What people say about Kike Calvo
and his expertise
¨LŪM Expeditions™, formerly Luminous Photo Expeditions, organized an unforgettable trip for me through South Sudan, Uganda and Burundi. I never would have thought to combine those countries on my own, but the itinerary worked beautifully. Kike Calvo is a pleasure to work with—professional, personable and connected with excellent local guides. Every aspect of the trip was well-planned, from top-notch guides to comfortable accommodations and reliable transport. I highly recommend Luminous for anyone seeking thoughtfully curated, off-the-beaten-path, multicountry adventures. I’ll definitely be returning for future trips.¨
– Justine Kirby | Lawyer & Off-the-Beaten Path Facebook Group Founder
Photos taken by Justine Kirby, during a Luminous an African Multi-country Photo Expedition
“Thank you for the wonderful photo. A great memory from our time in Kyrgyzstan. I really appreciate the special touches you provide in your exciting expeditions.“
– Fran S. | Silk Road Private Expedition
“We thoroughly enjoyed our private tour with LŪM Expeditions™, learning about the D-Day landings and the Battle of Normandy through meaningful experiences and expertly guided visits.
Although the weather did not fully cooperate, our guide, Claire, ensured that we covered all the sites and museums on our list, adapting the itinerary with flexibility while helping us avoid crowds and long queues. Her narration was knowledgeable, engaging, and lively.
Our driver, Christian, navigated the local roads safely and efficiently, and we never had to walk far from the parking areas to reach our destinations. The transfers were seamless, saving us valuable time. Our six-seater passenger van was comfortable and well maintained, ensuring a smooth ride throughout the journey.
Dinner reservations and shopping opportunities were expertly arranged, allowing us to make the most of our short time in Normandy. It was a memorable trip, and we hope to travel again with LŪM Expeditions™ in the future.
Au revoir!”
– George and Margaret, Scottsdale, Arizona; Lori and Scott, Fort Worth, Texas | Normandy Private Expedition
“After traveling and learning with Kike, I couldn’t even walk around my neighborhood without taking pictures and asking myself, ‘What could make this better?’ I think I caught the ‘Kike disease!’”
— Ariane K.B. | 2026 Maine Photo Sailing Expedition
“Five Stars. Fascinating and life-enhancing. A magnificent journey through the heart of the Silk Road, filled with cultural depth, kindness, and unforgettable experiences.”
– Tim Y | 2026 Silk Road Private Tour
“Thank you for the Colombian tour, thoughtfully designed and operated by LŪM Expeditions™, formerly Luminous Photo Expeditions. It was a truly marvelous experience. What made the journey especially memorable was Kike’s dedication to understanding and meeting our needs. I would recommend LŪM Expeditions™ without hesitation.”
– Ann | Producer and Movie Director | 2026 Maine Photo Sailing Expedition
“A fun and unique adventure aboard the historic Stephen Taber, sailing off the scenic coast of Maine while learning new ways to create more meaningful photographs. What made the experience especially memorable was having such direct access to Kike’s time and expertise. He was fun, approachable, friendly, and a wonderful teacher.
Between the beauty of the Maine coast, the majesty of the historic windjammer, the camaraderie with fellow travelers, and the chance to broaden my artistic horizons, it was an unforgettable experience. My only wish was that we had more days on the water!”
– Amy Kelly | 2026 Maine Photo Sailing Expedition
“I thoroughly enjoyed Kike Calvo’s photography workshop while sailing aboard the historic Stephen Taber schooner. Kike drew on his extensive knowledge and experience to encourage us to think more intentionally as photographers, helping us strengthen both our vision and our work. An excellent and encouraging teacher, he offered thoughtful guidance on how to best capture the beauty of Penobscot Bay and its surrounding islands. We all returned home with improved skills, wonderful memories, and new friends. I highly recommend both the photography workshop and the unforgettable voyage aboard the Stephen Taber. You will not be disappointed.”
– Teresa L. Schraeder, M.D.| Maine Sailing Storytelling Expedition | 2026 Maine Photo Sailing Expedition
“Learning photography from Kike Calvo is like having a basketball lesson with Michael Jordan.”
– Eyal Aronoff, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.
(From an expedition where Kike served as National Geographic Photo Expert with Lindblad Expeditions.)
¨We sailed along the West Coast of Africa with Kike, booking private shore expeditions in Luanda (Angola) and Walvis Bay (Namibia). Both trips exceeded our expectations. Luminous Photo Expeditions perfectly organized the shore expeditions, showing a deep knowledge of what to see, when to go, and where to stop. We will never forget the breathtaking scenery of the dunes south of Walvis Bay. In Angola, the guides shared fascinating insights into the country’s culture and history, taking us to places like the Slavery Museum and the Museum of Anthropology. Later, we noticed Kike’s genuine enthusiasm for masks and objects used by tribal communities. During a lecture, we fully realized Kike’s extraordinary ability to inspire others to follow their passions — just as he has. Be warned: Kike´s warm and positive attitude might just change your life! ¨
– Stefan Scheer, Member of Most Traveled People, Germany.
“Our expedition with Kike Calvo was fantastic. It is a completely different experience traveling with a National Geographic Creative photographer. No matter what your skill level was, Kike helped you see all of your surroundings in a completely different light. Just the slightest adjustment to your angle or stance made the difference between an average photo, and a beautiful representation of your memories. He gave instruction, advice, perspective whenever we asked him. We would follow him around the towns and villages we went to, watching what he was watching… seeing things with his vision. Amazing. Not to mention, he does all this with a kind heart, great sense of humor and passion for all of his subject matter. We cannot wait to travel with Kike again.”
— Amy Rectenwald, Luxury Travel Advisor.
(From an expedition where Kike served as National Geographic Photo Expert with Lindblad Expeditions.)
“We have had the good fortune of traveling with the extraordinary photojournalist, Kike Calvo, on our first trip to South America. He is a wonderful teacher, easily sharing his knowledge of photography with a group ranging from rank amateurs to professionals. His kindness, breadth of knowledge and boundless energy are delightful about being around. We look forward to traveling with him again.”
-Katie Busch, M.D and Jan Fawcett M.D.
“Kike is an innate teacher who thoroughly enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for photography with those less skilled behind the lens. His happy manner and approachable personality make asking questions easy and learning that much more fun. I had traveled merely with my iPhone and he showed me many features that I never knew existed as well as gave me ideas for framing shots and taking photos that were culturally interesting. Kike’s enthusiasm for his craft is palatable and I thoroughly enjoyed the tutelage I received from him during my trip. I highly recommend traveling with Kike and cannot say enough about him! We had such fun and every day was a new adventure.”
-Jennifer Brown, Boston, Massachusetts.
“Kike Calvo is not only a fine photographer, but a terrific travel companion as well. He has a sunny and optimistic approach to life which is fun and infectious, a calm and polite way of handling difficult situations, and is both unobtrusive and professional to his photographic work.”
– David H. Miller, New York.
“I traveled with world recognized professional photographer Kike Calvo. I found him to be more than a photographer, he is an artist. His approach to composition, lighting and color is exceptional and his love of photography brings joy and inspiration to all. His warm, outgoing personality, sense of humor and enthusiasm make him an ideal leader for any expedition. It was a pleasure meeting and traveling with him.”
– Howard Sherman, M.D. New York.
“We had the pleasure of traveling with Kike Calvo on our trip along the West Coast of South America in the fall of 2015. Kike’s easy going personality, his ability to work with photographers at all skill levels, and his unique eye on the cultural aspects of the trip greatly added to the overall experience. We thoroughly enjoyed his presentations and look forward to having the opportunity to travel with him again.”
– Bob Schafer and Susan Bowman
“My husband and I had the great fortune of recently traveling with photojournalist Kike Calvo . He was an incredible teacher, has a beautiful artistic eye, and presented truly compelling work that spoke directly to the heart. He is an engaging, kind and generous person and his infectious enthusiasm for culture, people, and nature makes being with him an adventure. Don’t miss a chance to travel with Kike! He is one in a million.“
– Mary Jo Cameron, Wilmington, NC.
“Kike’s ability to encourage guests to enjoy photography and teach techniques that greatly improved our traveling experience. Kike can make a novice feel like a professional photographer. I was able to capture whales moving, sunsets and landscapes that had depth. He was clear in the instruction and offered many opportunities to get more input to improve the photo taking experience and final product. I would highly recommend Kike Calvo as a photography instructor, especially in areas where the traveler is unsure of landscape and best techniques. Traveling with Kike is a pleasure. His demeanor is kind, fun and great conversationalist. He is well informed of the areas of travel he is sharing with guests. If the opportunity presents itself, I will eagerly book my second trip with Kike as guide and teacher to another expedition and exploration of new lands.”
– Michelle Russillo.
¨We sailed along the West Coast of Africa with Kike, booking private shore expeditions in Luanda (Angola) and Walvis Bay (Namibia). Both trips exceeded our expectations. Luminous Photo Expeditions perfectly organized the shore expeditions, showing a deep knowledge of what to see, when to go, and where to stop.
We will never forget the breathtaking scenery of the dunes south of Walvis Bay. In Angola, the guides shared fascinating insights into the country’s culture and history, taking us to places like the Slavery Museum and the Museum of Anthropology.
Later, we noticed Kike’s genuine enthusiasm for masks and objects used by tribal communities. During a lecture, we fully realized Kike’s extraordinary ability to inspire others to follow their passions — just as he has. Be warned: his warm and positive attitude might just change your life! ¨- Stefan & Regula, Germany.