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Nikon photographer Flash Parker documents the epic beauty of French Polynesia using the new Nikon D7500.

Travel deeper and photograph better when you join one of our immersive small group trips, departing January through March 2018.

It’s probably a lot different than you might think.

Overview

Turneffe Atoll’s sprawling central lagoon is a beautiful natural playground marked by thick mangrove islands and littoral forest, and hosts dozens of remarkable marine species – including crocodiles. Yes, the central lagoon is pretty to look at and one of the best places in Belize to watch the sun rise, but I wouldn’t recommend you go for a dip. Crocodiles spend their days escaping the heat in the thick mangroves, then swim out into the open ocean at dusk to feed. I saw two crocs during my time on the island; a very young juvenile whose curiosity had brought him right up to the sandy patch of beach behind the Blackbird Caye Resort, and a suspicious adult who kept his distance (thankfully). Still, the lagoon is a great place to spy on the aforementioned crocodiles, photograph marine birds, and more. Photo Finish: Nikon D800 | 24-70mm f/2.8 lens | Aperture f/6.3 | ISO-400 | Shutter 1/60 sec.

Blackbird Caye Resort is the gateway to the stunning Belize Barrier Reef, but so much more than a stopgap hitching post for scuba nerds. Stretched across two miles of palm-fringed beach on the windward side of the Turneffe Atoll, Blackbird is set against a backdrop of more than 4,000 acres of untrammeled jungle, mangrove forests, sprawling lagoons, and migratory bird habitats. Many guests come to Blackbird to get under the water and at the reef – some of the best diving sites in Belize are a short five or ten minute boat ride from Blackbird’s dock – though this isolated island paradise has plenty to offer visitors looking to stretch their land legs. 18 ocean-view cabanas, each with its own private balcony and hammock, hold dominion over the Caribbean Sea. The Poolside Bar is a great place to unwind after a hot day in the sun, while the gallant High Tide Bar, with at least two feet in the sea at any one time, offers an excellent happy hour and complimentary snacks, including island fare like lion fish fingers, ceviche, conch fritters, and fried grouper. One of the top dive resorts in the world and a postcard-perfect island paradise, Blackbird is at once home away from home, and your own secluded hideaway. Photo Finish: Nikon D800 | 24-70mm f/2.8 lens | Aperture f/7.1 | ISO-640 | Shutter 1/30 sec.

Travelers know that the fastest way to the heart of a destination is through the stomach, and that one good meal, even one tiny bite of a fresh new dish, can set the tone for many culinary adventures to come. After arriving in Belize City and transferring to the Maya Island Airport, I found myself with a bit of time to kill and a hankering for some local grub; we have driven past dozens of street carts, pop-ups and hole-in-the-wall restaurants on our drive across the city, and I was ready for a taste of this new destination. Admiral’s Restaurant at the tiny airstrip served up one of the freshest bowls of ceviche I’ve had in my life (made with conch and prawns) crab meat nachos, and perfectly chilled Belikin Beer. A lovely way to kickstart adventures in Belize. Photo Finish: Nikon D800 | 24-70mm f/2.8 lens | Aperture f/5.6 | ISO-1000 | Shutter 1/400 sec.

I’ll tell you that I wasn’t nervous when I came face-to-face with this big toothy fella, but that would probably be a fib. In reality, coming up on big marine life on your second ever PADI dive is nerve-wracking, thrilling, and just plain amazing. I was focusing mostly on my new underwater skills – like how not to scream when encountering a lounging barracuda – when I met this fella, but I’m still happy that I came away with a single frame from our meet-up. Douglas Caye is another in the long list of world-class dive sites surrounding the Turneffe Atoll. Our crew from the Blackbird Caye Resort spent about an hour in the deep as part of our PADI scuba training, and as such we barely scratched the surface on what this unique location has to offer. Breathtaking stuff. Photo Finish: Nikon 1AW1 | 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens | Aperture f/5.6 | ISO-500 | Shutter 1/30 sec.

I’m still stuck on exactly how the Coral Canyons earned the name… Just kidding, of course. The Belize Barrier Reef is known for remarkable stretches of pristine coral, while some are even more remarkable than others – like the famous Coral Canyon dive site, known the world over for a stunning array of coral life, and the many marine creatures that call the colorful bits home. PADI Instructor Dom Evans gave me a crash course in coral before we plunged into the deep. The first thing I was told to remember was to keep a safe distance from all coral, so as not to damage it, or the animals living inside. The second lesson was on coral identification – so that if I did mistakenly touch something like fire coral, I’d know exactly how long I was going to be in excruciating pain. Solid lessons, all the way around. Photo Finish: Nikon 1AW1 | 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens | Aperture f/10 | ISO-320 | Shutter 1/160 sec.

San Pedro de Atacama is a beautiful adobe-esque town on the edge of Atacama Desert in Chile, just west of the Bolivian border. I took this photo in near by Valle De Luna, while I was mountain biking through a virtual moonscape of natural geography. The air is so dry and clear here, you get these amazing colors from sunsets. This wild cloud formation just formed before our eyes, and the setting sun painted this crimson red.... an amazing sight. You have to fly into Calama, (90 min bus to San Pedro), or you overland for a couple days from Uyuni, Bolivia and cross the border into San Pedro. The evenings are full of festive small bars with fireplaces and good fun. Try Andes Traveller to rent bikes or horses (www.andestraveller.com.ar). Go hike or bike through Valle de Luna and get lost in time. You can trek, sandboard, see flamingos at the nearby Las Flamencos national reserve, and hot springs; all very close to town. Shot with velvia film and tripod. nikon f100 no filters or heavy processing, just natural magic light!

The Inca Trail is perhaps the most famous trek in Peru. This is the road to Machu Picchu, an ancient route that leads from the Sacred Valley into the heart of the Andes. You must obtain a permit and hire an official guide in order to hike the Inca Trail proper. There are plenty of tour operators in Cusco that offer trips up to Machu Picchu, so you should definitely look at reviews before you choose. For better or for worse, the tours are all-inclusive. The local tour operators employ porters to carry your packs and set up a camp. A team of local chefs will prepare three meals a day, and many hikers come back raving about the delicious meals. Keep in mind that the trek can be tough, especially in the first few days. The trail is often narrow, and it flirts with formidable heights. The mountains in this part of the Andes can rise well over 13,000 feet, and many hikers find themselves suffering from altitude sickness. Make sure to take a few days (in Cusco or the Sacred Valley) to acclimatize before you begin the journey. Finally: make sure to plan ahead! The Peruvian government limits trail access to 500 people per day, including porters. This regulation protects the local ecosystem and the delicate ruins, and it ensures that the trail won’t be too crowded. However, it also means that permits for the peak summer season sell out months in advance. If you aren’t able to get a permit for the classic Inca Trail, never fear: there are various other trails that lead to Machu Picchu.