Machu Picchu – Citadel in the Sky
Machu Picchu is the site of an ancient Inca city, high in the Andes of Peru. Located at 2,430 meters (8,000 ft), this UNESCO World Heritage site is often referred to as ‘The Lost City of the Incas’. I’ve always heard a lot about Machu Picchu, and have seen it in a million images. And when something is so well known I am naturally a little bit skeptical about it. I always feel like those really well known tourist destinations are kinda like New Years…lots of anticipation but never fully lives up to expectations. However, Machu Picchu is the real deal…it’s every bit as amazing and fascinating as you hear about. From the minute details, like how they fit the stones so perfectly together over 500 years ago, to the grand scale of the city, Machu Picchu is something to put on your life list.
The iconic towering mountain just behind the city is Huayna Picchu (Wayna Picchu). If you are daring enough, you can scale the mountain and peer down on Machu Picchu from an incredible perch in the clouds. The path winds up along the very edge of the mountain, sometimes with sheer drop-offs thousands of feet down. Once at the top, you are likely going to be in the clouds, which can be a totally freaky feeling. It’s not for the faint of heart, but you’ll remember it forever.
I really like the nice morning light coming into the frame from the left, as well as the lack of hordes of tourists. By taking this image in this spot, at this time of day, I was trying to erase any sign of time or age…just a pure view of an ancient city. Being in a place like this with just the wind for noise and the sun starting to break over the mountains is really magical and pure. It’s almost as if you can see and feel the mountain citadel like it used to be…after the Inca left, but before the western world found it again….a suspended moment in time. I can look at this photo and put myself right back there…to that very spot and still feel the wind on my face and the exhilaration of the incredible view. I love travel for those sensory experiences, but I love photography for its ability to bring those sensory experiences back to me so easily.
Photo Tip: The only way to catch an image like this is to be first in the entrance to the park as early in the morning as you can, and go right to the spot you know you can get the photo you want. This accomplishes two things: 1) capturing beautiful early morning light and 2) a total lack of mass crowds that fill the park shortly thereafter (do you see a lot of people in this shot?). And how do you know where you want to go to when you first get in the entrance? Well, because you took the time to scope it out the day before, you figured out which direction the sun would come up, and knew the shot you wanted. When you came the next morning, even in your dreary early morning haze, it was easy to go get the shot. Exploration, preparation, intention, and execution (with some luck thrown in for good measure) is the formula for great photos.
Can you imagine what this place must have looked like when it was occupied by the Inca? Have you ever been to Machu Picchu? What were your impressions? And were you brave enough to climb Huayna Picchu?
Jonathan Irish is a seasoned travel photographer who has traveled to over 65 countries and specializes in photographs of people, landscapes, abstracts, and, above all, cultures abroad. His work has appeared in various National Geographic publications, and he is represented by National Geographic’s Image Collection www.NationalGeographicStock.com/jonathanirish. When he is not traveling the world in search of amazing photos, he gathers inspiration from the other great photographers at National Geographic, where he is the Program Director for National Geographic Adventures Jonathan lives in Washington, D.C.
Check out more of his photography at JonathanIrish.com
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10 Responses to Machu Picchu – Citadel in the Sky
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What an amazing place. Is there ANYWAY to stay there affordability for a few days to try and capture the place?
Jonathan Look, Jr. recently posted..Farewell to My Father
Hi, we did this trip quite cheaply in August 2011. We stayed in Cusco for a few days (for the altitude). Our hostel sorted out our trip. We had a private car take us to to Ollantaytambo where we caught the Vista Dome train to Aguas Calientes -this is the small tourist town which serves MP. We paid for our own accommodation (it was my 40th birthday so we did splash out a little) but there are hostels everywhere in Aguas. The next morning we caught the bus up to MP. It was before sunrise and it was already jammed with people. The price we paid was about $450 for the 2 of us – this included the private trf to the train station, Vista Dome train (highly recommended), bus up to MP, entrance, guided tour (which was very interesting) and bus back down when we were ready, train back with Inca Rail (not as good as Vista) and then car back to Cusco. We felt it was a great deal and I’m sure you can do it yourself. We did price it up and wondered how anyone made any money it.
Here’s a link to our blog about our trip (no pics yet – sorry) – http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/debsndarren/1/1313294339/tpod.html
Deborah Benbrook recently posted..Last few days in Koh Lanta — Ko Lanta, Thailand
Amazing photo! The light was perfect for this. Guess I’ve never thought about scoping out a shot but love the photo tip. All the photo tips recently have made me really want to work at being a better photographer.
Jeremy Branham recently posted..An intimate California zip line video tour at Yosemite Ziplines
Well from the photograph it pretty clean that you are very good photographer. Thanks for sharing this lovely travel experience with us.
What a great pic
Wow, what a beautiful photo! Machu picchu is actually on my to-go list for next year! Can’t wait to see it with my very own eyes.
Jam @icoSnap recently posted..Five Fun things to do in Bohol Philippines
This place is very beautiful and such a great piece of art. Machu picchu can amaze every traveler. This place is look like a puzzle game where one can enjoy hide and seek game like I did .:)
This photo is amazing! I went to Peru in spring of 2012 and the crown jewel of any Peruvian getaway is Machu Picchu. We also were able to snap a few pics with limited people since we waited out a rain storm. But we were treated to the clouds climbing up Machu Picchu which was beautiful!
I wrote about my Machu Picchu experience here, http://travelingponytail.blogspot.com/2013/01/peru-part-4-machu-picchu.html
I am hiking up to Machu Picchu next month and I can’t wait. I am spending a few days in Cusco before. Any tips or ideas for other fun things to do around there?
Michael recently posted..To Satisfy the Adventurer Within
The Sacred Valley is great to visit and you can do some nice walks through ruins there. Ollantaytambo is an impressive ruin outside of Cusco too. Cusco itself is fantastic and you’ll have an amazing time.