I was unhappy; it was as simple as that. I was living a life that I did not feel was mine. Mostly because I was living in a place that I was not able to call home: I did not belong. So I did the only thing that seemed right to me, I made a choice. A straightforward and rational choice: I lay on the ground.

To be honest, asking a photographer which camera they shot an image with is about as offensive as asking an author which pencil they wrote with. I went shooting with my 20-year-old film camera the other day and brought home some fantastic images that hold up to the most modern digital cameras of today. So you need to ask yourself, do you really need a new camera?

A picture tells a thousand words... and we are here to tell you a few more in our ongoing series A Thousand Words. In this instalment, we talk with Berlin photographer Dominic Blewett about his beautiful image Untitled: Holga Experiment.

The Palace of Versailles is simply the most opulent buildings ever built anywhere in the world: the palace other palaces were based on. With a complex and rich history, it is hard to scratch the surface, but I have a few hand-crafted stories to tell that may be a little off-beat from what you might already know about the Château de Versailles.

Japan is proud of their rich cultural heritage, and it shows everywhere you visit. The aesthetic is displayed in all aspects of life: architecture, landscaping, fashion, down to the presentation of restaurant menus. Let us dive in and explore Japan through our lens.

Panning is a simple and effective technique to bring motion inside a still image. Alexander breaks down how to get the perfect panning image by shooting a nostalgic memory of his childhood, the street tram.

A picture tells a thousand words... and we are here to tell you a few more in our ongoing series A Thousand Words. In this instalment, we talking with Sydney photographer Andy Yee about his beautiful image Snow Monkey in an Onsen.

There is one Venice. Tiny little streets full of people, singing oarsmen in gondolas, Rialto Bridge and San Marco Square. The Venice you already love.

And then, there is Giudecca. The Venice that will steal your heart.

I have had a few people ask me to spill some of my secrets about shooting fireworks after seeing my Bastille Day images, so I thought I would divulge what I know to help you get the best from your fireworks wherever in the world you might be celebrating them. It is not an exact science, as every display is different, and even within the same show things will change, but I will set down the foundations from where you can start to play.

There could not be a more iconic image of Lisbon than the little yellow trams rattling through the steep hills of the Portuguese capital, all but bowling down little old ladies as it roars through the tiny streets. Join me as I ride one of these historic trams and explore my favourite places along the route of Lisbon's Tram №28.

Aperture Tour's London photographer Vianney Le Caer is having his first solo exhibition "Synaesthetic Exotism" at Roland Mouret in London from 27 June – 8 July 2017 so we took a trip to Mayfair to see the raw and emotive images on the wall.

It does not host the Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower, and it is not as flashy as Saint-Germain-des-Pres. There are no grand Haussmannian boulevards or any major Parisian monument, and it is exactly this reason that makes the Quartier Quinze-Vingts quintessentially Parisian.

Taking a good photo is only one part of the photography process. An excellent image is often worked on in a digital darkroom to get the most out of the original image. Darkroom is not a new procedure, although the technique is different with computers, the principals are the same as a chemical darkroom. We have a little introduction to the power of RAW images. 

Melbourne is known for its culture, its sport, its beauty and its coffee. Mostly it is the coffee! Coffee can come in all different shapes, sizes, colours, strengths and temperatures. Oh and don’t forget alcoholic coffee as an option. Let us run you through some of our favourite coffee shops in the city and inner suburbs.

For some of us, the artistic side can feel much more daunting, expressing yourself creatively may not come naturally, but much like the technical, knowing the rules and applying them is what takes our photography to the next level.

Throughout my childhood, my scrapbooks were filled with the black and white strip photos from a chemical photo booth. In Berlin, the chemical photo booth has made a resurgence, with over two dozen booths across the city. Their charm reinstated into the social fabric of the energetic youth of Berlin; a fixture of a night out linked inexplicable with friends and fun times. 

Long before the Eiffel Tower dominated the Paris skyline, there was another building synonymous with the City of Love, Notre-Dame de Paris. The Medieval Catholic Cathedral is the city's most celebrated and photographed church buildings. But where is the best place to photograph of Notre-Dame? We've scouted the area to give you the best views from every angle so you are sure to get the best image of Notre-Dame.

What would happen if we took one photo every minute, and then played them back at 25 frames per second? The result would be a magnificent hyper-realistic compression of time. We call this a time-lapse, and I've created a video that will explain all the steps you need to know so you can make your very own. 

Creative photographers love play time. We need it. When intense work periods tie up most of our days and nights, it's important that we get out in the sunshine and have fun. So fellow Aperture photographer Mirko Fin and Anna Volpi met in Verona for our latest installment of Photographer Face-Off.

The Berlin Wall was the epicentre of the Cold War and a lethal division that literally divided a city. We've mapped out where you can see the remains of the Berlin Wall still standing today.

The mood in Singapore is festive and there is a lot going on with extravagant processions, colourful lanterns, energetic lion dancing, loud firecrackers and massive fireworks displays. People are on the streets shopping for presents, chatting to one another over slices of mandarin oranges for good luck or feasting on special dishes. This is Chinese New Year in Singapore.

From its beginnings as a medieval fortress protecting the Franks from the Vikings to being the residence of the King before becoming the largest museum in the world, the Louvre has had a fanciful history with many ups and down. With such an iconic building in front of you, it can be a daunting task to photograph. So, where does one start?

The New Year is upon us at last and it brings new opportunities for exciting travels, but where to? We've curated a selection of the best photo essays we've made over the past year to inspire your travels. Make sure you get the most out of your upcoming trips and come away with better photographs. Where are you shooting in 2017?

In Italy, it's always time to eat and drink. So much so they have their own weird drink sizes, in case you only want a tiny glass of wine. While you're drinking, you're going to want to nibble on something. Let's go through these adult beverage sizes and morsels and the best places to find them so you can navigate the Canal city with joy.

When one thinks of cityscapes, London immediately draws to mind. The skyline is so instantly recognisable thanks to the many landmarks we all know so well, both old and new. With icons that have stood seemingly before memory can recall, contrasted with the modern world. Explore London's cityscape.

Photography is not solely an art form, but a tool of documentation that can make real change in people’s lives. This belief is a large part of why I became a photographer. Aperture Tours guide Willam Lounsbury tells us what makes him click.