16 22 June 2019 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113

Jeremy Walker

For more than 25 years, Jeremy Walker has

been producing landscape, architectural and

urban images for use by advertising agencies,

design clients and publishers. Not only does

he lead LEE Filters workshops, but he also runs

his own workshops in the UK and overseas.

See http://www.jeremywalker.co.uk.

ALL PICTURES ON PAGES 16-17 © JEREMY WALKER

Technique

From fi nding the perfect location to

composing pictures with maximum

impact, four landscape lovers off er their

top tips for show-stopping scenics

Land

of plenty

Take advantage of local knowledge

Speak to the locals and tell them what you are doing or

looking for. Local farmers are a great source of information

• after all, they are the ones who are out in all weathers, at
  all times of the day, so they will know their patch intimately.

Do it

yourself

Check out Ordnance

Survey Maps (the

proper paper ones,

not the ones on your

phone). Study a map

and ask yourself

questions about

the terrain; look

at footpaths and

bridleways to see

where they lead and

what opportunities

they may afford. Just

because a particular

area does not have

any images on the

web does not mean

that it’s a poor area

for photography.

Don’t be a sheep,

be a leader.

Check magazines and books

Many publishers now produce books for location fi nding

(no doubt there is also an app and tablet version). Split into

regions or counties, these books will show an image of the

location but go on to give exact coordinates, parking spots,

what time of day or year to shoot, and pretty much where

you should put your tripod.

Search through websites

Look at the websites of landscape photographers and workshop companies. Many

photographers will put the location information alongside their images. Check out

their social media feeds and see if they mention the nearest town or landmark.

Workshop companies have to advertise where they’re going, so they post images

of their tours. Many will mention where they’re staying too, which provides a clue.

Google it

(Other search engines are available, don’t forget.)

Search engines are a powerful tool for research and

perhaps the best tool for location hunting. Cross-check

your facts though, because not all of the information

on the internet is accurate and up to date – that ruined

castle you have seen images of may now be a luxury

fi ve-star hotel, so double-check before you go.

Location hunting

Finding locations is easy if you devise a

plan of action and put in some legwork