Today, I’m sharing a blog post from a guest, Brian, who joined me on one of my photography tours to the Dolomites and Slovenia. I asked him to write about his experience because of something he said that has always stuck with me: how switching from traditional tourist holidays to photography-focused tours and workshops changed his perspective on travel. Seeing beautiful places at the best times of day and coming home with incredible images is such a unique and rewarding experience.
That sentiment perfectly sums up why I do what I do. These tours aren’t just about taking photos—they’re about seeing the world in a whole new light (literally and figuratively). Here’s Brian’s story, in his own words:
My name is Brian, and I’m a photographer from Minnesota. For years, I was stuck in the cycle of those classic bus tours, you know the ones. You’re herded to a scenic spot in the middle of the day when the lighting is at its worst, snap a few rushed photos, then it’s back on the bus before you’ve had a chance to take it all in. I used to joke that my memory card was full of pictures of other people’s heads and “postcard hours” light.
That all changed when I found Chasing Light Tours.
My first trip with Tyler was to the Dolomites. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I was ready for something different. It was the second day of my Dolomites Photography Tour, and I really had no idea what I had signed up for. Just the day before, I had met our small group of photographers, all strangers to me at the time, and now we were waking up before sunrise, heading to a mysterious location in search of fog. Fog! I had no idea you could hunt for fog, yet there I was, coffee in hand, ready for the adventure.
We arrived at the location while it was still pitch black. With headlamps lighting the way, we set off on a short 20-minute hike to what Tyler promised would be an incredible vantage point. At this point, I couldn’t see much of anything, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. As we reached the top, we set up our tripods and waited in the quiet, cold morning.
Then the sun began to rise. Slowly, it crept up behind a towering mountain, bathing the landscape in warm, golden hues. The shapes of small dairy huts and alpine meadows started to come into view, and I was utterly captivated. The world around me seemed to glow, every detail coming alive in the soft morning light. For a moment, I forgot why I was even there. My camera sat idle as I simply took in the scene.
The rest of the group had already moved on, wandering further to search for that elusive fog we had come for. Only one other photographer remained with me. We stood there quietly, sharing the moment, until I decided it was time to catch up with the others.
As I turned to leave and told my fellow photographer I was heading out, it happened. Like a predator pouncing on its prey, the fog came sweeping into the valley, curling through the trees and enveloping the huts below. It was breathtaking.
I scrambled to unpack my camera and tripod, fumbling in my excitement to capture the moment. The fog was dynamic, shifting and changing with the light as the sun climbed higher. Our camera shutters clicked furiously, filling the air with sound like a casino filled with slot machines. We couldn’t help but laugh, caught up in the shared joy of the moment. In those few minutes, we spoke a language that didn’t need words, landscape photography.
Another day brought a different kind of adventure. This time, the fog was so dense there was no need to hunt it. It surrounded us entirely, creating an otherworldly atmosphere. The catch? We were walking along a narrow ledge with a sheer drop on one side. Heights aren’t my thing, and every step felt like a challenge, but the group was patient and encouraging. They supported me without judgment, and somehow, I made it through.
These moments shared laughter, mutual encouragement, and the thrill of the perfect shot, defined my first photography trip with Tyler and Chasing Light Tours in the Dolomites.
When I returned home, it took me six months to fully process the beauty and camaraderie I had experienced. The landscapes, the light, the people, it was unforgettable. But I couldn’t help wondering: was it a one-time feeling, or was this what Chasing Light Tours was truly about? I had to know, so I booked another trip, this time a Slovenia Photography Tour.
Slovenia brought a new group of people, new landscapes, and yet the same Tyler, calm, knowledgeable, and endlessly passionate. I wasn’t sure anything could top the Dolomites, but Slovenia proved me wrong. From glass-like water reflections at sunrise to countless photos of ducks (prompting me to joke that this was a “Chasing Ducks” tour), the experience was magical.
One unforgettable night, we snuck across country borders under the cover of darkness. Tyler led us to a secret spot to capture the aurora borealis dancing over the Julian Alps and Lake Bled. I had never seen anything like it, green and purple ribbons of light reflecting on the water, creating a scene straight out of a dream.
And, of course, there was fog. Glorious, fleeting fog that seemed to appear just when you thought the moment couldn’t get any better.
By the end of that trip, I was convinced. With every fibre of my being, I knew this was the only way I wanted to travel. Tyler’s tours bring you to the most beautiful locations in the world at the perfect times to see them, with a group of like-minded people who share a passion for photography.
Thank you, Tyler and Chasing Light Tours, for starting me on this incredible journey. If you’ve never experienced this kind of travel before, where the focus is on capturing the world through your lens, I can only say one thing: go for it. You’ll have some of the best adventures and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Enjoy the clicks.
Connect with Brian
If you’d like to see more of Brian’s photography, you can check out his website at 2B Photography MN or follow him on Instagram at @2bphotographymn. His passion for capturing the beauty of the world is truly inspiring, and it’s amazing to see how his work has evolved since his first tour with me.
