Feeling overwhelmed by the vast world of photo editing? Think you can’t master the art of transforming your pictures into eye-catching visuals?

Luminar Neo may just be your golden ticket. It’s beginner-friendly and designed to help you to create stunning images with ease.

Luminar Neo is a simple photo editing software that’s perfect for beginners who want great results. It also has powerful editing features for more experienced photographers.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essentials of Luminar Neo, so you’re ready to edit a stunning landscape, or a gorgeous portrait.

Curious? Get 10% OFF Luminar Neo Pro and explore annual subscriptions with the code BAREFOOT10 here.

Ready to embark on your journey to becoming a photo editing pro? Read on, and let’s dive into the world of Luminar Neo together.

How to Use Luminar Neo for Beginners

The bottom line: I found Luminar Neo really easy to use and intuitive. If you’ve ever used another photo editor, it behaves pretty much the same way. That’s a good thing.

Let’s jump right into it. Before editing my photo, I needed to move it to Luminar Neo from my phone.

One thing I find really annoying is moving photos from my phone to my computer. I use Samsung Link to Windows some of the time, which is honestly a pain, and never seems to work well.

So I decided to try the Luminar Share mobile app. I downloaded the app, made sure my computer and phone were on the same Wi-Fi connection, and used Luminar Share to quickly send a photo to Luminar Neo’s catalog. So easy!

How to use Luminar Share to move a photo to Luminar Neo

Once the app is installed, go to Luminar Neo on your computer, and click the share icon in Luminar Neo (top right corner).

Click Connect to device.

A QR code appears on screen, which you scan with your phone.

From there, just select the image you want to share from your devices media library, and click Send it to Luminar Neo.

The image then pops up in the Luminar Neo catalog on your computer.

So easy!

Luminar Neo free trial

Want to try it out? There’s a 7 day free trial.

Click here to download the 7 day free trial.

How to edit a landscape photo in Luminar Neo for beginners

The next step is to open Luminar Neo, and go to the Catalog tab.

In this tutorial, I edit my photo without using Luminar Neo’s Extensions to make it easy for a beginner. There are some insanely cool ones, including AI Noiseless (no more grainy photos!), AI Background Removal (perfect for removing your weird Uncle Bob who’s photobombing you in the background) , and Supersharp (which can make blurry photos in focus again). Scroll down for more on extensions available at the end of the article.

Because I already added my photo from my phone using the Luminar Share app, the photo is now in the Catalog.

Just select the photo you want to edit, and the click Edit at the top of the screen.

I’m editing a photo of a street shot in Leavenworth, Washington. It’s a .jpg image, though Luminar Neo can edit RAW as well.

Luminar Neo is what’s called a non-destructive photo editor. That just means that it doesn’t destroy, or save over top of, your original photo.

The first thing I always do when editing a photo is to crop out what I don’t want. So to do this, I just go to Tools, select Edit – Crop, and drag the edge of the photo to crop, and click Apply.

If you’re in a hurry, use the Enhance AI tool in the Tool tab, it automatically edits your photo, including adjusting the saturation, and more.

To use Enhance AI, just click Enhance, then adjust the sliders on Accent and Sky Enhancer to the intensity you like. It does a pretty good job, and might be all that you need to edit your photo.

Get 10% OFF Luminar Neo Pro and explore annual subscriptions with the code BAREFOOT10 here.

But, I want to show you a few more beginner features, so I’ll start with some simple edits.

I feel the image looks a bit dark and flat in the buildings, so I’m going to make some basic edits to Highlights and Shadows in Develop.

I click on Develop, and just drag the Highlights and Shadows slider to make the buildings a bit lighter, and remove some of the shadow. Notice this washes out the sky a bit, but don’t worry about that, as there’s a super easy way to fix it.

Actually, the whole image could use a boost of color, so let’s click Color in Essentials.

From there, I use the slider to up the Vibrance.

Tip! Saturation impacts the intensity and enhances every color in an image. Vibrance is more specific, and it saturates the parts of a photo that aren’t that colorful.

Looking at the photo, it’s not as sharp as I’d like.

I’m going to use the Structure AI tool here. It’s a good choice, because it enhances image texture and detail. It’s great for landscape photos, because it enhances buildings, mountains and rocks, but it won’t really impact skin tones or other details.

That’s a lot better.

Tip! Structure AI vs the Details slider. I like to use Structure AI, because it doesn’t globally affect all elements in the photo, including skin in portraits, while the Details adjustment globally sharpens edges, which can make skin look a bit weird.

But I have to say all of those adjustments have made the sky look a bit off.

I’m going to play around a bit with the Sky AI Essentials to see if I can make the sky a bit more … dramatic.

Click Sky AI, then click the Sky Selection drop down.

There’s a lot to choose from here.

Just for fun, let’s choose a night sky.

Oh, that’s pretty cool.

Let’s try another – a dramatic sunset.

Also cool. But I’m going to stick with my original sky.

So I’ll click the Reset tool (in the Sky tool) to get rid of my changes to the sky. You can also go to the Edits tab to remove your edits to this point, but this is quicker.

Tip! To delete more major edits, just click on the Edits tab, click Discard Edits, and start fresh. Important: The software keeps track of your edits, allowing you to go back and adjust them. However, reopening a tool undoes all subsequent edits, which can be confusing for beginners.

To finish, I’m just going to go to Enhance AI, and punch up the Sky Enhancer a bit.

And done.

It’s that easy.

I want to compare my edits to the original, so I click the Compare button on the bottom of the screen. This shows the image before and after edits. You can grab the slider in the middle in Luminar Neo to show more or less of the edits. Very cool.

You can also click the little Eye icon on the bottom to toggle between edited and unedited versions of your photo.

Read more great articles like this:

• Using A Cell Phone In Europe Made Easy and Affordable
• Flytographer Review: Our Hometown Photo Shoot
• 25+ Best Travel Memories Quotes to Inspire Your Wanderlust

How to save your photo in Luminar Neo

So, how do I save my photo?

Just click the Share icon on the top right, and click Folder to save to your computer. You can also click Mail to email the photo.

If you click Folder, the Export box pops up. You can select the folder you want to save to. From there, change the format, adjust the quality, and even change the photo’s size.

What are Luminar Neo Extensions?

Luminar Neo has some very cool extensions available. The extensions are included in the Pro and Lifetime plans, but not the most basic Explore plan (more on that below). Here are some of what I think are the best extensions available.

• AI Noiseless (no more grainy photos!)
• AI Background Removal (for removing ugly backgrounds)
• AI Upscale (for improving a print quality version of a pixilated photo)
• AI Magic Light
• HDR Merge
• Supersharp (for motion blur and misfocus)
• Focus Stacking (more advanced, and for stacking up to 100 photos to create sharp details and improve depth of field)
• Relight AI

How much does Luminar Neo cost?

There are three Luminar Neo Plans: Explore, Pro and Lifetime.

Here’s what they cost, at the time of writing:

• Explore $11.84 USD/month (billed monthly) or $142 per year
• Pro $94 USD/first year
• Lifetime $177 USD one-time

The Explore plan gives you access to the photo editor, any upgrades and updates in the software, plus a 5% discount on Marketplace items (Skies, Presets, LUTs, Overlays, etc.)

The Pro plan gives you all you get in the Explore plan, plus access to existing Pro-level extensions, including AI-based tools for sharpening, upscaling, noise reduction, focus stacking, merging HDR images, background removal, light manipulation. You can also use Luminar Neo on two devices (instead of one) . You also get a 10% discount on Marketplace items (Skies, Presets, LUTs, Overlays. etc.)

The Lifetime plan gives you access to everything the Explore plan has, including access to all existing Pro-level extensions, PLUS access to future extensions. Extensions include AI-based tools for sharpening, upscaling, noise reduction, focus stacking, merging HDR images, background removal, and light manipulation). You can also use Luminar Neo on two devices (instead of only one allowed on the Explore Plan), and you get a 10% discount on Marketplace items (Skies, Presets, LUTs, Overlays, etc.)

Luminar Neo vs Luminar AI

The answer here is simple. Luminar AI no longer exists as a separate program in 2023.

Luminar AI was discontinued in October, 2022, with its existing AI features, and more, rolled into Luminar Neo.

In the new 2023 Luminar Neo, the AI tools are rolled into the photo editor itself, while other AI features are in the extensions. There are new AI extensions added all the time!

Luminar Neo discount code

Looking for a coupon for Luminar Neo?

Get 10% OFF Luminar Neo Pro and explore annual subscriptions with the code BAREFOOT10 here.

We’ve visited dozens of castles on our trips to six continents (we haven’t made it to Antarctica yet, but there are no castles there, anyway), and we’re always amazed by the sheer size and beauty of the castles we’ve visited.

Of course, the best or most beautiful castle in the world really depends on your point of view. In this post, we’ve included some of our favorite castles that visually made us say “wow”, and that have a cool history or story behind them.

Our best castles in the world list includes the biggest castles in the world (either the Prague Castle or the Windsor Castle depending on who you’re talking to), what we think may be one of the oldest castles in the world (Goreme Castle, Turkey), as well as cool and unusual castles built into the surrounding rock like the mountainside cave covering Predjamski Castle or castles built on Tibetan mountaintops (Potala Palace) and so forth. Some of these are among the most famous castles in the world as well as some you probably have never heard of before.

What got them on this list is that in their own way, each one is an amazing castle in its own right.

So, before we start, what exactly defines a castle? Can a monastery or church be a castle? Turns out, the definition of a castle is pretty simple. The Merriam Webster dictionary says a castle is “a large fortified building or set of buildings”, “a massive or imposing house” or “a retreat safe against intrusion or invasion”.

The Best Castles in the World

Here they are: our top 20 most beautiful castles in the world, with beautiful castle photos to prove it.

Schloss Schwerin Castle, Germany

The Schloss Schwerin Castle in Germany is about as close to a fairy tale castle that you’re ever likely to find. It’s surrounded by lakes and forest, and features stunning towers that reach into the sky that are topped with golden domes and pinnacles.

Schwerin Castle was built between 1847 and 1857 by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. It’s said there has been a building on the site since around 1160. You can visit this castle at the Schwerin Museum, Germany.

Blarney Castle, Ireland

The medieval Blarney Castle is near Cork, Ireland, and it dates from way back in 1446. It’s one of Ireland’s most famous attractions, and brings in thousands of visitors who want to climb to the top and kiss its famous Blarney Stone.

While there’s the castle itself to visit, there’s also over 60 acres of gardens, waterways, and grounds to explore.

There’s an admission fee to visit, but it can be well worth the cost if you take the time to walk around the ample grounds and check out the castle’s interior.

Osaka Castle, Japan

Osaka Castle is beautiful in and of itself, but it really comes to life during cherry blossom season, when the blooms turn the landscape of Osaka Castle Park gorgeous shades of pink.

The castle is one of Japan’s most well known attractions, and was built in 1583 by feudal lord Hideyoshi Toyotomi, whose love of gold is seen in the gold embellished exterior of the castle.

Uchisar Castle, Goreme, Turkey

We caught our first peek at this ancient castle in Turkey on a balloon ride over Cappadocia. (See the video here).

The castle is made out of solid rock, with rooms and stairways hollowed out of the rock itself. I couldn’t find any confirmed information on the castle’s age, but UNESCO says “It is believed that the first signs of monastic activity in Cappadocia date back to the 4th century at which time small anchorite communities, acting on the teachings of Basileios the Great, Bishop of Kayseri, began inhabiting cells hewn in the rock.”

Today, Uchisar Castle is largely a crumbling ruin, and visitors are banned from visiting due to the risk of collapse. Most of the rooms on the north side of the castle are now used as pigeon houses.

Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle looks like it was plucked straight from your favorite fairy tale, and it’s easily one of the most famous castles around the world, with up 6,000 people visiting a day.

It’s located in Bavaria, Germany, and was built for King Ludwig II. The name means “new swan stone”, and was named after Wagner’s the Swan Knight.

There are only 14 rooms currently finished inside the castle, and they’re all on view for visitors.

Bonus Note: Neuschwanstein’s white limestone facade and blue turrets are rumored to the inspiration for the castle in Disney’s Cinderella.

Lichtenstein Castle, Germany

Lichtenstein Castle (Schloss Lichtenstein in German) is privately owned, and operates as a tourist attraction today. It’s located in the Swabian Jura of southern Germany, an hour’s drive south of Stuttgart.

The Lichtenstein Castle is popular with German tourists, but fewer international tourists visit these days. The current castle was built between 1840 and 1842, however the original castle on the site was built back around 1200.

In terms of size, Lichtenstein is a relatively small castle, however, with stunning views of the Echaz Valley and Swabian Alps it more than makes up for that with its beautiful scenery.

Pena Palace, Portugal

We visited the Pena Palace on a cool spring day a few years ago, and it absolutely wowed us.

You’ll find Pena Palace (Palácio da Pena in Portuguese) just outside of Lisbon, standing high above the municipality of Sintra, Portugal.

It’s a fine example of 19th century Romanticism style of architecture. It was built by King consort Ferdinand II in 1847, and purchased by the Portuguese State in 1889. Today, it’s a museum and tourist attraction, and we’d say it’s well worth a visit.

Tip! Don’t forget to check out the expansive grounds when you visit. It makes a perfect place for a picnic!

Prague Castle, Czech Republic

The Prague Castle is thought to be the largest ancient castle in the world, at about 70,000 square meters (750,000 square feet).

The castle has a long history, dating back to the 9th century, and it has been used by kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. Today, the castle is the official office of the President of the Czech Republic.

Bonus tip! Don’t expect to be alone when you visit. With 1.8 million visitors every year you’ll have plenty of company.

Mont Saint Michel, France

The Mont Saint Michel is one France’s most stunning sights. Mont Saint Michel is a medieval monastery that’s perched high on top of a small island.

The island is located about a kilometer off the coast, and dates back to 709.

Today, Mont Saint Michel is one of France’s most iconic tourist attractions.

Matsumoto Castle, Japan

Matsumoto Castle is an easy day trip from Tokyo. A National Treasure of Japan, and the current structure dates back to 1594.

The Matsumoto Castle is also known as the crow castle because of its black exterior.

It’s a beautiful place, and an especially good choice for visiting Japan with kids.

Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland

The 13th century Eilean Donan is one of the most iconic and visited castles in the Highlands of Scotland. It’s situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, making for some stunning views.

Want to stay on the grounds at the Eilean Donan? It’s possible to stay on site at the Eilean Donan Cottage only a stones throw from the ancient castle.

Egeskov Castle, Denmark

Egeskov Castle opened in 1554, and it is Europe’s best preserved Renaissance water castle. It’s located near Kværndrup, in the south of the island of Funen, Denmark.

There’s a lot to enjoy here, from touring the castle and grounds, to enjoying exhibitions and events involving lots of amazing local food and drinks.

Windsor Castle, England

Windsor Castle is unique in that it’s a currently active royal residence. In fact, it’s the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. The original castle was built in the 11th century, and it’s still possible to visit. If you’re lucky, you may even catch the Queen in residence!

Duart Castle, Scotland

Duart Castle (Caisteal Dhubhairt in Scottish Gaelic) is a castle perched on a craggy cliff on the Isle of Mull, off the west coast of Scotland. The castle dates back to the 13th century.

It was brought back from ruin in 1911, and to this day, it’s still privately owned by the MacLean clan.

Swallow’s Nest, Ukraine

Swallow’s Nest is a small castle perched precariously over the Crimean Sea.

It overlooks the spa town of Gaspra. While it looks like a castle architecturally, it’s not a castle in the truest form, because it wasn’t built to protect its occupants.

A large earthquake in 1927 closed the castle for close to 40 years because of damage to the underlying rock. Today, it houses an Italian restaurant.

Peleș Castle, Romania

Peleș Castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains. It was built between 1873 and 1914 for King Carol I.

It was originally used as a summer residence, and today it operates as a museum. Its extravagant looks led to it being featured in the 2009 movie The Brothers Bloom as well as many TV movies.

Potala Palace, Tibet

Admittedly, Tibet isn’t the first place you think of when trying to picture a castle.

That said, the Potala Palace has a long history, and was the residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. Today, it’s a museum, and on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

It’s located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China.

Predjamski Castle, Slovenia

One of the world’s most dramatic castles, Predjama Castle is a Renaissance castle nestled within a cave mouth in south-central Slovenia. It’s in the village of Predjama, and was built around the 12th century.

In the summer, you can visit the caves underneath the castle.

Dundas Castle or Craig-E-Clare, New York

Dundas Castle is the lone castle from the USA in this list. It was built between 1915 and 1924, and is located in Roscoe, New York, and was modeled after Dundas Castle. It is also known as Craig-E-Clare.

Sadly, it’s currently abandoned, and has a long history of misfortune. The original owner, Ralph Wurts-Dundas, died in 1922 as the castle was being finished. His wife Josephine Wurts-Dundas, was committed to a sanitarium soon after. It was inherited by their daughter, who was swindled out of a great deal of money by the caretakers of the castle. She was admitted to a mental institution herself.

After that, the Dundas Castle went through various owners, including a time as a children’s summer camp. It was bought by a Masonic chapter as a retreat, but it was abandoned by the Masons (who still own the building).

Arolsen Castle, Germany

Arolsen Castle was built in the early 1700s, in Bad Arolsen, Hesse, Germany.

The baroque-style castle is still inhabited by Wittekind, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his family.

The castle is now a museum with daily tours.

Bride on the Steps of Cathedral Se, Porto, Portugal

While the Cathedral Se in Porto, Portugal doesn’t technically count as a castle (as it wasn’t built to protect its occupants), it’s so beautiful, and one of our favorite buildings in Portugal, that we’ve included it in this list.

Cathedral Se is located in the historic city center of Porto, and it’s still a working church, with mass celebrated at 11 am every day.

If you’re lucky, you’ll even see a wedding in progress, like the day we did!

Tip! Are you lucky enough to have visited one of these amazing castles? We’re always looking for ways to remember our travels. We realized long ago that if we took a souvenir from every place we’ve visited around the globe we’d now have a house full of fridge magnets and t-shirts!

Instead, we love to preserve our travel memories in other ways. There are a lot of amazing things you can do with your travel pics, including creating custom, photo themed smartphone covers, HD metal prints, and framed collages.

Would you visit any of these castles? Let us know in the comments.

I’m sure everyone has seen those amazing GoPro videos of surfers on a perfect wave, snowboarders carving down a mountain side, bikers taking 50 foot jumps or those extreme athletes jumping out of perfectly good airplanes or the side of a cliff. I love those.

See the 4K GoPro HERO8 on Amazon.

See GoPro’s newest GoPro HERO10 here.

Honestly though, if anyone needs a compact, hands free camera, it’s a parent. I find myself wishing daily for another set of arms, so carrying around a big, bulky camera just doesn’t work.

So, it’s probably no surprise that we get a lot of questions from fellow parents about the GoPro who want to know is it waterproof? Is it easy to use? How much does it cost? Does it take photos, too? Those are a lot of questions for one tiny camera.

So when Sport Chek reached out to us to review the new GoPro HERO 6 Black, we jumped at the chance. It’s a perfect opportunity to answer all of those questions and more.

First impressions

Before we got our new HERO 6, we owned the GoPro HERO4 SILVER. It’s a great little camera and we’ve gotten some great footage the past few years, but I always disliked how we had to keep it in an external casing.

That’s changed with the newer GoPros, namely the HERO 5 and Hero 6. Unlike older GoPros (like the GoPro Hero 4 and earlier) the HERO 6 doesn’t need an external case to make it waterproof. This is my favorite feature, as it makes the GoPro HERO 6 so easy and convenient to use, and I never have to worry about putting it in a waterproof case.

GoPro HERO 6 Video and photo quality

The GoPro takes great photos and videos. Even better, this tiny camera takes stunning 4K video, which means your family memories will be preserved in stunning detail.

To give it a real try, we took the GoPro HERO 6 Black with us on a early family winter vacation to Mexico and it was the perfect chance to test the GoPro Hero6 in a real world situation.

Take a look at the video below, filmed in 4K on our little GoPro HERO 6 Black. The video is raw and unedited, taken straight out of the camera. We didn’t always have the new image stabiliser on (our bad) and we’ve added titles and music, plus cut out some footage, but we haven’t done anything else. The video quality is just a sample of what you’ll get from this camera.

GoPro HERO6 Features

There’s a lot to like about this camera, and I’m especially fond of the burst feature for photos.

Like a lot of you, I always seem to just miss that perfect moment, like when my kids actually smile at the camera. With the burst mode, I just click the button, and the GoPro takes a burst of photos over several seconds. No more missed photos or that perfect smile.

The GoPro HERO 6 is waterproof to 33 meters. We’ve snorkeled with it, played with it in the pool, and even carried it with us as we boogie boarded in the waves. I let the kids carry it around half of the time, and they dunked it in the pool and the ocean dozens of times. Despite all of this, it remained perfectly waterproof.

Tip! We use a GoPro floating handle to hold the GoPro. This keeps it from getting lost in the surf, or sinking to the bottom of a pool.

How to use the GoPro Hero 6

Is the GoPro easy to use? Well, it’s not hard to use, but using a GoPro is a little different than a smartphone or other camera. If you take ten minutes to learn how to use the GoPro at the beginning, you’ll pretty much know everything you need to.

Thankfully, there are only a couple of buttons: a shutter button, and a mode/power button. There’s also a touch screen in back, which makes getting through the menus pretty easy. Unlike the older models, you can see the photos and video as you’re taking them on the LCD screen just like a regular camera.

You can also download the GoPro app and connect the GoPro to your smartphone to take remote shots or to easily control all the settings. It can also save the videos and pictures directly to your phone so you can easily share them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

GoPro HERO 6 Voice Recognition

The GoPro HERO6 even comes with voice recognition, which we found works really well. Talk about hands free!

You can use voice recognition to turn the GoPro on and off, take photos and videos, and a lot more. It really makes mounting the camera to your helmet or chest strap easier than ever. Just tell it when to start and stop recording no matter what your hands are up to.

GoPro HERO 6 Video Quality

What’s the quality like? Video quality with the GoPro HERO 6 black is an impressive 4K video shooting at 60p, or 60 full frames per second. Those high frame rates per second also mean that it’s excellent at capturing slow motion video. As well as 4K, you can record in 1080p240, 1080p120, or the more classic 1080p60. What that means is that you can still record in high definition and still enjoy top rate quality with varying compression. This means that if space or extended recording is important, you can lower the resolution and not lose a great deal.

Here are a few nerdy facts about video compression for you. The GoPro HERO 6 Black uses a new video codec called High-Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) H.265. It means that the video size can be smaller than the older H.264 protocol, but still retain higher 4K quality. Unfortunately, because H.265 is so new, many video editing software and devices can’t decode its advanced compression at the moment. Luckily, most of the newer Androids and iPhones can play H.265 natively, so wider support is guaranteed as more people get on board with using it. YouTube already supports the new H.265 codec.

GoPro HERO 6 Image Stabilization

The GoPro HERO 6 has digital image stabilization making for steadier video. Because it’s so tiny, we did find that we got some shake when the HERO6 was handheld, but there was less when it was mounted on something like a helmet, or the buoyant floaty handle grip we use. We also didn’t realize that we had turned image stabilization off for part of our trip until we had later watched the videos. For smoother motion, especially when it’s handheld, you’ll want to leave image stabilization on.

So is the GoPro for you?

Well, if you’re looking for a camera with 4K video, then yes, the GoPro HERO6 definitely does 4K video well and with it’s wide field of view or the new Superview, you won’t be missing anything as long as you have lots of good natural light.

Want a rugged, waterproof camera that you can take almost anywhere? Well, the GoPro HERO6 definitely fits that bill as well. With it’s small frame and rugged waterproof abilities, as well as the built in image stabilization, the GoPro can take what you’re giving and keep on recording.

Love playing with new technology? With it’s small touchscreen interface, voice recognition and it’s ability to connect seamlessly with your existing smartphone, the GoPro definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to new tech. There’s a small learning curve, but it’s nothing that a few minutes watching how-to videos or a little reading can’t cure.

The GoPro HERO6 Black HD Action Camera transforms your adventures into incredible QuikStories directly on your phone.

Shopping for a GoPro in Canada? Sport Chek is an official supplier and carries all the latest GoPro devices and accessories.

See the brand new 4K GoPro HERO8 on Amazon.

Thanks to Sport Chek for providing us with the GoPro HERO 6 Black for this review. It was on the wishlist and we definitely enjoyed using it.

Not all deserts around the globe are full of sand and dunes. There are at least five deserts here on Earth that are as bizarre and unique as anything you’ll see on another planet.

Like all deserts, water is tough to find and the sun shines nearly constantly. However, in these places, you’re more likely to lose your breath due to their bizarre beauty than because of thirst. The cool part is that you can fly to a city nearby almost every one of these places.

Let’s take a look at five bizarre and unique deserts you need to visit at one point in your travels.

Sand dunes that create music

The large and sparsely populated country of Mongolia, has an extraordinary culture. The fact that steppes and deserts cover the vast majority of the country has a tremendous impact on every day life for Mongolians and travelers alike.

One of the most famous deserts in Mongolia is the Khongoryn Els. Locally, it’s better known as the Singing Dunes Desert.

It got its nickname due to a unique natural phenomenon that happens in only a few dozen places around the world. When strong winds carry the sand, and the sand dunes collapse, it creates a loud roaring sound. The locals refer to this sound as the song of the desert, giving the area itself the name of the Singing Dunes Desert.

Walking on clouds of salt

Near the Andes in Bolivia, on the edges of the Atacama Desert, there’s a vast and empty salt lake called Salar de Uyuni that is almost 11,000 square kilometers wide.

It’s the largest salt flat in the world, and Salar de Uyuni has also been called the world’s largest mirror, as salt on the surface reflects the sky during the summer rainy season. Coupled with the fact that the whole area deviates in altitude by only few millimeters, this reflection creates the illusion that you’re not walking so much on dry land, but on real white clouds. It’s definitely a unique feeling.

A great tour can make or break a visit in Atacama, so make sure you choose a guide and tour company that are reputable and well known.

The snow white, salt-colored ground is also covered with thousands of hexagon shaped pyramids. These man-made salt mounds are there for drying the salt before it gets mined away. Seeing thousands of them in every direction isn’t something you get to see every day.

A snow desert in the middle of Africa

A few hours away from Egypt’s capital of Cairo, you can stop by one of the most amazing wastelands on the continent, the White Desert. A beautiful variety of sculptures form here when desert sand storms eat away at the lime formations found throughout the region.

The best known sand sculpture in the area is considered to be 4.5 meters tall Fungus Rock, resembling a giant boletus mushroom. Fungus Rock is a naturally formed white rock that looks as pure as snow.

A desert with hundreds of fingers

Australians often refer to the Pinnacle Desert as the Fingers Desert, because the whole area is dotted with limestone towers that look similar to human limbs.

Located 146 km north of Perth, Australia, some of the limestone limbs are barely visible from the ground, while others reach up to five meters in height.

Walking around these fingers can feel downright alien, however spotting a local grey kangaroo or a red eyed emu wandering around them quickly reminds you that you’re still in Australia.

Definitely something to write home about!

A desert canvas

Millions of year ago, erosion worked hard to create this last bizarre but truly beautiful desert, the easily accessible Painted Desert. The Painted Desert can be found in southern Arizona, in the USA.

Often called the Colorful Desert, this vast natural canvas looks like it was painted with layers of orange, brown and yellow pencils.

It’s also worth mentioning that this desert is pretty close to another amazing work of nature; the Grand Canyon, so you can stop by both of these beautiful places and enjoy something truly unique and gorgeous all in the same day.

Not a desert, but cool nonetheless

Not really considered a desert but definitely fitting for its uniqueness, Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve near Alice Springs, Australia gets high points when it comes to natural wonders.

These behemoth granite boulders litter the landscape in every direction and look like they were dropped from the hands of a giant. It doesn’t take much to realize that mother nature is definitely the greatest artist of all time!

AND THE WINNER IS…

Josie from Housesitting Travel

I loved the greenery and bright colors surrounding this charming door. I’d love to spend the evening in a little B&B like this!

It was a tough decision to make – we had a lot of great entries!

And our runner-up

We loved this bright, vibrant, shot from Erin and Josh with Travel with Bender.

It was a very close second, but we felt the photo focused a little more on their beautiful daughter than on the door.

Last week, Tom of Travel Past 50 hosted the 109th round of the competition with the theme “Home”. Below is our winning photograph of my childhood home on the Canadian prairies.

The Contest

Every few weeks, a contest open to travelers from all over the world, participate in what is called Travel Photo Roulette. It’s an ongoing contest that allows travellers to feature their best photos in a wide range of categories. We’ve entered the contest a number of times, and have finally won! Winning the contest means you get to host the next round. That’s why you’re seeing this post on The Barefoot Nomad. Even if you aren’t planning to enter, feel free to stop back here in the next few weeks to see all the great entries.

Round #110: Doorways

Now for this week’s competition: Doorways around the world.

Wherever we go, we’re fascinated by doorways. You never know who’s on the other side, or what secrets are just past the entrance. Some doors are incredibly ornate, some have been weathered with age however what they all have in common is that they are gateways into another person’s private world and an areas culture.

Be sure to enter your doorway photo in this weeks #TravelRoulette! It doesn’t matter whether you’re a newbie to photography or a vet, everyone stands the same chance.

Good luck! Let’s see those photos!

Here are a few of our doorway photos for inspiration.

About Travel Photo Roulette:

Travel Photo Roulette is a competition started by Jeremy at Living the Dream way back in November 2010 as away for travel writers to connect and share their photos.

The Contest

The contest is pretty straightforward. The winner of the previous round chooses a new theme and hosts the competition on their blog, inviting others to share their photos over the course of a week or two. As the end of the contest period, the host selects a winner and the process repeats itself.

The Rules

1. One submission per blog please, so sites that have 2+ authors only get one entry.
2. You will need a personal blog or website to participate (so you can host if you win!)
3. Post processing, cropping, correcting for red eyes and other flaws is fine.
4. Abstract submissions are welcome. But if you want to win, it’s probably best that the judge understands your interpretation
5. Hosts should keep themes general so all travellers can participate. Avoid specifics like ‘Eiffel Tower’; instead choose a more open theme, like ‘monuments’ or ‘monuments at night’
6. Abstract themes can be fun, as long as everyone can understand. ‘Overlooking creation’ is good, ‘Kafkaesque’ is not
7. No obscene photos or themes allowed. Suggestive themes and photography might be accepted, but be careful. Remember, the host is all-powerful
8. Themes may be reused after a period of time; however new photos must be submitted. Keep it fresh!
9. You do not have to take the photo within the week of the contest period to submit it.
10. Most important: ALL PHOTOS MUST BE YOUR OWN.
11. Please spread the word about Travel Photo Roulette via Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and any other means you can think of and use the hashtag #PhotoRoulette
12. It’s a game, so have fun with it.

How to Enter

To enter, simply leave a comment below with a link to your photo and it will be added to the post. (You can also send us an email using the “Contact” link above.) A brief description of the picture is always welcome to provide some background and context. Also, please don’t forget to include your name, a link to your blog, and any pertinent social media information so everyone can come see what you’re all about (and so we can contact the winner!).
The contest will run until Friday, August 31, 2015 at midnight EST, after which time we will select the winner. We’ll share the results right in this post.

Spread the Word

Tweet about this contest using the hashtag #PhotoRoulette and feel free to share this page with your friends on social media – the more the merrier! We love seeing your comments so please don’t be bashful about sharing your opinions.

Previous Winners

Finally, here are the past winners of the contest – as you can see, it’s been running for a while! Click on the link to take you to some great travel blogs and wonderful themed photos.

The winners and themes in 2015. Click the link to go directly to that entry to see some fab photographs.

93. 93. Jan 2015 Adventures of a GoodMan: WOW!
    94. Jan 2015 ZigZag On Earth: Roads and Tracks
    95. Feb 2015 Where’s The Gos?: Street Art
    96. Mar 2015 Ice Cream and Perma Frost: Frozen
    97. Mar 2015 Journey Jottings: Detail
    98. April 2015 House Sitting Travel: What’s your Angle?
    99. April 2015 JetWayz: Spiritual Beauty
    100. April 2015 The Trading Travelers: Celebrate
    101. May 2015 Street Food World Tour: Epic
    102. May 2015 Next Stop Who Knows: Landscape
    103. May 2015 We Travel Together: Wildlife
    104. May 2015 Vagabond Way: Festival
    105. June 2015 Travel Addicts: Landmarks
    106. June 2015 TravelnLass: Wrinkles
    107. July 2015 Anita’s Feast: Food Markets
    108. July 2015 Dare2Go: Dry
    109. August 2015 Travel Past 50: Home

Enter the contest by adding a comment below or by emailing us using our contact form. Again, be sure to include a link to the image, a link to your blog, and any other information that will allow us to contact you.

Entry 1:

Josie from Housesitting Travel

My cute little door is from Conrad’s and my B&B in Bergen, Norway. We arrived via the night train from Oslo and were so charmed to find our pre-booked lodging just on the outskirts of downtown. We didn’t spend much time here though because it was July and the sun went down at 1 a.m. and came up again at 3:30 a.m.!

Entry 2:

Anne from Let Me Be Free

While I was in Cambodia I captured this image of a monk at one of the temples. It makes me feel very relaxed looking at this picture.

Entry 3

Carole Terwilliger Meyers from Berkley and Beyond

Though this door is painted such a dark blue that it almost looks black, it is the entrance to the exceptional Blue Door Inn in Mendocino, California. Situated within an immaculately updated 1883 Victorian house, it is tastefully furnished in contemporary English style and housebaked cookies are always available.

Entry 4

Brent Huntley from Brent’s Favorite Photos.

I loved the double level set of doors at Chang Deok Gung in Seoul, South Korea.

Entry 5

Noel Morata from Travel Photo Discovery

I’m submitting this green door – it is from a small hamlet in Northern Italy.

Entry 6

Juergen | dare2go.com

I love this hand carved door which we noticed in Villa de Leyva in Colombia. It depicts perfectly the rural life in this region. The bottom right panes shows fossils which the area is famous for. #door #handcarved #VillaDeLeyva #Colombia

Entry 7

Blanca Pauliukevicius

I am also fascinated by doors, especially old ones. This is one of the oldest in the US. I shot this during my honeymoon in St. Augustine, Florida in December 2008.

Entry 8

Rebecca Hall (Bex) of Life Beyond Borders.

This one is a ‘doorway’ of a different sort. The canvas glamping tent amongst the woods in Moran State Park, Orcas Island, San Juan Islands chain in the Pacific Northwest, just off the coast of Seattle.

Entry 9

Suzanne Fluhr of Boomeresque

My photo is of the door to Nelson Mandela’s cell in the infamous Robben Island prison off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, where he spent 17 years of his 27 years of imprisonment by the apartheid government. Nelson Mandela’s life is a testament to the fact that prison cell doors can keep people in, but not ideas.

Entry 10

Erin and Josh with Travel with Bender

Antigua Guatemala. History. Antique. Old. And the perfect backdrop for laughing children.

Ayers Rock, or Uluru to the local Anangu Aboriginal people, is a large sandstone rock formation in the southern part of the Northern Territory in central Australia. It’s about 3 and a half hours south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs.

The area around the rock outcropping includes a few water springs, waterholes and rock caves with some ancient paintings. There are numerous guided tours and seeing the rock is a great way to learn about its Aboriginal history.

Truth be told, it may seem like a long way to travel just to see a giant rock, but the entire experience can be quite memorable.

Whether you’re enjoying the sunrise or sunset views (the only time the rock truly looks red) with the traditional glass of champagne or hiking around the 9.4 km trail at it’s base, Uluru needs to be seen from different angles throughout the day to be fully appreciated.

The color and texture change so much depending on the time of day you would almost believe it was alive. The nearby domed rocks of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas) is equally captivating, has a few walks of it’s own and will leave you with a feeling of wonder.

The drive there can get a little boring, however, the occasional kangaroo and emu sightings, the red dirt and scrub bush, the camel ranches and the beautiful Australian outback sky are all interesting things to see along the way. They have a nice resort/campground in nearby Yulara (Ayers Rock Resort) where you can stay for a few days. If you go you’ll definitely want to see at least one sunrise or sunset viewing and I would recommend against any extended driving in the dark when you’re new to the outback.

Here’s a travel tip: If you’re driving in the outback by wary of kangaroos. For whatever reason when they’re on the move they rarely stray from their path.

When we drove up the Oodnadatta Track and the Stuart Highway in our van from Adelaide to Darwin and then across from Darwin to Cairns we saw countless kangaroos and even more carcasses along the highway. More than once we had to stop the car to let a kangaroo jump across.

The funny part is that in a lot of places you can see the kangaroo coming from a mile away. They’re usually bouncing perpendicular to the road and traveling at a decent speed. Even though you’re 10 times they’re size and are quite visible they don’t seem to notice that you’re there. They’ll run right into the side of your vehicle if you’re at the wrong spot at the wrong time, even if you’re at a complete standstill!

Next to the zigzagging road trains, the kangaroos are the biggest threat on the roads in the outback and aren’t so easily dismissed.

In the northeast Caribbean, the island of St Martin is a mixture of sophisticated restaurants, stunning beaches and rural charm. The island is divided between two nations, with the more populous Southern part owned by the Netherlands (Sint Maarten) and the larger, less populous North owned by France (Saint Martin).

The Dutch side of the island is well known for buzzing nightlife, guavaberry drinks, casinos and gorgeous beaches. The quieter French side is home to exquisite, but moderately priced, restaurants, nude beaches and duty free shopping.

The dual nationality of the island makes for some great cultural diversity, especially when coupled with the island’s Caribbean roots, and the fact that a local dialect of English is the most common language. Because of the diversity of the island, you’ll see the name spelled many different ways, including St Martaan, St Maartan, St Martin, St Marten and St Maarten.

However you choose to spell it, the best way to get a feel for St Martin is to rent a car and spend a day touring the island. It’s an easy day trip all around the island, and you’ll get a real feel for the great diversity of culture, and the wonderful beaches. Goats, chickens and cows roam the island at will, and are part of the charm of St Martaan. We snapped this picture at the Simpson Bay Lagoon, just outside of Marigot.

Travel Tip: Make sure you stop to watch a plane land at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Airplanes coming in for a landing make an alarmingly close buzz over the heads of beach goers at Maho Beach. It truly has to be seen to be believed.

When you’re in St Martin, consider a visit to the island of Anguilla, which is a short ferry ride or flight. Anguilla’s usually only visited by the uber-rich, but it’s surprisingly accessible, and the islands dozens of quiet white sand beaches and amazing restaurants make for a wonderful day trip.

Often, it’s the little, quirky things that seem to capture the spirit of wherever we travel, so today we thought we’d let you have a peek into the unique street tile art of Lisbon, Portugal.

The tiles, appropriately called Portuguese pavement or calcada portuguesa, come in many mosaic patterns. Even today they’re painstakingly laid down by hand, following a process created hundreds of years ago. We found these tiles everywhere on the streets of central Lisbon in an incredible variety of artistic patterns.

They’re one of our favorite unusual things to see and do in Lisbon.

The origin of the Portuguese street tile is a bit hard to track down, though they first appeared in Lisbon near the Castelo de São Jorge. They became so popular that their use spread quickly throughout the city. Today, the tiles are found all over Portugal, and even in former Portuguese colonies, including Macau, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil.

Sadly, these tiled streets and sidewalks are in danger of disappearing. Not only can they can be incredibly slippery, there are fewer and fewer tradespeople interested in learning the backbreaking art of maintaining these sidewalks.

Luckily for all of us, they are still popular in certain historical areas as well as numerous high end locations in Portugal and abroad.

About Rue Augusta

The photo above was taken on Rue Augusta, in the busiest part of Lisbon. Rue Augusta is a pedestrian only street filled with street cafes, flower stalls, bakeries and specialty shops selling everything from shoes and hats to Portuguese ginjinha liquor. Many old buildings, from the reconstruction of Lisbon by Marquês do Pombal after the 1755 earthquake, are still standing.

More Info

Check out our Pinterest board on Portuguese street tiles, where we’ve curated some of the best photos of these street tiles from around the world.

If you’re interested in how the pavement is made, the Portuguese Pavements Handbook (Manual da Calçada Portuguesa) has a detailed look at calçada portuguesa, covering everything from origin to detailed building specifications.

Creating the calçada portuguesa is backbreaking work, and even today the tiles are laid in much the same way they were hundreds of years ago. This video gives some idea of the backbreaking work required to create and maintain Portuguese street pavement.

 “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ― W.B. Yeats

Travel, by its very nature, is all about a switch in perspective.

When we’re in unfamiliar territory, things that seemed incredibly important in our everyday lives can suddenly seem trivial. And things that were trivial to us in our day-to-day lives (like a comfortable bed, or a good meal) are suddenly cherished.

So I was thrilled when our fellow travel bloggers (and genuinely awesome people) Heidi and Alan at Wagoner’s Abroad tagged us in an Across The Rooftops photo challenge, first started by Marianne from the East of Málaga blog.

From the post The Best of Lisbon 10 Things You Shouldn’t Miss

Searching out a great vantage point, and gazing out over the rooftops is one of my favorite ways to play with perspective when we go somewhere new. It’s always a bit disorienting to see a city from up high, but that’s the joy of it, I think.

Here are a few of my favorite places in the world to look down across the rooftops.

From our article Falling in Love with Porto: In Photos

Taken from Walking the Cold Walls of Avila and Enjoying the Sunshine

From our post This Should Be On Your Bucket List: A Hot Air Balloon Ride Over The Cave Houses Of Cappadocia

From the article VIDEO: Hot Air Ballooning with Butterfly Balloons in Goreme Turkey

Photo taken in Toronto, Canada, in early 2013.

From our post Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

From our article A Tour of Morocco Through our iPhone Lens

We hope you enjoyed!

We haven’t visited the Galapagos yet, but I’m looking forward to a day when I get to take our two little ones and chat with them about Darwin’s famous finches.

I’ve spent so much time scouring through photos and blogs in preparation, in fact, that I thought I’d share some of these with you.

I’m happy to note that most of these fantastic photos were taken by fellow travel bloggers. You can find even more of their great photos here on our Galapagos Dreaming Pinterest board.