Portugal Farol da Ferraria, Azores Islands

Perched high above the Atlantic on the western side of São Miguel, Farol da Ferraria is one of those locations where the lighthouse almost feels secondary to the landscape around it. Green fields stretch right to the edge of enormous volcanic cliffs, while the white lighthouse creates a tiny but distinctive focal point against the dark coastline.

From the air, you really see the scale of this part of the island, especially when the Atlantic is rough and waves are breaking continuously along the cliffs below.

A drone is perfect for Farol da Ferraria, as the lighthouse itself is relatively small compared with its surroundings. Instead of flying too close, I prefer to pull back and use the building as a point of scale within the much larger landscape.

Morning or evening light works particularly well here. In this shot, the low sun breaking through the clouds illuminated parts of the fields while leaving the cliffs much darker, creating natural depth and separation.

Try positioning the coastline diagonally through the frame and include plenty of ocean. The contrast between green farmland, black volcanic cliffs, and white Atlantic surf is what makes this location so photogenic.

Farol da Ferraria is located on the western side of São Miguel, making it an easy addition to a road trip around this part of the island.

The surrounding coastline is very exposed, so expect rapidly changing weather and particularly strong winds near the cliffs. If you're planning to fly a drone, check the wind conditions carefully before taking off, as conditions offshore can be considerably stronger than they feel on land. My friends couldn't fly their DJI Mini drones, and even my Mavic 3 Pro struggled in sports mode.

It also pairs well with other stops around western São Miguel, making it worth visiting even if the weather isn't perfect. In the Azores, dramatic clouds and short bursts of sunlight can often produce the most interesting photographs.