View allAll Photos Tagged OffTheBeatenPath
Dawn light over the snow covered peak of Mount Kazbek (5,054 m/16,581 ft), the seventh-highest summit in the Caucasus Mountains, with Gergeti Trinity Church in foreground, in Stepantsminda, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia.
Mount Kazbegi is a dormant stratovolcano and the highest peak of Eastern Georgia. It is located on the border of Georgia and Russia.
The Gergeti Trinity Church is a Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church built in the 14th century. The separate belltower dates from the same period as the church itself. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia.
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A colorful stained glass window in Holy Mother Virgin Nativity Cathedral, a Georgian Orthodox cathedral built in the early 1900s, in downtown Batumi, the capital city of Adjara region of Georgia.
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Dawn light over the snow covered peak of Mount Kazbek (5,054 m/16,581 ft), the seventh-highest summit in the Caucasus Mountains, with Gergeti Trinity Church in foreground, in Stepantsminda, Mtskheta-Mtianeti region of Georgia.
Mount Kazbegi is a dormant stratovolcano and the highest peak of Eastern Georgia. It is located on the border of Georgia and Russia.
The Gergeti Trinity Church is a Georgian Orthodox and Apostolic Church built in the 14th century. The separate belltower dates from the same period as the church itself. Its isolated location on top of a steep mountain surrounded by the vastness of nature has made it a symbol for Georgia.
© All rights reserved. You may not use this photo in website, blog or any other media without my explicit permission.
Tourists taking boats in Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the mountainous karst area of central Croatia.
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Big Horn Sheep in Burnt River Canyon in Baker County
A beautiful New Year’s Day exploring the Burnt River Canyon and watching wildlife between Durkee and Unity in Baker County Oregon with lots of Bighorn Sheep out to help us ring in the new year.
The Burnt River Canyon near Durkee is always one of our favorite drives for taking in the majestic scenery of Eastern Oregon and watching wildlife along the way. Saw lots of wildlife this trip as colder temperatures have pushed lots of deer down into the canyon. We were excited to spot a few Bighorn Sheep in rut during this trip
For more information about Burnt River Canyon or other Baker County back roads and scenic byways visit the Baker County Tourism website at www.travlebakercounty.com
Sunset over Adriatic sea, as seen at Makarska Riviera, a 58km stretch of Adriatic coast at the foot of the Biokovo mountain range, in Split-Dalmatia County, southern Croatia.
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Summer view of the town of Mestia, nested in Caucasus mountains and dominated by stone defensive towers, in Svaneti region, northwestern Georgia.
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Dusk light over the old town of Rovinj, a popular tourist resort and an active fishing port on the western coast of the Istrian peninsula, in Istria County, Croatia.
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The imposing rock face of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks of Lavaredo), part of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in South Tyrol, northern Italy.
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Winding road in Caucasus mountains, as seen during the trek from Iprali to Ushguli via Latpari Pass (2,834m / 9,297ft), in Svaneti Region of Georgia.
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Chinese night market lights of Jinli street in downtown Chengdu, China.
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Social Distancing along the back roads of Baker County Oregon
A beautiful Spring day exploring the back roads of Baker County Oregon . Some great wildlife and lots of wide open scenery.
Located at the intersection of three Oregon Scenic Byways Baker County is surrounded by spectacular scenery and wide open spaces. For more information about Baker County's back roads and scenic byways visit the Baker County Tourism website at www.travlebakercounty.com
A spring day exploring the back roads and scenic byways in Baker County Oregon.
Spent the day enjoying the arrival of Spring in Baker County Oregon. Wildflowers are starting to bloom and birds are starting to arrive for spring migration. Spotted a few new arrivals including white crowns yellow headed, redwing, and brewer’s blackbirds, and found ourselves under the watchful eye of several Great Horned Owls.
For more information about Baker County Oregon including local scenic byways and birding hot spots visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com
Thanks to Fred Wolfe who told me this was indeed a church. I hope I can photograph it again when the leaves turn...
Summer scenery in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as seen on the Adolf Munkel Trail (Via delle Odle) at the foot of the Geisler/Odle Group, in Val di Funes, South Tyrol, northern Italy.
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A beautiful spring day exploring the back roads and landscapes of Baker County Oregon near the towns of Keating and Baker City.
A little early for spring migration still but spotted a few fun birds including lots of Red Tail Hawks and several nesting great horned owls.
For more information about Baker County Oregon including local scenic byways and birding hot spots visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com
A spring day exploring the back roads and scenic byways in Baker County Oregon.
Spent the day enjoying the arrival of Spring in Baker County Oregon. Wildflowers are starting to bloom and birds are starting to arrive for spring migration. Spotted a few new arrivals including white crowns yellow headed, redwing, and brewer’s blackbirds, and found ourselves under the watchful eye of several Great Horned Owls.
For more information about Baker County Oregon including local scenic byways and birding hot spots visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com
Reflection of the snow-covered mountain peaks in an alpine lake in Caucasus mountains, as seen during the trek from Iprali to Ushguli via Latpari Pass (2,834m / 9,297ft), in Svaneti Region of Georgia.
© All rights reserved. You may not use this photo in website, blog or any other media without my explicit permission.
Big Horn Sheep in Burnt River Canyon in Baker County
A beautiful New Year’s Day exploring the Burnt River Canyon and watching wildlife between Durkee and Unity in Baker County Oregon with lots of Bighorn Sheep out to help us ring in the new year.
The Burnt River Canyon near Durkee is always one of our favorite drives for taking in the majestic scenery of Eastern Oregon and watching wildlife along the way. Saw lots of wildlife this trip as colder temperatures have pushed lots of deer down into the canyon. We were excited to spot a few Bighorn Sheep in rut during this trip
For more information about Burnt River Canyon or other Baker County back roads and scenic byways visit the Baker County Tourism website at www.travlebakercounty.com
A spring day exploring the back roads and scenic byways in Baker County Oregon.
Spent the day enjoying the arrival of Spring in Baker County Oregon. Wildflowers are starting to bloom and birds are starting to arrive for spring migration. Spotted a few new arrivals including white crowns yellow headed, redwing, and brewer’s blackbirds, and found ourselves under the watchful eye of several Great Horned Owls.
For more information about Baker County Oregon including local scenic byways and birding hot spots visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com
...I walk home.
On an almost unnoticeable path through the forest.
Nine times out of ten, the only living creatures I meet here are: the fox (of course), squirrels, woodpeckers and two (not together) rather unfriendly badgers.
Aerial view of of a deep canyon in Piva Lake, an artificial lake located in Plužine municipality, northwestern Montenegro.
Piva lake is the result of the construction of Mratinje Dam on the Piva river in 1975. Its landscape is marked by dense stands of trees, limestone plateaus with some spectacular canyons formed by the Tara, Piva, Komarnica and Sušica rivers.
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If you could have seen how fast I sprinted up the hill last week after we lingered a bit too long over our 5:00 a.m. oatmeal...you would have probably said something like "not too bad for a guy in his 60's".
But if you had seen this scene as you crested the hill in a rental car, wouldn't you have run hard to get to the highest point... so you could capture Mother Nature putting on quite a show 20 minutes before sunrise?
Stunning view of Mt. Tetnuldi (4,858 m / 15,938 ft), 10th highest peak in Caucasus mountains, as seen during the trek from Adishi to Iprali, in Svaneti region, northwestern Georgia.
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Part of Forlorn Places - Forsaken Buildings / abseits ausgetretener Pfade / Simmeringer Haide
DMC-G2 - P1550172 19.2.2013 #rural #ländlich #landwirtschaft #gerät #gerätschaft #glashaus #gewächshaus #baum #tree #agricultural #agriculture #equipment
Aerial view of Veliki Tabor, a medieval castle built in 15th century by the Hungarian noble family of Ráttkay, in Zagorje region, Croatia.
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Aerial view of Lubenice, a 4000 year old medieval village perched on top of a 380 m high ridge that overlooks the Adriatic Sea, on Cres island, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Croatia.
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A spring day exploring the back roads and scenic byways in Baker County Oregon.
Spent the day enjoying the arrival of Spring in Baker County Oregon. Wildflowers are starting to bloom and birds are starting to arrive for spring migration. Spotted a few new arrivals including white crowns yellow headed, redwing, and brewer’s blackbirds, and found ourselves under the watchful eye of several Great Horned Owls.
For more information about Baker County Oregon including local scenic byways and birding hot spots visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com
Dawn light over the medieval town of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, in southern Croatia.
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Aerial view of Opatija, a coastal town and seaside resort dotted with Habsburg-era villas, situated on Kvarner coast by Adriatic sea, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, southern Croatia.
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Aerial view of Mamula island, situated in Boka Kotorska bay of Adriatic sea, in Herceg Novi municipality, Montenegro.
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Social Distancing along the back roads of Baker County Oregon
A beautiful Spring day exploring the back roads of Baker County Oregon . Some great wildlife and lots of wide open scenery and wildflowers along the way .
Located at the intersection of three Oregon Scenic Byways Baker County is surrounded by spectacular scenery and wide open spaces. For more information about Baker County's back roads and scenic byways visit the Baker County Tourism website at www.travlebakercounty.com
Noravank Monastery is a 13th-century Armenian religious complex located in a narrow gorge near the town of Yeghegnadzor in Vayots Dzor Province. Surrounded by steep red cliffs, the monastery is one of Armenia’s most well-known historical and architectural landmarks.
The complex is best known for Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, designed by the medieval architect, sculptor, and miniaturist Momik. His design is notable for its vertical structure and unusual exterior staircase leading to the second floor - an architectural feature rare for Armenian churches. The church also features detailed stone carvings, including crosses, decorative reliefs, and biblical scenes.
Today, Noravank is a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims, appreciated for its historical significance, striking setting, and well-preserved medieval architecture. The combination of natural landscape and cultural heritage makes it one of Armenia’s most iconic sites - and a true masterpiece of Momik’s legacy.
Beautiful fresco on the interior of the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, a Serbian Orthodox Church in Podgorica, the capital city of Montenegro.
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Previously, I shared a photo of Ayaz Kala, one of the defensive hilltop forts of ancient Khorezm. In contrast, this image shows Toprak Kala, a much larger and more complex site that once served as the capital of the Khorezmian Kingdom between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE.
Located about 35 km northeast of Khiva, in the Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan, Toprak Kala was not built for defense but for governance, ceremony, and daily life. The site includes the remains of a palace, temples, and residential buildings, all made from mudbrick. It was an organized urban center with a clear layout, wall paintings, and columned halls.
Unlike Ayaz Kala's remote, elevated position, Toprak Kala sits on open desert ground, closer to the once irrigated fertile lands. Today, the ruins are quiet and mostly untouched, offering a unique window into what life might have looked like in this once-powerful desert capital.
Exploring the back roads and scenic byways as winter turns to spring in Baker County Oregon.
Spent the day watching the seasons change in Eastern Oregon, with big dramatic skies and snowcapped mountain peaks. Spring is starting to arrive on the valley floor but winter is still holding on up in the Elkhorns. Enjoyed a short hike around Phillip’s Lake where the lake is still thawing.
For more information about Baker County Oregon including local scenic byways and birding hot spots visit Baker County Tourism's website at www.travelbakercounty.com
Ship cruising in Adriatic sea, near the town of Hvar, on the island of Hvar, part of Split-Dalmatia County, in southern Croatia.
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Sunrise at Amed beach, located in East Bali, Indonesia.
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There is nothing like exploring new places with old friends. I've done most of my outdoor photography but it is fun to share the time with a like-minded friend. Many thanks to Jim H. for an enjoyable photo adventure!
Dawn light over the medieval town of Dubrovnik, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, in southern Croatia.
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photo rights reserved by Ben
Devil's Valley lies high in the Caucasus Mountains, near the Jvari Pass. The valley is known for its raw beauty: steep mountains, deep gorges, fast-flowing rivers, and ancient watchtowers. In the past, it was a strategically important area, but also dangerous and difficult to traverse. It earned the nickname “Valley of the Devils” because invaders would often get lost, be ambushed, or simply never return—partly due to the fierce defense by the local population. Few tourists venture here; it feels like a hidden world. Especially outside the summer season, the valley is hard to access. Hikers and off-road adventurers love this kind of terrain, but it’s far from a typical day trip. One of the natural highlights of the area is the Eretos Waterfall. Cascading down a rocky cliff into a narrow gorge, the waterfall is tucked away between forested slopes. The sound of the falling water echoes through the valley, adding to the mysterious atmosphere of the region. It’s a place where nature takes center stage: wild, untouched, and barely marked by human presence. Visiting the waterfall feels like a reward for those willing to explore this rugged landscape.
Devil's Valley lies high in the Caucasus Mountains. The region is dramatic and mountainous, with panoramic views and an untamed character. It lies along the famous Georgian Military Highway, an ancient route that connects Tbilisi with Russia via the Jvari Pass. The landscape displays a mesmerizing contrast between snow-capped peaks and the golden autumn slopes, a characteristic feature of the region in late autumn. The deep blue sky emphasize the grandeur of the Caucasus, making this a truly awe-inspiring sight. Kanitha enjoying a view on the valley, with the impressive Caucasus mountains in the background.
De Devil's Valley ligt in de bergen van de Kaukasus, aan de Jvari-pas. De vallei staat bekend om haar ruige schoonheid: steile bergen, diepe kloven, snelstromende rivieren en eeuwenoude wachttorens. Ooit was dit een strategisch belangrijk gebied, maar ook gevaarlijk en moeilijk begaanbaar. De vallei kreeg de bijnaam “Valley of the Devils”, omdat indringers er vaak verdwaalden, werden aangevallen of simpelweg nooit meer terugkeerden — deels vanwege de lokale bevolking die haar land fel verdedigde.
Toeristen komen hier zelden; het voelt als een verborgen wereld. Vooral buiten het zomerseizoen is de vallei lastig toegankelijk. Wandelaars en offroad-liefhebbers zijn dol op dit soort plekken, maar het is geen standaard dagtrip. Eén van de natuurlijke parels in deze regio is de Eretos-waterval. Deze waterval stort zich tussen de rotsen naar beneden in een smalle kloof, verscholen tussen de beboste hellingen. Het geluid van het vallende water echoot door de vallei en draagt bij aan de mysterieuze sfeer van het gebied. Het is een plek waar de natuur de hoofdrol speelt: wild, ongerept en nauwelijks aangetast door de mens. Een bezoek aan de waterval voelt als een beloning voor wie de moeite neemt om dit ruige landschap te verkennen. De regio is dramatisch en bergachtig, met panoramische uitzichten en een rauw, onaangetast karakter. Ze ligt langs de beroemde Georgian Military Highway, een eeuwenoude route die Tbilisi met Rusland verbindt via de Jvari-pas. Kanitha geniet van het uitzicht op de vallei, met de indrukwekkende Kaukasusbergen op de achtergrond.
Aerial view of the Katskhi pillar, a huge natural limestone monolith that rises 131 feet into the air, with a small church on the top, overlooking the river valley of Katskhura, situated at the village of Katskhi in Imereti region, western Georgia.
The church on top of the pillar was built in the 6th to 8th centuries, dedicated to Maximus the Confessor, a famous Christian monk and theologian. It is commonly regarded as one of the most isolated churches in the world. There's also a burial chamber, a wine cellar, three hermit cells and a curtain wall.
Each day, monks living below make the nerve-jangling 20-minute ascent via a thin metal ladder bolted to the side of the rock. The daily pilgrimage to say prayers at the top is said to bring them closer to God.
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