Home for the Summer

St Michael’s Mount Perhaps not a hidden gem, but for now this National Trust tidal Island can only be accessed with a ticket, meaning the crowds will be smaller than usual. 500 metres from the mainland, St Michael’s Mount can be reached by boat at high tide or by foot at low tide. Crowned by a medieval church and castle, St Michael’s Mount features some stunning landmarks perfect for photographing. There’s also a unique cliffside seaside garden, picturesque harbour and a village full to the brim with the island’s rich history.

Dolbadarn Castle Dolbadarn Castle is located above Llyn Padarn, between Caernarfon and Snowdonia. Most likely constructed in the late 12th or early 13th century, the castle was once a vital link in the defences of the ancient kingdom of Gwynedd. What’s left is dominated by a sturdy round tower and visitors are often is awe of its simplicity and endurance. Overlooking the tranquil waters of Llyn Padarn, this castles location makes for an eye-catching image. Head there are sun-rise for a dramatic opportunity to capture the setting in a truly stunning light.

Bibury Once described as the most beautiful village in England, Bibury is located in the Cotswolds a short drive from Cirencester. The typically Cotswold style, idyllic stone-built houses of Alrington Row, along the River Coln, are a photographer’s dream. Whilst the area has become popular over recent years, the tranquillity of the village and the incredible imagery you’re bound to capture make it worth it.

Bamburgh beach Home to the iconic Bamburgh castle and with the Farne lands close by, there’s plenty to do, see and photograph at Bamburgh beach. With such a large expanse of sand, the beach is rarely crowded. This breath-taking beach has enough to keep the whole family entertained whilst you work on that perfect shot.

Rannoch Moor/Queen's View, Pitlochry On a clear day, you can see 50 miles from Queen’s View. The panoramic view takes you west along the loch, to the summit of Schiehallion and Loch Rannoch is visible in the distance just ahead of the peaks of Glencoe. The best time of day to visit to catch photography is said to be the morning but you’re bound to take great photos at any time of day when the view is as incredible as this.

Golden Hour It wouldn’t be a summer photography round up without mentioning the holy grail that is Golden Hour. Golden Hour is a short period in the day when the sun is low in the sky and fills the landscape with a stunning and flattering golden glow. It’s perfect for capturing long shadows and the suns golden orb gives your images texture and form. From scenic shots to selfies, the natural and warm light provides a beautiful glow that can take your photos to the next level.

Set up a picnic Or even better, have a picnic! There’s no better time to take a family portrait than when they are genuinely enjoying themselves. Sitting in the sun on a blanket in the park with delicious food and great company will put a smile on anyone’s face. Picnics with the family are what summer is all about in the UK and it’s an opportunity to take some candid family shots you’ll cherish for years to come.

Nature Summer is the perfect time to capture blooming flowers, trees bearing fruit and nature thriving. Ensure you include a plethora of colours to enhance the summer feel. If it’s close ups you’re after, use a macro lens or a close focusing zoom. A telezoom will be best for taking wide shots and using the compress feature is an easy way to make flowers appear crowded together.

Use a polariser A polariser is ideal for making your summer images pop. Polarisers can deepen a blue sky, emphasise white clouds, reduce glare and reflections and boost saturation. The reduction of reflections is particularly helpful if you’re shooting water, metal or glass. Keep an eye on your shutter speed if you’re not using a tripod as polarisers tend to lose two stops of light. Be careful of over polarising too and watch your focus as your camera may struggle with the use of a polariser.

Silhouettes If you’re looking to do something a little different - silhouettes are the perfect opportunity to experiment. By simply placing a solid object in front of a bright background, you’re creating different elements to your photograph. Try to use an identifiable object such as a person, a building, a boat or a bike. Sunset, sunrise or midday sun can all create a striking image, so take your time and get creative.

Send a postcard! How about putting your photography skills to good use and creating postcards from the images you capture? Consider the location, time of day and the type of imagery people like to see on postcards. Landmarks, beach scenes and rolling hills are always a postcard favourite. Make the most of being home for the Summer and discover that there is beauty all around you just waiting to be captured.

Patience is key Unfortunately, landscape photography often depends on the elements behaving how you want them to. A certain amount of planning is necessary, for example - don’t head to the North York Moors looking for a sunny scenic shot with rain forecast. That said, it’s still possible to get a great landscape image on a rainy, cloudy day – it’s all about using the lighting and conditions to influence the look and feel of your images. These may make for different holiday snaps to usual, but let’s face it, sometimes there is a new perspective from the unexpected.

Allow yourself time There is nothing more frustrating than feeling rushed when you’ve travelled for miles to visit a landmark or scenic spot. We’ve all had those fluke moments when the first picture we take is the one, but more often than not, the more time you take to take in your surroundings, the better your image will be. Take time to understand the landscapes and try different lenses and shots. The more you experiment, the more likely you are to end up with something special.

Lighting Sometimes, regardless of how beautiful a location is - if the lighting isn’t right, it will be impossible to do the landscape justice. The best time of day for this type of photography is early morning or late afternoon (otherwise known as the ‘Golden Hour’) and really bright sunlight will often be too harsh. If you’re just starting out with landscape photography, stick to times when the lighting is most likely to compliment your shots. As you become more confident, you’ll be able to adapt to lighting conditions and use them to your advantage.

Depth of field The most visually impressive landscape photographs will have a sharp background and foreground – which is usually what makes them so stunning. A shallower depth of field can be equally as impressive if you capture it correctly. By isolating the main subject of the image and blurring the background, you can make a section of a scenic location stand out. This works particularly well for mountains and landmarks.

Carry the right equipment Never underestimate the power of a tripod! This is not just a piece of advice for landscape imagery but all photography in general. A tripod will help you capture slow shutter or long exposure scenery shots, without the worry of a shaky hand. This means that those moving clouds or river scenes will no longer appear blurry.

Avoid relying on post-production If the scene doesn’t look how you want through your view finder, it won’t in post-production. Relying on your composition to get the image right will help you become a more skilled photographer in the long run. A good way to practice this is using the rule of thirds; simply put, this is breaking your image into nine equal squares. Where the lines intersect is called the points of interest, these are the spots our eyes are drawn to. Aiming to have your subject and the other key elements in these points of interest is a great way to take striking landscape photography.