- 24 mins
If you’ve ever felt that a photo speaks to you; that it says, “come, you need to experience this…,” then this blog is for you.
Torres del Paine has a kind of magic that can’t be explained… but it can be captured. And today, on World Photography Day, we want to show you how different travelers – with their cameras, stories and desire to explore – have managed to capture what makes this place so unique.
You don’t need to be a professional photographer to feel it. All you need is to be there, to look… and to let the shutter click.
Are you ready to discover what these photographers have seen? Because who knows… maybe the next great photo will be yours. Take tips from these experts and get ready!
Tribi López and the Conquest of the Base Torres Viewpoint
During the season at Las Torres Patagonia, we usually welcome different professionals, tour operators, influencers, content creators and journalists. Tribi López is part of this last group.
López is a Chilean journalist and bold photographer. He has published in various national and international media outlets, telling stories about journeys, people and places in Chile and abroad. He currently collaborates with Revista Domingo and Revista Abismo.
While visiting the Torres del Paine National Park, López was part of a group that ventured into the Ascencio Valley in search of one of the most visited viewpoints in the country. Remembering his visit, he comments:
“Here was the first time I felt the presence of something divine. Twenty-five years ago, on one of my first trips, reaching the base of Las Torres Mountains became something religious and extremely difficult to explain. I returned as a pilgrim many more times, always filled with great joy. Almost nine years since I was last here, coming back was an act of faith.”
He adds that his hike included: “Three hours with rain and 60 km/h winds. After that came calm; the massif cleared and revealed its absolute beauty. Condors flew among the gusts of wind, while we humans endured – soaking wet – the three degrees Celsius at the viewpoint. For two hours, I didn’t take my eyes off them. In silence, I said a prayer full of gratitude. Returning always becomes a first time. Las Torres Mountains are the home of my heart.”
Guillermo Quijada and the Search for the Guardians of Patagonia
Patagonia is famous for many reasons: its impressive mountain formations; sunsets that paint the entire horizon; its diverse plant and flower species; and the pumas – majestic felines that roam the pampas, true lords of the local fauna.
Many photographers spend weeks searching for the perfect photo of these magnificent mammals, but only a few are lucky enough to capture this animal in all its majesty. One of them is Guillermo Quijada, a civil engineer whose passion is photography.
Quijada recalls: “For as long as I can remember, there has always been a camera in my hands. The model or brand didn’t matter; what mattered was capturing that instant and trying to share what my eyes saw. Photography has taken me to incredible places, but, for me, none surpass the magic of Torres del Paine.”
In an image captured during one of his visits to the park, Quijada photographed two pumas sharing a beautiful moment one afternoon – a shot many would love to have in their portfolio, and one he patiently managed to frame to perfection.
Quijada was also among the winners of the photography contest organized by las Torres Patagonia, standing out as one of the talented photographers who triumphed with their shots of Torres del Paine.
Lisa Michele Burns and a Magical Patagonian Experience
They say first impressions matter, and for Lisa Michele Burns that was her very first afternoon staying at Hotel Las Torres, when Patagonia welcomed her with the vibrant colors of sunset. One day was ending, and an adventure was just beginning.
Burns shares: “The evening I took this image felt like the beginning of an amazing adventure. The light, the cloud formations and the vastness of the landscape were a wonderful welcome to my time in Patagonia. I captured it on my first afternoon at Las Torres Patagonia; in fact, my first afternoon in all of Patagonia.”
She adds: “I had planned to rest after the long flight from Australia and, since the sunset didn’t seem too promising, I was preparing to go to bed very early. Then, a pink tone appeared in the sky, and that was all I needed to grab a jacket and run outside. The sky lit up; the clouds glowed with vibrant colors and surprising patterns. It was the beginning of the best two weeks I’ve ever spent photographing landscapes and, once I got started, I couldn’t stop: there was too much to discover and photograph.”
Torres del Paine became a new world of possibilities for the Australian photographer, who specializes in documenting glaciers, deserts and alpine environments. You can see her portfolio here.
For Lisa Michele Burns, nothing is more enjoyable that being surrounded by natural beauty with her camera in hand, walking slowly in search of wildlife, while letting herself be immersed in the songs of birds, landscapes and light.
In addition to her work as a photographer, ten years ago she began publishing The Wandering Lens, a travel guide designed for photographers. Thanks to her growing community of readers, late last year she founded The Travel Photography Club, which brings together photographers of all levels from more than 20 countries to learn, create and explore together.
Willemijn Wolthaus and Patagonia’s Rivers of Ice
During the most recent edition of the Las Torres Patagonia photography contest, numerous images were submitted to compete for the award. Finally, the jury awarded the winning photo to Willemijn Wolthaus, a Dutch citizen who visited Torres del Paine in 2023 and captured his impressive image of the iconic granite towers.
Looking back, Wolthaus remembers that day after waking up early in a white world at Los Perros Camping. “The next adventure was already waiting,” he recalls. The demanding climb toward the John Gardner Pass, with snow up to the knees and strong winds, led him to the most rewarding moment of the O Circuit: the view of the Grey Glacier. “That’s a moment I treasure as one of my greatest achievements,” he reflects.
Going further back, the Dutch photographer recalls that his adventure in photography reached its first high point with a compact camera in the French Pyrenees in 2018 while hiking part of the GR10.
“It was my first long-distance hike, and being in the mountains made me feel humble. From that moment, I understood the impact that nature has on me. It made me remember my childhood, watching birds and climbing trees,” Wolthaus says.
And you? What are you waiting for to bring your camera and live this adventure? Patagonia is ready to inspire you. Your next photo is waiting in Torres del Paine. Make it happen!
