The time I spent in Iceland on Ken’s tour is time I will remember for the rest of my life. Over the course of the tour we witnessed a vivid northern lights display, stood in the heart of a 10,000 year old glacial cave, and ate food found nowhere else in the world. And during the week and a half we spent in the beautiful Icelandic countryside, Ken and Patrick Di Fruscia were always there, providing essential insight and invaluable tips. I signed up for Ken’s tour to visit an extraordinary location with fellow photographers. I left the tour with an abundance of knowledge and lifelong memories.

I knew that this was going to be an awesome trip, but what I hadn’t appreciated was just how hard Ken & Patrick would work to make sure it was. In spite of some decidedly inclement conditions (it was Iceland after all), they had plans and fallback plans aplenty. Not only did I leave with great images (one of which has been shortlisted for Travel Photographer of the Year 2014), I also have a whole bunch of new friends from all over the world. Highly recommended!

A few years ago I contacted Ken asking him if he did workshops because I thought his work and his landscapes were magical. A little while after, I contacted him again and coincidentally, he told me he was organizing his first workshop to Iceland. There were only 3 spots left! I quickly made my decision and undoubtedly it has been one of the best photography tours I have ever done. Everything from the magical place, to the logistics, the organization, coordination, hotels, and transportation was absolutely incredible. It was like traveling with great friends who all spoke the same language and shared the same passion, some with professional aspirations and others just simply went for the pleasure of traveling. I would absolutely love to return on a trip with Ken and his great team to some other location. I’m sure it would undoubtedly be a fantastic experience!!

Ken Kaminesky is a star amongst photo tour leaders. I had the pleasure of traveling with him twice, first to Jordan and then to Japan. He showed enthusiasm and passion for both photography and the countries we visited. Ken is one of the most friendly and fun people I know. And yet, he is organized and ready with a solid plan for getting the best shots in the best light possible.

I also have to commend him for selecting excellent local guides who miraculously open doors closed to most tourists. We stayed after hours at Petra, an experience I will treasure for the rest of my life. We spent time speaking with and photographing a geisha and we dined and stayed in unique local places not found in typical guide books. One look at his website will tell you that Ken knows photography. His images are strikingly beautiful and he is generously willing to share his techniques and knowledge.

What his website won’t tell you is that Ken’s tours will give you a chance to travel with folks who will become friends, who will laugh with you, who will teach you and who will be there to offer all the support you may need. I can’t wait to chase the light with him again soon.

The team at Discovery photo tours had put together a truly amazing and life-altering trip, and I was only on the scouting tour! The locations, the guides, the quality and of course the photo ops, were truly top class. Even better, these guys are genuinely talented, humble and helpful. The trip to Tanzania had it all. Animals, wonderful accommodation, an excellent and knowledgeable guide, organisation (it just ran smoothly!) and a small group of strangers who have now probably become lifelong friends with a common passion. The companionship, laughter, and fun cannot be underestimated. This trip changed my life and I aim to do a trip with Discovery Photo tours each year, or every second year at worst. Book a tour, you will not be disappointed.

Fun, educational, inspiring, adventurous and life-changing… just a few of the words I’d use to describe how incredible my experience of joining a photo tour in Jordan with Ken and Patrick was. Not only did I get to tick off one of my ‘bucket list’ travel destinations, but I did so in the company and under the guidance of two very kind and talented photographers. Meticulous planning ensured that we were met with one jaw-dropping location after another as well as being there at the perfect time of day and with ample time to photograph the scenes. As a novice photographer I was nervous about joining a photography tour but I needn’t have been. Patrick’s endless patience and ability to explain things in simple terms ensured I came away with a suite of new techniques as well as stunning photographs. Aside from this, I also made friends for life – who knew that traveling with a group of strangers from all over the world could be so much fun?! I’ll never forget sitting under a blanket of stars at the Monastery in Petra, truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The tour ignited my passion for photography and has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined… I can’t wait for the next destination with you!

I’ve participated in multiple photo tours with Ken Kaminesky and Patrick Di Fruscia and have enjoyed every bit of them. Everything was top-notch, from accommodations to food to transportation. The preparations for our adventures were all well-thought-out, from lunch high in the hills of Tuscany to the late-night chasing of the Northern Lights in Iceland. In addition to the amazing photo opportunities, on each tour I’ve done with Ken and his team, the local guide was extremely knowledgeable of their country’s history and culture. Much of that history was conveyed while traveling to some of the best locations for the best light or sitting around an enormous dinner table at the end of the night. That being said, some of my favorite times on our trips occurred well after the cameras’ batteries were charging for the night and most of our group gathered around the dinner table or off to the side of the hotel’s lobby to tell stories and possibly make up new ones. I very much look forward to joining Discovery Photo Tours in the near future for my next great (photo) adventure!

If you crave pristine, exotic locations to photograph along side seasoned travel photography professionals in a small group setting, Discovery Photo Tours fits the bill. I’ve been eyeing Iceland for a few years as a travel photography bucket list destination, and fulfilled that goal recently with Patrick Di Fruscia and Brian Fabiano of Discovery Photo Tours. We experienced and photographed so many beautiful sights, received so much valuable personal photography instruction from Patrick and Brian, as well as very valuable insight from Patrick having photographed Iceland many times, and his knowledge of lesser known visual wonders that avoided hoards of tourists. Some of my favorite locations were hidden, pristine areas where it was only a handful of us photographers. Overall a great experience in Iceland with Discovery Photo Tours, so much that I would definitely consider being a return customer. Beautiful location, flawless tour execution, small but great group of people.

Thank you for a wonderful experience, thank you for all the planning and preparation and blood, sweat, tears and worry you put into it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences and your personalities. Thank you for getting us around safely (big props here). I went to Norway to experience a new culture, immerse myself and understand what it is like to live in a world foreign to my own. I got all that, but I also made (at least from my side) two wonderful new friends, and when I say friends, in my world, that means family. I will see you again. Jordan and Tanzania are next!

Getting to Italy was a dream come true and it was such a treat to have the opportunity to explore it with Ken. We got see the best spots and really make the most of our time there. I was so happy with my photos and learned a couple of great tricks that I still use today! The food was amazing, the sights magnificent, the company made it unforgettable and of course, the photos proved it really happened! I would do it all over again in a heartbeat and I would love to go on another tour for a new adventure.

I can’t say enough about Ken and his team. I had wanted to take a photo tour for many years, but always put it off. I am so glad I decided to go. I will not hesitate again. The knowledge Ken has of the area, and the planning that goes into each day is self evident and amazing. While I am thrilled with the images I was able to capture, the value of trips like this shouldn’t be measured in photos alone. The conversations over dinner, experiences shared in the field – the friendships made – that is where the true value lies. This was simply an incredible experience shared with an awesome group of people. I feel so grateful for having had the opportunity to attend. Well done my friends

In September 2014 I made a dream come true by joining Ken and Patrick on a photographic tour of Iceland and it is the single greatest thing I have ever done! I loved every second of our trip and I cannot thank them enough for taking me on such an epic adventure with a small group of amazing people in the most special place on earth. We had so much fun and made memories on this trip that I will never forget, not to mention the wealth of photographic knowledge I gained by learning from two of the most talented photographers in the world. I cannot wait to join Ken and Patrick on another epic adventure somewhere amazing in the future!

I have taken three photography tours with Ken Kaminesky, and each one has been special and awesome in its own way. On my first tour to Jordan, I had no idea what to expect, but had one of the best experiences of my life. On my second trip, I went to my #1 bucket list destination, Italy, and it went beyond my expectations – even with some crazy weather. On my third trip to Cambodia, I was profoundly impacted by what I saw and the people we interacted with. Each trip has been unique, and each was an amazing experience. I have come home each time with a wonderful set of pictures, but even better – a whole new group of friends. I can’t wait to go on my next trip!

What do you get when you combine a group of passionate photographers and the wildlife of the Serengeti? Quite simply: One of the best experiences of my life. Discovery Photo Tours took care of all of the logistics—seamless transportation, exceptional lodging, amazing guides—and crafted the perfect itinerary to maximize photographic opportunities during our time in Tanzania. It’s hard to pinpoint a favorite moment from this adventure. Whether flying over the immense Ngorongoro Crater and watching the vast Serengeti unfold before my eyes, observing cheetahs on the prowl, or witnessing a limitless sea of wildebeest march on their annual great migration, this trip was one ‘bucket list’ experience after another. I cannot recommend it enough!

I’ve travelled extensively, but this was a trip of a lifetime. The opportunity to photograph the Roman citadel in Amman at sunrise, the night sky over Petra, Petra’s iconic Treasury (day and night), the Roman ruins at Jerash, the Wadi Rum landscape…beyond words. Solid Itinerary. Super tour leader. Excellent accommodations. One word: Go!

I had joined Ken on a tour to Jordan. It was a fantastic trip in that he had scoped out all the sites and provided great guidance to make great pictures. Having been on other tours Ken keeps the pace enjoyable as it still is a vacation, yet full to make sure you can get those great shots. Highly recommended.

You guys are GREAT! This was my first trip to Asia and my first organized Photography Tour. It was far and above beyond my expectations of what such a tour would be. I figured they would get us to the right places at the right times of day and they certainly did that but it was far more than that. Highly recommended by this very satisfied traveler.