Our planet has quite a selection of unearthly landscapes you won’t believe exist. With box office hits like “The Martian” and “Gravity,” it’s clear that we haven’t lost our nostalgia for space exploration. Here are our favorite locations to shoot that seem completely out-of-this-world.
Zhangye Danxia Landform, China
This geological wonder was the backdrop for the Chinese film, “A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodleshop” by filmmaker Zhang Yimou. Its multi-colored peaks, prominent boulders and steep cliffs make it a great location for the next space odyssey.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s film “Winter Sleep” begins with an aerial shot of Cappadocia spotlighting its wind-blown honeycombed rock formations that seem straight out of a fairytale book. Beautiful chimney-like cliffs and a labyrinth of residences give this location a galactic feel.
Slope Point, New Zealand
New Zealand, best known for “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, has quite a supernatural landscape. Slope Point, found at the southernmost tip of the south island is home to twisted and crooked trees formed by the constant airstream that smashes into the land unforgivingly. This destination has suspense thriller written all over it!
Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland
Iceland, covered in glaciers, black rock and snow, is home to box office hits like “Batman Begins,” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” and “Prometheus,” as well as HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and Netflix’s “Sense8.” Its landscape is perfect for the next science fiction shoot.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona United States
One of the most visited and photographed canyons in the Southwest, Antelope Canyon is characterized by its beautiful corkscrew crevices and vibrantly colored sandstone.
Mount Roraima, South America
These gorgeous tabletop mountains found on the border of Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana were the inspiration behind Pixar’s animated film “Up.”
Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, Madagascar
With its massive razor-sharp vertical rocks, the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in Madagascar seems like the perfect filming location for movies like “The Maze Runner”. These eroded limestone rocks extend for over 230 square miles. Armageddon 2 anyone?
Derweze, Turkmenistan – “Door to Hell”
“Door to Hell” is a 230-foot-wide crater in the middle of the desert near Deweze, Turkmenistan. It was originally a drilling platform for Soviet scientist back in 1971, until the area collapsed. Researchers, fearing the spread of poisonous methane gas, lit it on fire. What they didn’t expect – it continues to burn 44 years later!
About Global Media Desk
Global Media Desk has been providing on-demand high-quality, local production crews and photographers worldwide for over 15 years. We have seen and done it all, so please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about shooting in a specific country or region. Ready to hire the best local crew for you project? Fill out our free quote form and you can have access to the highest-quality crews. It is as simple as Click. Point. Covered.
Photo Credits:
ESO/L. Calçada – Pluto (Artist’s Impression)
Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu, China by 达 李, on Flickr
Balloons in Cappadocia by Mr Hicks46, on Flickr
Slope Point by Ben, on Flickr
Andreas Tille, Wikimedia Commons
Antelope Canyon by Andy Morffew, on Flickr
View from Mt. Roraima “Window” by Paulo Fassina, on Flickr
Tsingy – 214 by Olivier Lejade, on Flickr
Gates of Hell 017 by Stefan Krasowski, on Flickr