Mix up Hawaii with Scottland and sprinkle it with some New Zealand natural flavor. That’s how I experienced my travels to 3 of the islands of the Azores.
During my Light Painting trip to the Azores, I got the chance to share a lot of action in nature and enjoy a lot of food with friends. Lucky us we go to meet several other artists with different creative ideas. Freshly inspired you find here some of the light art creations of two weeks out at night.

Light Painting on Sao Miguel Island, Azores

All the way of the middle of the Atlantic, re the Azores Islands. Starting on Sao Miguel, we went to Furnas and of course the caldera of Sete Cidades. That’s where we found the abandoned Hotel Monte Palace. But more on that later. After Sao Miguel, we went to see Faial and Pico.

Here is a map of the Islands with where the photos were taken.

The Light Painting started after some hot thermal bath in a tiny forest at Lagoa Furnas near the geysers. Furnas is located on the far east of Sao Miguel Island inside of a caldera of a blasted volcano.

Using the procedure from before I wanted to add some tiny light feature. Using a simple flashlight I created this simple Shooting Star with a single swing of my hand.

Repeating the procedure yet with an extra feature of a star.

Photographing the abandoned Monte Palace Hotel on Sao Miguel, Azores

The best views on the island also has one of the most interesting urbex spots I have seen. The Hotel is right on the rim of the Caldera and oversees the two lakes inside.

One of the most exciting architectural Light Painting spots in the last years is the Monte Palace Hotel at the Caldeira rim of Sete Cidades. You’ll find it right that abandoned Hotel at the Vista point Vista do Rei wrapped in a street bend overlooking the island. Incredible views around.

Coming back with some friends we explored the location. When I saw it during the first drive-by I knew I have to come back at night to light paint. See the full location check in the video section or right here.

Almost as exciting as the brutalist architecture of the outside is the inside of the structure. The Hotel is stripped down to the bare concrete and is open for photo business.

The Lobby exposed all the levels especially when you have a nice little water puddle to provide a nice reflection. We do love to use reflections in our Light Paintings right?

Watch out for all the trash when walking around at night.

Light Painting Selfie in front of the Spiral Stair Case.

When you look up the staircase you get one of those classic photographs. If you take some colored flashlights you can run up and down and change the color of the lines leading up.

Light Painting on Pico Island, Azores

Pico Island also home to the 2351 m tall Pico Volcano was our last stop and of course, there was some more light painting. It did not feel like I did create a lot. Most of the time we eat nice seafood. We did get to climb the mountain at night and see the sunrise from on top of the volcano. Highly recommended activity once you also get there.

At last some Drone Light Painting

Flying my drone alongside the open Volcano crater.

Behind the volcano show the dramatic city lights of Horta (Faial) and Madalena on the bottom of the Pico Volcano.

Every night ends with the sunrise. When sitting on top of the mountain Picinio with luxurious floor heating any night ends with a smile. I hope this blog article also ends with you happy to join my Light Painting trip to the Azores.

Thank you
Gunnar