Portugal Farol do Albarnaz, Azores Islands

Perched on the dramatic northern tip of Flores, Farol do Albarnaz is surrounded by exactly the kind of landscape that makes the Azores so special: intensely green fields ending abruptly at towering volcanic cliffs, with the Atlantic crashing against the rocks far below. From the ground, the lighthouse feels remote. From above, you really understand just how spectacular its location is.

A bird’s-eye drone perspective works particularly well here. Instead of photographing the lighthouse against the horizon, fly almost directly above it and use the triangular shape of the headland as your composition. The straight access road naturally leads the eye towards the lighthouse, while the white surf creates a dramatic border between the dark cliffs and deep-blue Atlantic.

Try flying when the sun is relatively high or briefly breaks through the clouds. More light reaching the ocean helps reveal the incredible turquoise tones around the submerged rocks, which creates a beautiful contrast with the green fields.

Farol do Albarnaz sits in the far north of Flores Island, beyond Ponta Delgada, and is easy to reach by car. The final approach takes you through open fields and feels wonderfully remote compared with many of the island’s better-known viewpoints.

Definitely combine it with the nearby Moinho River waterfall and surrounding coastline. Also keep an eye on the weather: this exposed headland can become extremely windy very quickly, so drone-flying conditions can be considerably more challenging here than farther inland.