How to Capture Amazing Photos in New Locations

Summer vacation season is quickly approaching. Some of us will be off to familiar locations, while others will be packing up our camera gear and heading off on adventures into new destinations.

I enjoy returning to familiar places, as having some comfort with a location always contributes to my confidence when aiming to capture a specific image. In addition, familiarity can generally assist me in navigating to a specific destination, knowing how early to arrive at a site, and offering some preplanning for composition options.

But what about those locations that I've never visited? How can a photographer still capture fantastic photos in unfamiliarity?  

Well, the truth is, there are several key steps to capturing an incredible image in a new location. Of course, you'll have no control over weather and light but let's swing the odds in your favour so that you can take home images from your vacation that you are proud to print and share. Below are a few suggestions for capturing amazing photos in new locations.

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Before you leave your home and venture off on your summer vacation, explore your destination on Google Earth. 

When you open up Google Earth, click on the search option (that little magnifying glass in the menu) and type in your destination. Immediately, you'll be transported to a view of where you plan to travel. You can choose to see your location at street level or via an aerial view. In addition, popular attractions and possible places for photo opportunities are often marked on the map. Don't forget to click on the marked locations as images will pop up, giving you a better idea of what you'll experience.

One benefit of using Google Earth is the option to create your projects with marked points of interest that you can refer to in real-time when on location, so you never miss capturing an image! 

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Once you've marked some possible photography spots, further search the locations through a simple browser search. By searching locations, you'll be able to acquire pertinent information such as how you can access an area (whether hiking in is necessary or parking is close by), hours the location can be accessed (many parks and protected locations are only open certain times of the day), whether a fee is needed to access an area and other information that could impact your access to a photo spot. Sometimes, you can even view videos about specific sites to help you understand the scale and ideal lens choices. 

For instance, I completed a YouTube search on this attraction using my example of Thor's Well. As a result, I discovered a video created by another photographer that shared information about the best times to photograph this beautiful natural phenomenon and warned me about the potential water spray. As a result of watching this video, I'd be sure to pack a rain sleeve for my camera and microfiber lens drying clothes when photographing at this location. 

Instagram™ is another incredible spot to turn to for inspiration. Once you've identified a location you're interested in for photography, search the hashtag. When scrolling through the hashtag for a place of interest, you'll better understand photos that can be taken at specific locations. There will often be variations in perspectives that are likely to inspire you. Make careful note of the ideal time of year, time of day, and perspective from which the image was taken.

^{*Example of a hashtag search on Instagram™. Copyright to the original owners.} 

Once you've found an image or several for inspiration, consider a screenshot or save the picture for reference on Instagram™. Then, when you're closer to arrival at a destination, you can refer to those saved images and refresh your memory for what to expect. 

Finally, when you've arrived at your new and unfamiliar location, take the time to scout and create an image that reflects your moment in time. This often requires arriving early on site.   

Visiting new locations is undoubtedly exciting and can sometimes be overwhelming. However, a little preparation before arriving at your destination can be inspiring and help you prepare for and capture an amazing image in an unfamiliar location.