Janice Kho

Janice Kho is a West Australian photographer who has a passion for blogging, travel, culture and food. Communicating through her active blog, travellinglens.co, Janice shares visual journeys from around Australia and the world using a series of Fujifilm X Series equipment.

Santorini is probably the most famous of the Greek islands. The landscapes and buildings are so easily recognisable when you see them. Whitewashed buildings, deep blue seas spanning beyond the horizon and stunning sunsets. It’s really a photographer’s paradise. It’s hardly surprising that it’s on so many travellers’ bucketlist Santorini is also known as the most romantic Greek island so while I was there, I also saw quite a few couples doing wedding and engagement photoshoots. If it’s not already on your bucketlist hopefully it will be after you read this.

Skaros Rock and a wedding shoot, Imerovigli.

Afternoon light in Imerovigli

I was fortunate to spend three days exploring and relaxing on beautiful Santorini during the European summer. Thanks to Fujifilm Australia, I got to travel with the lightweight, compact and versatile Fujifilm X-T20 and the XF23mmF2 lens. I also brought along my favourite travel lens that has been with me for the last three years, the XF18-55mmF2.8-4. This nimble kit stayed out of the way but always readily available while I explored beautiful Santorini.

Stay

Fira is the biggest and busiest town on the island, filled with tourists, shops and hotels. If you want to be where the night life and restaurants are, Fira is the place to stay. The smaller town of Oia, further north of Fira, is where it’s famous for Santorini’s beautiful sunsets and expensive cliff side hotels. It’s also where the honeymooners typically go. I stayed in a smaller town near Fira called Imerovigli, about 30 minutes walk from Fira. That’s where I would recommend staying if you were to visit Santorini. It’s less crowded than Fira and less expensive than Oia. During my time in Santorini, I watched the sunset in Fira, Oia and Imerovigli. No matter where you go the sunset is stunning and I couldn’t get enough of it. However in my humble opinion the sunset from Imerovigli was the best.

Sunset at Imerovigli, with Oia in the distant left.

See and Do

For a fairly small island, there are plenty to see and do on Santorini. Here are a few of my highlights. The hike from Fira to Oia is a must-do if you don’t mind hiking for around 10km. The hike takes you along the caldera cliff and through the villages of Fira, Firostefani, Imerovigli, and Oia. The walk from Fira to Imerovigli is mostly along the caldera-edge pathway. Once you leave Imerovigli it can be a bit rough and hilly. Totally worth it for the views you get to photograph along the way!

The amazing views along the way while hiking from Fira to Oia.

Bells in Oia.

White washed buildings lining the cliffs in Oia.

Explore the town of Oia and Fira on foot. Wandering the streets and photographing my experience as I explore it was really enjoyable with the X-T20. It was light to carry around my neck or wrist, which meant I always had it with me and I felt like I never missed a shot. I’m sure I stopped every few metres to take a photo ’cause I couldn’t get enough of that view! Once you hit the town centre, every street is lined with shops, restaurants and hotels. Most restaurants and cafes naturally target their food towards the tourists, despite that I still thoroughly enjoyed the Greek food. The towns get particularly crowded just before and during sunset when the crowds of tourist head into town for the best spots to catch the sunset. The weather was sunny and beautiful the whole time we were there, I couldn’t have asked for more.

Cliff side hotels are everywhere in Oia.

Famous blue domes of Santorini.

Bells of Santorini.

Famous blue domes of Santorini in the late afternoon.

Exploring the town of Oia.

Exploring the town of Fira.

Iconic church found along the way during my walk from Imerovigli to Fira.

The Three Bells of Fira at Firostefani.

The view of Fira from a distance, walking from Imerovigli to Fira.

Catholic Cathedral, Fira.

There were so many cruise ships in the sea, stopping to allow tourist to get to the Old Port in Fira using smaller boats.

Iconic domes, Firostefani.

If you want to spend some time away from crowded towns of Fira and Oia, check out the much smaller town of Pyrgos. It’s located close to the centre of Santorini Island and is one of the highest points on the island. It was fun to wander through the charming backstreets without the hustle and bustle of tourists being everywhere. Be prepared for the gradual walk upwards to the Venetian castle ruins. You’ll be treated to some impressive views of Santorini Island from the top.

Exploring the backstreets and windy paths in Pyrgos.

Pyrgos also had a beautiful array of colourful doors, so Instagram-able.

Or head to one of many beaches to swim or relax. I spent a bit of time on the sunlounger at Perissa beach while enjoying a drink or two.

Drinks and sunbathing at Perissa Beach.

Santorini is equally beautiful at dusk and at night. I put the X-T20 on a tripod with the XF23mmF2 on and took some long exposure photos. Don’t be fooled by the small size of the X-T20, it performed great for night photography, especially in combination with the fast XF23mmF2 lens.

Imerovigli at night.

For me, I enjoy photography the most when I can walk about freely and inconspicuously. Using the combination of the X-T20 and the XF23mmF2 or the XF18-55mmF2.8-4 gave me that freedom. Capturing the scene and experience before me so that when I look back through my photos in years to come, it will bring me back to that moment in time, that experience, the feeling I had. I’ve tried and enjoyed a number of Fujinon lenses, but the XF23mmF2 has quickly become one of my favourite walkaround lenses I have used from Fujifilm. The lens is light and quick to focus, which means you never miss a shot. It is definitely up there a one of my favourite lenses along side the XF27mmF2.8 and the XF35mmF1.4. If you’re just starting out in photography or want something compact and lightweight while travelling, the X-T20 and XF23mmF2 is a great combination.