026 - Four Ways to Find Great Photo Spots
It seems like professional photographers are always in amazing places to take amazing photos. They always seem to be in the right place at the right time to get the right photos. But, this isn’t about luck (ok, sometimes it is) or even being in the most amazing locations. It’s about knowing what to look for in a great image, dedication to finding a shot and being willing to explore.
When people just starting out in photography tend to think about what to take photos of, they get stuck thinking about amazing monuments, huge landscapes with perfect lighting, studios filled with gear and perfect locations with perfect light. But, to be honest, those moments don’t tend to occur often in photography. The perfect light with the perfect sunset in the perfect spot all the time is just unrealistic. More often than not, photography is about creating something from what is in front of you and making the best of what is around. Especially in travel and adventure photography. But, this isn’t about just hoping and wishing for the best things to appear in front of you. There is leg work you can do to give yourself the best chance of creating amazing images consistently.
Research
Researching the area you are interested in will make a big difference in finding great locations to shoot. What you consider a great location will depend on what you are looking to photograph. I know someone who just wants to see inside the kitchens of local restaurants. They don’t care about cityscapes and monuments don’t excite them. But the insides of local kitchens, the way they work, and the people in them really excite him. So that’s what he goes looking for. Figure out what you want to photograph, then go looking for it in the area you are going to.
Use Facebook for Research
Head to Facebook and look for photography groups in the area you are researching and look through the photos on there. You will have to join these groups, but it is typically a short and painless process.
When you are looking at the photos, don’t just look for photos that are beautiful, but look at the locations in the photos themselves (yes, even in images you don’t think are particularly nice). Because there may be potential there for great images, the person just didn’t get a very good one.
Once you find a photo that you love, look at the caption. A lot of people will post where their photo was taken and then you can go and look up that area yourself, find times for sunset and sunrise, distance from where you are staying and all the other information you will need.
You can also ask the person who posted the photo for more details. Let them know you are someone coming into the area, how much you love the photo or think it’s amazing or that the area looks stunning, and you’d love to see it for yourself. Ask them politely if they can help you out by telling you where the photo was taken from so that you can go there.
Google Image Search
Another great way to look for great spots to take photos. Frequently however, you will only find the most popular spots on there for the first few pages (as that’s how the algorithm works).
Look for photographers from the area and finding their Instagram pages. Most photographers from an area will know many of the best hidden gems and will post them on Instagram. You’ll find some popular spots as well, but lots and lots of special locations. If you see some you love with no specifics on a spot, leave a comment about the photo and ask where it was taken. Most photographers (or their social media mangers) will be happy to respond.
Instagram is also one of the best places to research an area. Start by going onto Instagram, heading into the search function and then locations and typing in where you are going. From there just scroll through the images and save ones you love. After that, go search the hashtags for the area and save the photos you love.
These are some really easy, really quick ways to start finding out about the places that locals love to go and shoot and the angles that they shoot from.
You will need to do some secondary research, by using things like street view on Google Maps, to figure out exactly where some photos were taken from.
Researching beforehand will give you a very clear idea of where you want to go and will ensure you aren’t wasting your time wandering around looking for spots to possibly shoot. This is particularly important if you have limited time in an area. Like only one day in Paris and you want to make sure you get pictures of all the best arches. Or something like that. This way you can plan in advance and use your one day wisley.
2. Scouting
Go out without your kit, or just take a small one with you, and head to a spot that you have researched already. It doesn’t matter what time of day you go. Give yourself some time to walk the area and mark out beautiful spots to shoot from. Look for:
The way the sun will interact with subjects
Where shadows may be cast.
Where the sun will be in the sky when you plan to shoot.
How people move through the area.
While you are scouting, walk the whole area. Look high, get down low, just move all around. Doing this when you have lots of time to explore will ensure that you get the best shots when the light is just right. You will already know the area and have an idea of angles, compositions, and the things around you. So instead of wandering around while the light is great, you can just move to spots that you already know are there. This is a much better use of fantastic light.
I also suggest doing this without kit so that you aren’t focused on creating. Instead you are focused on seeing and understanding. There is a big difference in the way we record our surroundings when we are actively shooting versus when we are actively hunting for locations. I often bring my cell phone and take snapshots of angles and the space so I can look back over them before heading out to shoot. This is to remind myself of what I saw and what I envisioned while in that spot.
3. Wandering
If you don’t have time or the ability to scout a spot or you are living somewhere and want to get to know it better, learn to wander. When you are in a place get off the bus, get out of your car, and get your feet moving. You can bike or walk (I prefer walking, because I find I don’t see as many photographic opportunities by bike) an area. Being in a car doesn’t afford you the opportunity to just stop and look. It doesn’t let you just randomly head somewhere on a whim. Walk under a bridge, or into a building. It’s very confining and you will find yourself only seeing the major highlights. Get onto your own two feet and start exploring.
I have found some of the best angles of Calgary just by being willing to walk up and down every side street, secondary road, park and alley that I could find. I know some of the most amazing photo locations, because I am out on my own two feet all the time.
This is particualirly important if you are starting to feel bored with wherever you are living. I find myself sometimes thinking how “I’ve shot everything there is to shoot in Calgary. I’m so bored of being here.” Then I remind myself to get my shoes on and go walking. Go find a part of the city I haven’t seen before.
I know when my wife and I were in Europe, we were walking between 25 and 35 km a day because we wanted to get a feel of the places we were in. We wanted to see the streets between famous landmarks and beyond them. And by doing this we found some of the most amazing hidden gems, little shops, and wonderful people.
So get out there, take your kit, and go wandering.
4. Asking Questions
This can be the most difficult but also the most rewarding way to find amazing things to photograph. Learn to ask questions of others. This ties in a lot to research, but I pull it out because it is also something you can do in person.
Before you head somewhere, start talking to locals online. This is one of the greatest things about living in the connected community, we can talk to people all over the world. Go find local photographers, follow their Instagram, send them a direct message, and be honest that you are coming to the area and love their work and would love some advice from them on places you should see or eat at or avoid entirely even. Whatever you think they would know about and be willing to answer. This is a great way to learn about an area.
You may also end up with a chance to meet up with a local while you are there, go shooting with them and have them show you around. Don’t expect this though! It’s just one of the things that may end up happening.
Once you are somewhere, get to asking people what they think you should go and see. Start with wherever you are staying and asking the people there. You’ll likely hear about some really interesting spots that only locals really know about. From there, as you are walking around, if you see someone who is out taking photos as well you can ask them where they’ve shot and where they are headed to. If you aren’t around a major monument or tourist location, you will find a lot of the people out shooting will be locals. Most people are thrilled to tell you all about where they live if you seem genuinely interested in their town or city. And they will want to know a bit about you as well. So be prepared for a short conversation.
You’d be surprised at the offers that come your way if you are just open, honest and friendly with people. You may end up with some of the most amazing experiences.