golden glow of the sun drifting deeper behind the sand dunes in India provided the perfect opportunity to photograph camels and their handlers in the Thar desert. In the low light I stood camera in hand within the peaceful quietness of the scene—an almost magical moment.

San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge is one of my top favorite bridges in the world. I like to arrive well before sunrise to find my position and set up the camera as morning unfolds in the sky. The contrast of colorful clouds, watery reflections, and the soft pink glow on the horizon—tell-tale signs of the coming day.

Paris by night must include the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. The iconic spinning windmill perched atop unique and colorful architecture reveals the personality of this place. It comes alive during the blue hour, the perfect time to allow me to portray the windmill in motion with a several-second exposure.

The San Antonio Riverwalk area blends the allure of a Venice waterway, Texas style, with flamboyant colored umbrellas and numerous walkways. My vantage point was on a bridge, photographing the scene over several seconds to convey a sense of motion with the passing water taxis.

Once I found this beautiful 15th century cathedral, I knew a higher perspective would allow me to include a dramatic sky and sense of place in Santiago de Cuba. I shot from a nearby rooftop café, perfect to capture this vast scene using my wide angle 16-35mm lens.

The countryside of the Palouse in Washington state is vast and beautiful. I planned my arrival near sunset to allow the natural low light to define the colorful contours of the hills and valleys. To emphasize the visual impact of what I was experiencing, I chose to isolate a small part of the scene.

My first experience with wind turbines in the Palouse, Washington, was a whimsical and fun filled experience. I interpreted them as giant daisies on a cloud filled blue-sky day. I used a multiple exposure technique in order to capture this serendipitous scene, coming away with a child like wonder of form and function.

Getting up before the crack of dawn can be inspirational. Low light and a long exposure offered a creative opportunity for me as the wind painted the clouds across the sky early one morning at the Valensole Plain in the south of France.

Sunrise over the ocean can be dramatic, especially when presented with the gift of having a powerful tide rush in and race through spectacular rock formations. My goal as I capture this scene is to make you feel as if you are there. Finding different compositions draws me to the ocean time after time. Each moment is unique, every pattern sketched by the sea, so beautiful.

I like to scout locations during the day for special spots to photograph later at night when city crowds subside, and I feel as if I have the streets to myself. Photographing at night dramatically changes a scene, with light, shadow, and rain, for the very best reflections on a cobblestone street in Florence.

The village of Oia in Santorini, Greece is breathtaking, inviting you to capture the rolling wave of yellow-gold as city lights begin to illuminate the whitewashed houses, and unique architecture. I was there with my 24-70mm lens to photograph the picturesque beauty of that moment as clouds playfully passed the island.