HOW TO FIND THE BEST PLACES TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY
An essential part of creating dynamic images is to have the proper subject matter. Developing incredible, jaw-dropping pictures is challenging without a good focus. While most of us concentrate on technique, we must pay equal attention to the areas in which we shoot.
Here are some of the best places in the USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and Iceland to create fabulous images. Check out Pamela Goodyer’s top recommendations for the most visually striking spots below. As she teaches, having the right subject matter is key to creating incredible images. Why not follow her lead and travel to these remarkable places?
THE BASICS
The main thing to do is use our Photography Magazine as a location guide! :)
What kind of photos are you looking to take? Are you looking for a scenic landscape or a more urban setting? Once you know what type of photos you’re looking for, research different areas offering those views. You can look online at pictures or before visiting places in person to better understand what you can expect.
JOIN CLUBS
If you belong to a club, you can ask group members where to go for great shots, but please remember to look at their images or online images. We have encountered people who won’t say; I have been doing photography for about a month before they tell you the most incredible place they have ever been to. Ask a lot of questions.
BE MINDFUL OF WHO YOU ASK
Be sure to understand your source of information. For example, asking Pamela Goodyer, the top expert in the field, to create incredible, award-winning images versus asking your next-door neighbor who bought a new camera at Christmas time are entirely different. And people who aren’t involved in this art form perceive things differently from those who are.
When we were new to this, we asked local people, “Where’s the best place for taking photos?” And yes, they would send us to beautiful natural locations such as a plain lake with absolutely nothing around it. We agree that it’s a lovely, majestic location, but it was utterly boring for our purposes.
TIME OF YEAR & MILKY WAY
Before planning a trip, it’s always important to check the weather and temperature for the location. Costa Rica, for example, has seen an increase in rainfall this year because of El Niño. This can dampen outdoor activities and may leave us feeling soggy and disappointed. There is also much more rain in certain months than in others.
On the other hand, Iceland boasts around-the-clock daylight during the summer months. Sure, the midnight sun provides some vibrant spectacle for sightseers. Still, because of its northern latitude, stargazers often miss out on seeing the Milky Way, which could be a deciding factor when booking your trip.
Also, the northern lights can only be seen in Iceland during the fall and winter, but will it be too cold for you? September and October are good for the best temperatures and still seeing the northern lights.
GO ON A PHOTO TOUR
We run Extra Eyes Photo Tours—check out all our tours in the workshops section. We go to only the best, most dynamic photography locations and put the perfect subject matter right before your eyes. We instruct you as much as you would like to be instructed. (Some high-end pros come along and desire less instruction.) We have created many award-winning photos on our photo tours.
Because of our extensive travel to various locations, we have discovered the best spots for jaw-dropping art. We are passionate about supporting all photographers and their tours and instructional opportunities. However, we have also come across some tours that take place in uninteresting places. This brings us to our next point: be aware of what you are signing up for.
HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT PHOTO TOUR
When selecting your next tour destination, it’s important to understand all the aspects of the tour. Cost is essential when planning any tour and can vary significantly depending on the location. Read all available tours to compare prices, activities, accommodation, meals, entrance fees, and transportation. The most significant advantage of taking a tour versus self-organizing is receiving specialized instruction for your chosen activity. Ensure you understand the group size or student/leader ratio before booking to get the best out of the tour.
Suppose you are looking for a simple photo-taking experience without needing guidance from the leader. In that case, some tours do not include instruction but solely provide access to unique locations, and it’s not always the right time. It’s basically just a tour to stop at each location for a short time. Avoid these if possible. They take you from place to place, and they don’t know anything about the positioning of the lighting, or the best times to get dynamic images.
INSTRUCTORS AND LOCATIONS
We have seen incredible instructors who know how to take you to dynamic locations, and we saw one tour on social media to one place for seven days. It was the most boring location we have seen. We could drive through it, stop two or three times in this desert-type area, and move on to try to find dynamic image possibilities. How you can create jaw-dropping, award-winning images in the desert for seven days is beyond us. If you are good, you may come home with 10 to 15 okay pictures and possibly an award winner. Still, on suitable tours, you have numerous dynamic locations daily with massive amounts of opportunity for excellent shots.
However, good instructors will guide their students to dynamic locations daily, giving plenty of scope for genuinely amazing photographs. With such a tour, you could come home with hundreds of good shots–and possibly many different award winners. You will discover all you need to know by thoroughly checking out their work. If you decide to take a tour, it would be beneficial to VIEW ALL THE IMAGES TAKEN ON THE TOUR! We cannot emphasize this enough.
WHERE TO CREATE THE BEST PHOTOS
As discussed, photography requires the proper subject matter to create incredible, jaw-dropping pictures. While most of us focus on technique, we must also concentrate on the area we shoot at. Would you like to learn how to create dynamic images and fine art? That is what this magazine is all about. The first part of creating incredible photography is finding outstanding subject matter.
You can read about some places in more detail on our Travel Photography Pages.
One way dynamic images are created with moving waters, and the milky water effect is used to awe your fans. Look at how to shoot waterfall photography if you need some pointers. Grab a Think Tank Camera Bag, head to an incredible destination, and start creating fine art for yourself.
