How do you scout new locations?

[batmura]

I am interested in learning how you guys scout new locations for your photography? I am mostly talking about landscape work. How do you find certain locations? Do you guys have your own methods like using Google Earth? If you're curious about where a certain photo was taken, what methods do you use to find out? What kind of preparations do you make before travelling to a new city or country? What online sources do you consult? If you need to talk to the locals, how do you approach them?

Thanks!

[dubaiphil]

You will find lots of different answers here. From me:

Google Earth - I use this to look at where photographs have been taken (as long as they're geotagged correctly) and at what time of day and season. Then I plan day trips to take in places of photographic interest which we may accidentally stumble across during our visit! Having a partner who's not particularly interested in photography makes this a favoured tactic of mine!

Local tour companies - they may be helpful to see itineraries.

Local photographic tour companies - these are definitely useful, either by taking them up on their tours, or by viewing their itineraries and seeing what you can combine into trips out while you are on vacation.

[Donald]

I now classify the Photographer's Ephemeris as an essential aid to photography. But that only comes in to play once you know. broadly, your location.

One way of looking at the question is to first of all answer the question - What am I wanting to photograph? Once you know the answer to that, go the places where you'll find that scenery. So, to be silly about it, if you want to photograph the coast, don't go into the interior of a country. But the point is serious. I think so many people just go out with their camera and hope to come across something, but I think you have to have, at least, some idea of what sort of pictures your wanting to make.

Either at home or when I am somewhere else, then my approach is to just go out and look! Look for the picture before you take the camera out of its bag.

[Andrew1]

My most used site for locations.

http://photoephemeris.com/

Also before traveling you can look for information and contacts through camera clubs in the area.

[Geoff F]

This probably depends on what sort of photographer you are.

For example, traveling vast distances, and for me that would be 50 miles, just for a couple of photos isn't cost effective. Maybe different if you are going somewhere for a family holiday as well.

And there are so many places withing 20 miles of where I live that I have never visited in the past 65 years; although part of that time was before I was doing any photography.

So during the dull winter days I do walk around, with a camera just in case, and have a look at potential sites of interest. Considering what light angle would be required etc, and which lenses will be needed, so I can return when conditions would be perfect.

[rpcrowe]

I use the Internet and Google my destination.

I also like to have a guide book if possible. A guide book designed for photographers is a big plus...

[ajohnw]

It's sometimes possible to get an idea what an area is like from this site but it favours places that are often photo'd

http://www.istockphoto.com

Google too for both photo's and information.

I just went on a tour that included photo opportunities. Previously I have done that sort of thing on my own but rather a long time ago. It was noticeable that the coach passed several places that I would have liked to stop and photograph. While the guide clearly tried to get us to sites of their choice early many other coaches would arrive shortly after - well past the point where people could be easily removed by taking 2 shots with them in different positions.

One of the reasons I switched to micro 4/3 relates to this area. I can easily carry around what I may need even up to 600mm 35mm frame equivalent. I often walk in the cooler months. Various places and usually 10 miles or somewhat less. If I'm feeling lazy I limit it to 300mm. Previously even with aps I got fed up with carrying the gear around. Now the camera gear is often with me which should result in more photo opportunities rather than getting up and saying lets go out and take some photo's.

John
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[NorthernFocus]

From the question I assume you are refering to a situation where you know of a location from some source and are scouting how/when to access it. If that is the case, nowadays searching the internet for information and looking at Google Earth are my primary means of research. Many times if you have seen a photo of a location you can then use Google Earth to figure out pretty closely where it was shot from and what time of day.

Another thing that is very useful, particularly for locations at latitudes different than where you live, is to study sun angles, tide charts, and phases of the moon for the time that you will be visiting. When traveling to different latitudes many people are shocked by how different these things are. Sunrise/sunset are a good example. Close to the equator these are very fleeting events and one should be set up well in advance. On the other hand at high latitudes, the sun travels a much shallower arc across the sky so the "golden hour" at either end of the day is much longer and lighting can change substantially in color, intensity, and lateral angle. This provides many opportunities for vastly different views of a given location.

This is a good subject for a thread, Murat, that we can all glean something useful from.

[RustBeltRaw]

I'm not much of a landscape shooter. Like a cat, if it's not moving, it probably won't hold my attention. But I do street work from time to time, and the key doesn't seem to be finding a great space so much as looking for details within any space (assuming one already lives in a city, of course). When it comes to urban work, I haven't found any place where I couldn't walk away with a good photo. If I have a camera with me. That, and always stopping when you see something promising, should be a good place to start.

For instance, my favorite street portrait to date. A gent and his pups in a public park, shot across the street (with permission) between cars at the tail end of rush hour. With a trash can for a tripod, necessary because: 160mm FF equivalent at 1/50th.

[NorthernFocus]

My most used site for locations.

http://photoephemeris.com/

....

Just checked this out. Awesome! Takes care of all the things I mentioned in prior post in one fell swoop. Thanks !

[Manfred M]

Look at scouting new locations as a three-step process.

1. The first step is "basic research", and that can include Google Earth, travel books, local knowledge (chatting with someone, especially a photographer who knows the area is the best way of finding hidden gems) and just driving around (I have my camera along and have the GPS mounted on it so that I can figure out where I was). If I'm in the area and the conditions are good I might do a walk-about to identify shots I might want to take at a more appropriate time of day.

2. Once I had identified potential subject matter; for landscapes / seascapes / cityscapes I will look at two apps; the previously mentioned "The Photographer’s Ephemeris" and another one callled "Sun Surveyor". There is a bit of an overlap with the two and both have their strenghths and weaknesses. I also pay attention to the local weather reports and for ocean settings, I occasionally will look at the tide tables as well, especially if there are extreme tidal exchanges that could affect how / what I would shoot.

3. On-site walkabout; I like having a feeling for the site and the shooting opportunities before I start any serious work. I'll try to do a 360 degree view, especially in landscape / cityscape settings. After doing the basic scouting, I'll head back to areas of interest and will start shooting.

[Brownbear]

Checking out the locales of hiking groups and bird watchers in the community where one lives in is often very informative... ie; through the internet, columns in the newspaper, day trips and tours in and near the community one lives are often featured in the local paper and community centers publications.

[nimitzbenedicto]

You will find lots of different answers here. From me:

Google Earth - I use this to look at where photographs have been taken (as long as they're geotagged correctly) and at what time of day and season. Then I plan day trips to take in places of photographic interest which we may accidentally stumble across during our visit! Having a partner who's not particularly interested in photography makes this a favoured tactic of mine!

Local tour companies - they may be helpful to see itineraries.

Local photographic tour companies - these are definitely useful, either by taking them up on their tours, or by viewing their itineraries and seeing what you can combine into trips out while you are on vacation.

Same here.

Using google to find premier tourist destinations can help a lot.

[Green Mountain Girl]

This probably depends on what sort of photographer you are.

For example, traveling vast distances, and for me that would be 50 miles, just for a couple of photos isn't cost effective. Maybe different if you are going somewhere for a family holiday as well.

And there are so many places within 20 miles of where I live that I have never visited in the past 65 years; although part of that time was before I was doing any photography.

So during the dull winter days I do walk around, with a camera just in case, and have a look at potential sites of interest. Considering what light angle would be required etc, and which lenses will be needed, so I can return when conditions would be perfect.

Geoff, I feel the same about exploring places close to home. No matter where a person lives there are photo opportunities. Luckily for me, my home is in a moderately rural area, so there are a variety of possibilities to draw on. AND my property is like a 15 acre microcosm of local nature. If I can't get good pictures nearby, I won't do any better by traveling far away!

Scouting near home is pretty easy - I have spotted potential subjects on the way to the grocery store! And my husband and I like to tour around the back roads just for fun (and I look for photo places).

The hard part is going back when the light will be optimal. One place I believe will look better at sunrise, another the light will be at a better angle at sunset. Even found a possibility for either one, just shooting in a different direction. The reason it is hard, is mostly because I tend to stay up too late at night, and getting up very early to go check out a site isn't easy! Especially when I know that conditions might not be good when I go, then I have to keep going back hoping for the light...

One thing I have recently decided to try, is to shoot a "project" - pictures of the same type but different subjects. So wherever I go, I am looking for new places to add to the collection. In my case, it is old barns and sheds, but it could be anything from portraits to landscapes!

There are a number of excellent photographers here in Vermont who offer workshops. I have taken a couple of them both as a means of improving my skills and as a means of seeing places and opportunities I might not have discovered on my own. I also read a couple of magazines specific for New England and Vermont which feature the works of local photographers. This helps me to see how they interpret the "ordinary" views that I might also encounter. (The Grand Canyon is wonderful, but I don't expect to get there again any time soon...)

In general, the best thing to do is to go out there and really LOOK at things. Then take pictures!

Susan