Do some landscape photographers not explore anymore? It seems to me that there are more and more people recently who won't consider visiting a location unless they've had a recommendation to visit or have seen a photograph of it on Flickr. They won't go on holiday without a definitive list of locations that they are going to stop and take photos of.
For me half the fun of the hobby is exploration; visiting somewhere I've never been before to see what I can find. Ok sure, don't dismiss the obvious spots and tourist magnets. I've got shots of Mam Tor, I've been to the obvious little rocky bays up the coast and positioned myself beneath the Humber Bridge waiting for the sunrise but not everything is about the iconic view of a well known landscape. Some of my favorite shots are much more intimate views, just a couple of trees, a meadow or a brook that from just the right vatage point in just the right light look absolutely stunning.
Who knew that with the perfect combination of tide and light the sandbanks would reveal themselves in a way you've never seen before. Who would recommend to you a small copse of trees well off the beaten tourist track or tell you to visit this particular meadow in hazy conditions?
If you're going on holiday to an unfamiliar area or you've exhausted the spots you already know then my advice is this: Don't ask anyone where to photograph. Get a map and your boots and go somewhere you've never been.
Some more faves of mine, the not-so-obvious spots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyholmfirth/3749059445/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29605848@N04/4649110789/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobchasinglight/4179008662/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lyrisk/4533532525/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwerfeldein/4092423607/in/faves-the-matt/
For me half the fun of the hobby is exploration; visiting somewhere I've never been before to see what I can find. Ok sure, don't dismiss the obvious spots and tourist magnets. I've got shots of Mam Tor, I've been to the obvious little rocky bays up the coast and positioned myself beneath the Humber Bridge waiting for the sunrise but not everything is about the iconic view of a well known landscape. Some of my favorite shots are much more intimate views, just a couple of trees, a meadow or a brook that from just the right vatage point in just the right light look absolutely stunning.
Who knew that with the perfect combination of tide and light the sandbanks would reveal themselves in a way you've never seen before. Who would recommend to you a small copse of trees well off the beaten tourist track or tell you to visit this particular meadow in hazy conditions?
If you're going on holiday to an unfamiliar area or you've exhausted the spots you already know then my advice is this: Don't ask anyone where to photograph. Get a map and your boots and go somewhere you've never been.
Some more faves of mine, the not-so-obvious spots:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyholmfirth/3749059445/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29605848@N04/4649110789/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tobchasinglight/4179008662/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lyrisk/4533532525/in/faves-the-matt/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kwerfeldein/4092423607/in/faves-the-matt/
