The Loire Valley is renowed for its sumptuous châteaux crowning a fertile and green land. Check out just a couple of photos in my latest album TOP Destinations: Loire Valley.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Normandy has a major historical importance to Europe immediately associated with its D-Day beaches. Furthermore the region presents a zigged shoreline, cozy harbours and one of the most iconic landmarks of France which can all be found in my latest album TOP Destinations: Normandy.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hi,

you can find here just a glimpse into Oslo, Norway's capital, where modern architecture shapes an elegant lifestyle.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Lofoten Islands are situated above the Artic Circle at 68º North in the west coast of Norway. The mountains are nothing less than steep walls descending straight into the sea and overlooking beautiful and isolated little fishing villages. Pure snow transforms the whole archipelago into a winter wonderland that is almost hard to believe. Trust me, it does exist, check it out for yourself these truly amazing landscapes in my last album TOP Destinations: Lofoten.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello, the issue 212 of Viajes National Geographic includes a great and detailed article about the exciting destination French Pyrenees, which among several great photos includes my image Shining winter in Cirque de Lescun from the album TOP Destinations: Pyrenees.

On the left you can find a preview of the issue cover now on sale in Portugal and below an excerpt of the article by Iñaki Gómez. Lisbon is also an highlight of the issue, check it out and plan your next trip!

Cheers,

Carlos Esteves

A couple of spots in the region of Navarra along Urederra river course can be found here.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Between a rugged coastline and several mountain ranges, the Basque Country region is rich in diverse and unique landscapes. Here are just a few spots!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Alsace is France's northeastern most region and throughout times it exchanged ownership several times with Germany. Enchanting medieval villages, notable wines and cuisine make this a special and pleasant destination. Enjoy this region own character and fairy tale like villages here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Charmy wooden village in the shore of a distinct lake and in the foothill of steep mountains, Hallstatt is as enchanting as a small settlement can be. Enjoy the magical atmosphere of the village and its dramatic surroundings here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Take a preview here into the classical atmosphere of Salzburg, birthplace of Amadeus Mozart, with its famous castle and cathedral overlooking the old town.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Southwestern most Germany region, Baden-Württemberg has lot to offer, from the Black Forest to the Swabin Alb, punctuated by several fairy tale castles. Stuttgart is the region's capital and represents another centre of Germany automotive industry with two well known luxury brands being based here.

Have a look at some sights at this region here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Munich, although cosmopolitan and modern, still retains a somehow small-town feel as their inhabitants are known for being more easygoing and open than Germans from other regions. Beer gardens and plenty of outdoor lifestyle are found profusely around here. Of course, the city's activity peaks at Okctoberfest when several million visitors party and have fun together having about the same million litres of beer!

Munich is also known for being the hometown of one of the European's top football clubs and also the headquarters of a prestigious and luxury automotive global brand.

Besides, Bavaria's capital, has an amazing Alpine background at its doorstep which certainly has it's influence on the character of the town and the people. The Bavarian Alps are indeed rich in natural beauty with endless lakes and fairy tale castles making their dramatic appearance high in the middle of dense green forests. 

Take a glimpse into Munich and the Bavaria region here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

take a look at sky above in my new TOP Nightscapes album with a couple of new photos capturing the amazing Milky Way we all live in.

Carlos Esteves

Welcome to the historical and beautiful city of Budapest. Once comprising three separated towns, Buda and Óbuda on Danube's western bank and Pest on the eastern bank, Budapest has several major attractions, from the Parliament to the Opera, from crossing Daunube through the Chain Bridge to relaxing at end the day in the hot and splendorous thermal baths.

Take a glimpse into the classic atmosphere of Budapest here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello, 

Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2016 exhibition has already started in the 22nd July in London and it will run until 4th September (admission is free).

TPOTY exhibition is being held at the University of Greenwich's award-winning Stockwell Building, just a few hundred metres from Greenwich DLR station and the Cutty Sark in the heart of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The address is: 10 Stockwell St, Greenwich SE10 9BD.

Exhibition opening times:

Monday to Thursday - 10:00 to 18:00
Fridays & Saturdays – 10:00 to 19:00
Sundays – 10:00 to 16:30

Don't miss the opportunity to see the best travel photographs from around the globe and also to see and take home my images above in multiple formats.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of the seven Emirates that constitute UAE. Dubai is home to all the superlatives one can imagine with multiple mega-projects always on the way. Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscrapper in the world with 160 floors over 800m, Dubai Marina, with the tallest block of supertall skyscrapers in the world, the artificial palm-like island of Palm Jumeirah are just some the most illustrative projects.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abdu Dhabi is an architecture masterpiece to appear in the centuries to come as a classic man-made wonder of the world.

Visit now Dubai and Abu Dhabi here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Shanghai fast growth transformed it into a world metropolis with such a scale that's hard to embrace or even visualize.

From futuristic transportation and architecture, where the next skyscraper height beats the previous record holder, Shanghai fast pace is counterbalanced by a pleasant and almost endless riverside where the slow motion Tai Chi martial art is practised by locals before sunrise.

Visit the colossal Shanghai here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Arguably Hong Kong has one of most impressive skylines in the world, where the scarce space and strong growth imposed an amazing and unparalleled architecture verticality and density. In a city with such a frenetic pace, the green peaks from the surrounding mountains provide great escaping moments from the clutter and provide breathtaking views over Hong Kong's natural harbour.

Take a look into Hong Kong's skyline here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Despite its only fifty years of independence, the Lion City-State has developed into one of the world's prosperous countries with strong and eco-friendly development planning. This progress has been supported by large-scale immigration, resulting in a unique melting pot of cultures. In this small land, modern architecture coexist with neighbourhoods like Little India and Chinatown where traditional temples live in the shadow of recent top-notch skyscrapers. As such, Asia's Red Dot is a safe bet, for instance, for any traveller wishing to have an Asian first-time experience. 

Take a glimpse into Singapore here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

What a better way to start a new year than with a new album, this time entirely dedicated to landscape photography.

Dolomites is an Italian mountainous region within the Alps close to the border with Austria, being German the primary language spoken. From the green valleys and forests dotted with tiny villages to the high-altitude rockscapes with their sculpted spires, Dolomites is a rather unique mountain lover's paradise. Enjoy every trail and ascent, admire the beautiful lakes and take shelter and regain strengths in a hut with a stunning breathtaking view.

Visit now Dolomites here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this portfolio of images from the streets of Nepal was distinguished with an Highly Commended award in the 2015 edition of the prestigious and world-renowned Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) competition. The 2015 edition, in which I was nominated as one of the finalists for the third year, received entries from photographers from over 110 countries around the world.

The set was awarded with the third position in the category New Talent Portfolio - Street Culture and contains six images from the albums TOP Destinations: Bhaktapur and TOP Destinations: Kathmandu.

You can check out the amazing work of the TPOTY 2015 winners here and also check all this year's finalists here.

Merry Christmas and a Wonderful 2016!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

complementing the previous album from Ireland, here's a glimpse into Northern Ireland, where in a relatively small piece of land you can find enchanted woods, a mythical giant causeway, ancient castles overlooking the sea and much more. Discover all this here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Here's my latest album dedicated to Ireland, starting in Dublin where architecture range from the classic Trinity College and its amazing Old Library to the contemporary riverside. Of course you can find an evergreen landscape all over the country and a truly amazing and rugged coastline. Visit it now here!

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

the portrait entitled "Kumari, the Living Goddess" from the album TOP Destinations: Bhaktapur was distinguished in two international photo competitions. In Eyes on Asia Awards 2015 was one of the Top 5 portraits in the People category (selected from the 20 finalists) and was named as one of the finalists in the second international photo competition All of Asia.

You can browse all the finalists and winners of Eyes on Asia 2015 here and check previous winners in the contest website. Regarding All of Asia, you can browse all the finalists here and my photo here.

I dedicate these two awards to the Nepali people who suffered horrors when their land was severely hit by several major earthquakes in April and May this year. I hope they continue to have the courage to overcome the loss of their most loved ones and to have the strength to finish rebuilding their houses and restoring the amazing heritage all over the unique Kathmandu valley.

All the best!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

here are a couple of photos from Pessegueiro Island in the southwestern coast of Portugal, which one do you prefer: in Black & White or Color?

Cheers,

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

some of the portraits and the related text from my album TOP Destinations: Bhaktapur were published in the current issue of the Phabrik magazine. You can preview the article here.

Phabrik is a Canadian magazine which explores art, fashion, design, and architecture and you can preview the full issue Spring/Summer 2015 here.

Cheers,

Carlos Esteves

Here's a new album featuring the Pyrenees, a magnificent mountain range forming the natural border between Spain, France and incorporating also Andorra. Enjoy the fresh snow and the cozy villages in this new album.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

check out the article entitled Eyes the World Over in the lifestyle magazine Citizen Brooklyn from New York City. The article highlights my travel photography in an interview conducted by Teo J. Babini.

Cheers,

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

have a look at the new TOP Architecture Series with a couple of new photos captured around Avis in Alentejo, a southern region in Portugal.

You should also visit the new TOP Architecture Collection with a selection of Architecture photos from my portfolio.

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

have a look at a couple of new photos captured around Segovia and added to the album TOP Destinations: Castile and León and at Chichén Itzá and Tulum in Mexico which are now part of the album TOP Destinations: Mexico.

Carlos Esteves

Here's a new album from Spain, featuring Bilbao and mainly focused on the Guggenheim Museum, a master piece designed by the architect Frank Gehry.

You can see this new album here.

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

the portrait entitled "Holy Ritual" from the album TOP Destinations: Kathmandu was one of the January/2015 finalists selected by the Shoot The Face International Portrait Photography Award.

You can browse all the finalists here and my photo here.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

The journey to Nepal is about to end with several spots scattered around Nepal, primarily Pokhara and Panauti.

Pokhara lies beside the beautiful Phewa lake surrounded by mountains with dense lush green vegetation and with the snowy Himalayan peaks behind. In the surroundings there are several Tibetan refugees camps such as Jangchub Choeling Gompa. Panauti sits at the confluence of two rivers with a beautiful temple there.

You can see the highlights of this final album here.

Carlos Esteves

Patan completes the triangle formed along with Kathmandu and Bhaktapur of the three rival city-states which dominated and competed for the valley in the Newari golden era.

As such, Patan also features a prominent Durbar Square with a magnificent architecture collection of temples and palaces where nowadays people gather around just to chat or flirt. Patan street life is rich and shaped by interconnecting courtyards where anyone can easily hide or just become truly... lost.

Around Patan, several typical Newari villages such as Bungamati and Khokana present everyday traditional activities where women spin and weave wool next to their brick houses.

You can see the highlights of this third vertex of the valley by watching my latest album here.

Carlos Esteves

Kathmandu. Nepal's capital provides an excellent base to explore the surrounding valley offering the world's densest collection of World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu is a pulsating city converging to its Durbar Square in the heart of the old town full of ancient architecture.

On the hilltop, Swayambhunath is a Buddhist temple, also known as the Monkey Temple, centred around the tall stupa. This temple is only overcome by the Asia's largest stupa at Bodhnath where hundreds of pilgrims devotely walk around the stupa in a ritual full of meaning. Around the temple several gompas or monasteries are the new homeland for the Tibetan refugees.

At the hindu temple Pashupatinath, Sadhus gather around the sacred Bagmati river. Here death is present in a quite disturbing way as everyday funerals happen at the gaths where bodies are cremated in open-air wooden pyres.

Get a glimpse into Kathmandu valley by watching my latest album here.

Carlos Esteves

Welcome to Nepal, home of eight of the world's ten highest mountains!

Let's begin this journey in the medieval city of Bhaktapur. What a better place to start to feel and contact Nepali life than this historical city with it's narrow streets, several central squares and courtyards where one can come across with a temple or touch a statue several hundreds years old. Also known as the City of Devotees, the typical Newari architecture found here, based on a combination of red-brick and wood carving, is one of the finest around Nepal.

Let yourself immerse in this ancient and devote atmosphere by browsing my latest album here.

Merry Christmas and a superb 2015 for everyone!

UPDATE: This album was highlighted at The Travel Photographer Blog in a kind post by the New York City freelance travel photographer Tewfic El-Sawy.

Hello,

the image entitled "Encounters along the way" captured in the Sacred Valley of the Incas was distinguished with an Honorable Mention in the ND Awards 2014 from the prestigious ND Magazine receiving entries from photographers in 76 countries. Check it out here.

I also suggest you to read the related essay Encounters along the way and to visit the album TOP Destinations: Cuzco & the Sacred Valley.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this time we'll go to Berlin, one of Europe's greatest and cosmopolitans capitals, a city full of history that shaped not only Germany but the world.

It's a city where a wall meets union, classic meets contemporary, man meets culture, space meets architecture, structure meets scale and where the dark past meets the bright future.

Experience this city of encounters, contrasts and reinventions by taking a walk at ce-top-photography.com/p1060281206.

Hello,

this week we reach our final step in this journey as we move from Titicaca to Colca Canyon, passing on the way at around 5.000m high in a spot surrounded by several volcanoes, some of them at more than 6.000m!

In Colca Canyon, besides the impressive Canyon, the condors, the sacred birds of the Incas and the world's largest flying bird, capture all the attention of those willing to wake up early.

Finally, we end up exploring the Santa Catalina monastery in Arequipa. This final leg of the jouney is available at ce-top-photography.com/p1032678449.

Hello,

time to move on from the Sacred Valley to Lake Titicaca, which at 3.800m is the world's highest navigable lake. To get there we'll pass at La Raya mountain range at 4.335m high, so take a deep breath now!

ce-top-photography.com/p834699665/h2c0739d0

Hello,

this time we travel to South America to discover the great Inca empire.

We start right on the Inca heartland in its mountainous capital Cuzco built by the ancient Incas in the shape of a puma. We continue further afield into the Sacred Valley witnessing traditional life at high altitude, lively markets, surprising salt mines and truly unique ruins like those in Moray with its remarkable concentric circles. Here, it is believed the Incas developed their crop laboratories, experiencing the varying temperatures and altitudes of the different terraces.

The high peaks of the Andes mountains always observe us from above in our journey throughout the valley, hiding away the most expected moment. The historic railroad or the mythical Inca Trail by the Urubamba river get us closer and closer. When our eyes capture the first rays of light warming Machu Picchu all we can feel is an overwhelming sense of complete wonder. No words are sufficient to explain Machu Picchu, only experiencing it yourself. 

Discover all this and much more in my new album at ce-top-photography.com/p834699665.

Next week our journey continues throughout the Andes, ride along!

See you!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

still on Spain I invite you now to wander around in the lovely city of Cuenca. See how nicely architecture and nature blend together and experience its magical atmosphere at ce-top-photography.com/p259186873.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

welcome to Valencia and to the amazing architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences. It was designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela and it's composed by six main elements: the Hemisfèric, the Umbracle, the Príncipe Felipe Science Museum, the Oceanográfic, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía and the Ágora.

Discover and admire their unique shapes in my latest album at ce-top-photography.com/p230571543.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hi, the amazing round trip around Iceland comes to an end by reaching the West region which can be admired in this week new album at ce-top-photography.com/p821862471.

This region is dominated by the Snæfellsnes peninsula extending the western coast 70km into the sea and is home of Snæfellsjökull National Park. Enjoy the snowy peaks, wonderful waterfalls, icelandic horses and more in this final album from Iceland for now.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hi, after crossing the North region we reach the Westfjords giving birth to this week new album at ce-top-photography.com/p765792750.

The endless rugged coastline of the fjords in this region are only reached after long hours through unpaved bumpy roads, going up and down the hills, in and out the fjords, bending left and right time and time again at an inevitable slow pace. But then again the views from the jagged cliffs made all worthwhile. This piece of land is as isolated as one can be, letting you feel nothing but the silence, the wind stroking your face and the beauty of the wild nature invade your spirit.

One of the highlights is of course the Látrabjarg cliffs, home to a major bird colony with an unbelievable number of the charismatic puffins, besides seabirds, razorbills, guillemots among others. The cliffs reach 400 meters over sea level and provide the perfect spot for the nesting seabirds. This point is also Europe's second westernmost point after Flores in Azores, curiously also captured in a recent album (ce-top-photography.com/p730549947).

Quite surprisingly in this region we can also stumble into stunning golden beaches hidden behind the clouds that seem to float around the cliffs.

Next week don't miss the last episode of this amazing adventurous journey, cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hi, this week's new album is available at ce-top-photography.com/p983908665.

After reaching the eastern tip we'll begin to reverse our course but this time through the vast North region of Iceland really close to the Artic Circle.

This region is just amazing, starting at Dettifoss, the Europe's biggest waterfall in terms of volume. It's power is so smashing that it spreads water in the air literally several hundred meters away from the fall making the photography process a true challenge. In Lake Mývtan area we'll encounter another otherwordly scenario where we'll seem to be walking on the moon, with several bubbling craters, steaming fumaroles and sulphurous mud pits. Then we'll climb right to the top of Krafla volcano having the beautiful view of Viti bright blue flooded crater at our feet.

We'll also wonder at the beautiful Goðafoss waterfall and we end up with a panoramic view of the lovely city of Akureyri by sunset. We'll continue to explore the traditional architecture and way of living in Iceland, this time in Glaumbær and, of course, along the way we'll have the chance to appreciate the wonderful scenario surrounding us and the majestic icelandic horses.

The journey continues next week, cheers!

Carlos Esteves

This week we arrive at the eastern tip of Iceland where we wander around the fjords outlining the jagged coastline. 

Reaching the fjords through narrow dirt roads is not easy but is very rewarding as one of the highlights of this region is of course the sizeable puffin colony in the islet of Hafnarhólmi.

The architecture around here is also worth mentioning, namely several typical turf-roofed houses and some lovely small villages such as Seyðisfjörður that seems to be lost in time at the end of world.

Also don't miss some spectacular and wild scenery along the way in this week's new album at ce-top-photography.com/p870044469.

Stay tuned for more next week, cheers!

Carlos Esteves

We'll continue our route towards East entering Skaftafell, part of Vatnajökull National Park, where we'll climb to the Svartifoss waterfall surrounded by its famous black basalt columns which remind some church organ pipes.

Afterwards, accompanied by snow capped peaks along the way we'll reach the incredible beautiful scenery provided by the glacier lagoons of Fjallsárlón and Jökulsárlón. Here, the immense scale and profound silence that smashes us is only scarcely interrupted by some blue color icebergs crashing into the water and giving life to new unique ice sculptures.

Also don't miss the icelandic horses along the course in this week's new album at ce-top-photography.com/p682002403.

We'll go on next week, cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Ready to pack and leave town? All right, let's get on the road!

We'll start in Southwest Iceland and move progressively to East in a counterclockwise direction. First we'll go through a circuit named Golden Circle, still not far from Reykjavík, where several major attractions wait us. These include a national park of great historical and geological importance, Geysir hot springs, including the original Geysir which named all other geysers around the world and the powerful two-tier Gullfoss waterfall.

After the rather unique Blue Lagoon with its bright and quite surreal blue colors, two more imposing waterfalls are on our way: Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Besides, in this area the trails surrounding them invite us to feel the mountains more closely as we test our legs through steep climbs to discover more sights.

We'll also feel the ocean touching the black sand beaches surrounding Vík and wonder in front of immense moss covered lava fields in scenes that seem to come directly from a fantasy movie.

Experience all this in this week's new album at ce-top-photography.com/p1036196610 and be ready to go on with our journey next week.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

What about to start the new year at North right before the Article Circle? Sounds tempting? So we'll go to Iceland, to this amazing land where all the natural elements of Earth seem to come together.

Frightful volcanoes, immense lava fields, geysers, a diverse shoreline, amazing glaciers lagoons, an endless myriad of waterfalls, imposing mountains, unique wildlife and an astonishing otherworldy landscape are present all over Iceland to defy their fierce inhabitants and to gaze their adventurous visitors.

Already breathless from the description from the challenges you're about to encounter? Well, ok, for now we'll start slowly in Reykjavík, Iceland's capital, where some amazing architecture is also really worth mentioning. Visit this first album at your own pace in ce-top-photography.com/p770308514 before we speed up in the following weeks as we depart from Reykjavík and enter into the wild Iceland!

Also I invite you to wander now around the site as some visual changes are still being introduced in the galleries presentation. Check it out and tell me your thoughts.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this week Público Fugas Online Magazine also highlights Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2013 competition results in the section Journeys.

Besides the winners, the article also underlines the three Portuguese finalists, as, besides me, Gilberto Costa and Ruben Vicente also made it to the final.

Read all about it in http://fugas.publico.pt/Viagens/328964_o-esplendor-visual-do-maior-concurso-mundial-de-fotografia-de-viagens.

Merry Christmas

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

for the second consecutive year, a work of mine was selected as one of the finalists of the prestigious and world-renowned Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) competition which received entries from nearly 100 countries.

This year the set above composed by four pictures from the album "TOP Festivals: Lazarim Carnival" (http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p1045599782) was selected as one of the finalists in the category Vanishing & Emerging Cultures.

You can see the list of all 2013 finalists at http://www.tpoty.com/judges/2013shortlist and also don't forget to check out the amazing work of the 2013 winners at http://www.tpoty.com/winners/2013.

Merry Christmas and a happy 2014!

Carlos Esteves

Terceira ends for now this series dedicated to Azores, this island is easily recognized by a patchwork of fields divided by small stone walls creating a striking endless pattern.

As in the other Azorean islands, several volcanic cones, craters and lava fields are present such as the impressive Algar do Carvão volcano. Angra do Heroísmo is the historical capital of the archipelago where great architecture can be appreciated and since 1983 is part of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Lajes military air base is used by the Americans mainly as a refueling stop on the transatlantic routes and still plays a relevant role in the island daily life.

Enjoy the views and have the amazing experience to be inside a volcano looking up through its cone: ce-top-photography.com/p1003532045.

See you!

Carlos Esteves

This week we arrive at Flores island, the western-most tip of Europe. Flores is scarcely populated and lies relatively far from the other islands (besides Corvo) preserving an unbeaten tranquility.

Flores presents some quite dramatic landscape and luxurious vegetation well maintained by an highly impressive average of nearly 300 days of rain per year! As such, water is literally present all over the island in multiple lagoons, streams and waterfalls such as the Ribeira Grande waterfall dropping from 300 meters high and feeding several others.

Weather here can be quite inclement with strong winds, dense fog and heavy rainfall for days when the island can seem to be crying all over her lap as the water drops downhill and runs wildly from every corner. But perhaps these unique conditions have been the ones responsible for shaping this rather rugged and unspoiled landscape and as such they have been doing an amazing job.

Experience some of this mountainous landscape, the freshness of the endless pure water flows and the peace present in Flores remote villages at ce-top-photography.com/p1003532045.

Next week another Azorean island remains to be discovered. See you!

Carlos Esteves

Let's move on to the second island in this series. São Miguel is the largest island of Azores and concentrates the majority of the total Azorean population as also the major city of Ponta Delgada.

It's amazing the number of natural wonders concentrated together in this single island starting by the multiple craters filled with beautiful lakes such as Sete Cidades, Furnas and Fogo just to name a few. The treks and the views here are literally breathless as you feel all the power and peace from these unique landscapes.

Known as the green island, it is punctuated by multiple caldeiras where clouds of steam rise in the valleys from the sulphurous and boiling water deep from earth. Traditionally the villagers cooked by burying the pots for hours while the food simmered in the hot earth and you'll find curious to know that you can still experience this nowadays. São Miguel is also known by their pineapple and tea plantations where terraced fields are used to soften the steep slopes.

I'm sure you're now eager to take a deep dive into São Miguel world wonders. Don't wait more, here they are: ce-top-photography.com/p1003532045.

Also remember to watch for the next Azorean islands coming in the following weeks.

See you!

Carlos Esteves

Azores. For sure one of Europe's best kept secrets and as such maybe I should not be writing about it, but it's inevitable to share as it's a photographer's paradise. Azores is an archipelago composed by nine islands literally floating in the middle of Atlantic Ocean. This portuguese archipelago is divided in three groups spreading across 600km between two continental plates. 

Volcanic activity has been shaping these islands throughout history leading to the formation of multiple calderas and lava flows. The unique and constantly changing weather besides a challenge to everyday life is also an important factor contributing to the growth of its dense vegetation and unique species. Each island is rather unique but they all have in common their nature beauty that goes along with the rural life of their inhabitants. São Jorge is located in the central group and has a privileged location as it's surrounded by the other four islands of the group (Pico, Faial, Terceira and Graciosa) which can all be seen from São Jorge in clear days.

Let me then invite you to start your journey in Azores by exploring São Jorge landscapes and cliffs and enjoy the peace and tranquility of this amazing scenario: ce-top-photography.com/p751653342.

Also stay tuned for proceeding your journey to the next islands coming in the following weeks!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

Shoot the Face and Moleskine Photo Books produced a book featuring all the finalists from the 2012/2013 Portrait Photography Award, including a portrait of mine from India (ce-top-photography.com/p98221594/e440d3dc2).

Here's a quick video presentation of the book: vimeo.com/76486052.

For previewing and ordering the book with this great collection of selected portraits please go to moleskine.milkbooks.com/promotions/shoot-the-face.aspx (the picture above is a preview of pages 6-7).

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

a couple of new images were added to the album TOP Night Photography (nowadays in TOP Architecture) at http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p497786815.

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

after five weeks and around 50.000 visitors the Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2013 exhibition has come to an end last weekend. I left you with my image surrounded by Janita's smile from TPOTY organization.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

specially for all who didn't have the chance to be in the Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2013 exhibition opening here's a quick video from the organization that gives you a flavour about the event in a year where TPOTY is also celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Check it out at http://vimeo.com/70767473 where my image (ce-top-photography.com/p415820937/e4407742e) appears at the very end.

Recall that TPOTY exhibition is being held at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in Kensington, London from 12th July to 18th August (admission is free).

Exhibition opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm
Friday & Saturday late openings from 10am to 7pm

The full address is:
1 Kensington Gore,
London,
SW7 2AR,
England

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

BBC News Magazine coverage of Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2013 exhibition includes a slideshow featuring some of the finalists pictures commented by the judges Debbie Ireland and Chris Coe.

Don't miss this six minutes presentation where the judges share their thoughts about the images at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23226029.

My image (ce-top-photography.com/p415820937/e4407742e) appears at the minute 3:17. Listen and discover what judge Debbie Ireland says about it.

Recall that TPOTY exhibition is being held at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) in Kensington, London from 12th July to 18th August (admission is free).

Exhibition opening times:
Sunday to Thursday from 10am to 5pm
Friday & Saturday late openings from 10am to 7pm

The full address is:
1 Kensington Gore,
London,
SW7 2AR,
England

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2013 exhibition is about to start in London as it will run from 12th July to 18th August (admission is free).

Besides the exhibition, at the same time it will also be held "Travel Photography Live!", a festival of photography with several talks and workshops with world renowned photographers, writers and travellers. Check out the great program where you'll be able to learn and share experiences with several leading speakers at tpoty.com/awards/travel-photography.

TPOTY exhibition will be held at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). The Society's gallery is situated close to Hyde Park on the corner of Kensington Gore and Exhibition Road, adjacent to the Royal Albert Hall, in the heart of London's museum area.

The address is:

1 Kensington Gore,
London,
SW7 2AR,
England

Don't miss the opportunity to see the best photographs from around the globe and also to see and take home my selected image (ce-top-photography.com/p415820937/e4407742e) in multiple formats.

Cheers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

several new images, mainly from Lisbon, were added to the album TOP Street Photography at http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p173585086.

Carlos Esteves

Prague. This historical and romantic city will transport you back in time to the medieval ages. From the lovely architecture of all the buildings in the Old Town, crossing the Vltava River through the magnificent Charles Bridge and climbing to the imposing Castle, Prague sure delights the most demanding visitor.

Add to all this some falling powder snow covering the city with a white veil and you'll try to discover every new corner marveled by the cinematic background.

Let yourself immerse into this majestic atmosphere by viewing the photographs in this new album: http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p625604300.

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this time I invite you to visit Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, a big megalopolis full of frenetic activity where several religious monuments and traditions co-exist with multiple skyscrapers and modern life in a unique way.

Discover the pictures from this album at:

ce-top-photography.com/p730321052.

Have a nice trip!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this album was captured in Siem Reap Province in Cambodia and highlights the remarkable floating villages in the Tonlé Sap Lake where houses are built on top of tall wooden structures that look like skyscrapers!

Don't miss also the flooded forests and several farming and fishing activities in this new album:

http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p909262887

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

it's time for a new album and a new country, now I invite you to come to Cambodia!

This album was entirely captured around the magnificent Angkor complex. This extensive archaeological site contains hundreds of temples including the famous Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument.

These massive temples dating from the 9th to 15th century are hidden in dense forest that helps to perpetuate the secrets of the Khmer Kingdom. It is believed they have built the largest preindustrial city in the world with around one million people (by comparison, London at that time had just a few thousand people). 

Take a close look into these impressive temples and imagine yourself going back in time and living in the Khmer Kingdom one thousand years ago:

http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p818459086

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

a selection of some of the best portraits from Vietnam can now be experienced as a video slideshow presentation entitled "TOP Vietnamese Portraits".

Take a close look of the expressions, habits and surroundings where the remarkable Vietnamese people live at the pace of enchanting ethnic beats:

http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p404298631/e58ffb4fe!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

the fourth album from Vietnam it's called "TOP Destinations: Hanoi & Saigon" and captures the two major cities in the country where the modern life of these big metropolis goes along with the more traditional way of living in Vietnam.

Discover the pictures from this album at ce-top-photography.com/p588419643.

Have a nice trip!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

do you know what some persons from Argentina, Croatia, Canada, South Africa or Malaysia have in common? They all visited CE TOP Photography website!

A few months after its launch, the website international presence and exposure has been rising and it has now received visits from people of 200 cities around the world from 45 different countries.

Thanks for your attention, I hope you keep coming back and to publish new materials you'll find interesting!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

the third album in this series of new publications is "TOP Destinations: Southern Vietnam" and it was captured in the Mekong Delta region. Life here is dominated by the Mekong River which is the world's 12th-longest river starting in Tibet and crossing several countries before entering the sea in the Vietnamese coast. Discover the pictures from this album at ce-top-photography.com/p1033122964.

Also stay tuned for the following albums and I wish you to keep having a great trip!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

the second album in this series of new publications is "TOP Destinations: Central Vietnam" and it was captured in the central region of Vietnam, mainly in the cities of Hoi An and Hue.

Hoi An is a lovely small port town with an unique mixture of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and French architecture dating back to the 16th century. Hue is dominated by the Citadel as well as the Royal Tombs.

Discover this and much more by viewing the pictures from this album at ce-top-photography.com/p593511362.

Also stay tuned for the following albums and I wish you to keep having a great trip!

Carlos Esteves

As the first rays warm the village, daily life begins, simple talks are made, simple thoughts are shared, simple games are played.

The surrounding mountains overlook the valley with the infinite patience of someone not in a hurry and who is gracefully accomplice of the stories of his younger ones happening barely at their feet.

The fresh breeze bring this activity up close, propagating the several sources of action and making it all flow. But not in a sudden, more like a whisper that gently invites you to be a trustable witness of the scene. Can you keep the secrets it brings to your ear?

Carlos Esteves

ce-top-photography.com/p1051976767/e58708f4e

Hello,

the image of this scorpion can be seen in a collective photography exhibition at Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) headquarters in Lisbon. The exhibition which is a joint organization from Secção de Fotografia dos Serviços Sociais da CGD and Oficina da Imagem was opened yesterday evening and can be seen until 15-03-2013 from Monday to Friday between 08:30 and 19:30.

As the exhibition is placed in a private section it is recommend to send previously an e-mail to sscgd.fotografia@cgd.pt to obtain authorization. CGD is the largest portuguese bank and the exposition will be seen daily by the 6.000 thousands employees working in the magnificent building.

Along this image from the only type of scorpion inhabiting in Portugal and which preview can be seen at http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p209342489/e440bf21c three other photos of mine are also present. I invite you to discover all four at CGD along with other great images from several great photographers!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

a set of my photographs (some of them are not part of my current selected portfolio) is now available for licence and sale at the leading and world-renowed stock agency company Getty Images. 

Check the set of images available at Getty at http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?assettype=image&family=creative&artist=Carlos+Esteves+TOP+Photography

Thanks,

Carlos Esteves

Happy New Year dear Visitor,

thanks to your interest, my website has now more than 16.000 pageviews in just 3 months!

Keep exploring all the galleries and slideshows already available as I work in new materials to publish.

Thanks for your time, enjoy!

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

I've just finished uploading my new album TOP Smiles portraying several people smiling in a corporate environment.

Smile along with them by seeing their amazing and contagious expressions at http://www.ce-top-photography.com/p565448149 :-).

Thanks,

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

the Special Mention award in the Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2012 Competition was highlighted in Público Fugas Online Magazine in the section Journeys and is today complemented by declarations from an interview conducted by the journalist Luis Santos. Read all about it in http://fugas.publico.pt/Viagens/313980_portugues-com-mencao-honrosa-em-concurso-internacional-de-fotografia-de-viagens?pagina=-1!

The award in the biggest travel photography competition with more than 20.000 images submitted this year from more than 90 countries is also highlighted in the following blogs:

http://fragmentosculturais.blogspot.pt/2012/12/carlos-esteves-travel-photographer-of.html

http://aluzclara.blogspot.pt/2012/12/carlos-esteves-com-mencao-honrosa-no.html

http://blog.cazloyd.com/2013/09/travel-photographer-of-the-year-2013/

https://nz.travel.yahoo.com/galleries/g/18019649/travel-photographer-of-the-year/18019664/

Thanks again for all of your kind messages. :)

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

CE TOP Photography Facebook Fans page reached more than 1000 fans:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlos-Esteves-TOP-Photography/111270038885389.

Thanks for all of you who follow and support my work. :)

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this photograph was awarded with a Special Mention in the prestigious and world-renowned Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2012 Competition in the category Best Single Image in a Portfolio - Journeys. This yearly competition received entries from photographers in 92 countries.

The picture portrays the hands of an old woman sitted in the floor of a market in Udaipur as she holds a vegetable with the same tones as her clothes. It can be fully appreciated next year in the exhibition in the Royal Geographical Society in London from 12th July to 18th August 2013 among the others pictures awarded. I hope you can visit it! :)

Here's the link to the 2012 Winners' Gallery: http://www.tpoty.com/winners/2012.

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

this set composed by four pictures from the album Indian Portraits was selected as one of the finalists of the prestigious and world-renowned Travel Photographer Of The Year (TPOTY) 2012 Competition in the category Journeys.

You can see the list of all the 2012 finalists here: http://www.tpoty.com/judging/shortlist.

Carlos Esteves

Hello,

my portrait of this kind ancient woman shot late in the afternoon in a market in Jaipur was one of the September/2012 finalists selected by the SHOOT THE FACE International Portrait Photography Award.

Check it out at:

http://shoottheface.com/finalistsgalleryview.php?PhotoId=985.

Carlos Esteves

Dear visitor,

welcome to my brand new website http://ce-top-photography.com intended to present my photography portfolio. There are several new works to be discovered and also revised and reprocessed ones in a whole new selected portfolio.

In the following days and weeks I will be highlighting some of the new albums, but for now navigate freely throughout the site, pick and share your favorites photos in your usual social network, leave your comments and sign the guestbook with your feedback which will be most welcomed.

Thanks, enjoy!

Carlos Esteves