Go Somewhere Famous
Assignment L28
This is a challenging assignment and one that should really stretch your creativity. If you look at social media and through the pages of photographic magazines, you could be forgiven for thinking that there is a set number of locations and viewpoints to shoot and very specific compositions you have to copy. It is perhaps a valid criticism that there is little new in landscape photography.
One way of creating more original images is, of course, to find locations that have not been photographed before. However, it’s not as simple as that. Photography has been around for a while now, it is incredibly popular, and the planet has been thoroughly explored. Famous locations are famous for a reason-with perhaps very few exceptions, they are the most photogenic places you can find. Maybe there are one or two gems still waiting to be discovered, but the odds are against it.
So, rather than trying to be original by shooting inferior locations, we have set a more demanding brief: visit a well-known, well-photographed location and shoot an original picture by finding an alternative to the familiar viewpoints.
View the images
Technique
- This is potentially a long-term project. Spend time getting to know the location and be prepared for multiple visits.
- Allow plenty of time for this assignment-research is the key to success here.
Special Kit
- Maps
- Smartphone apps, such as PhotoPills or The Photographer’s Ephemeris
Field Notes
- Familiarise yourself with the well-known viewpoints and then start looking for possible alternatives, using maps, apps, and online resources. Check what times of the day and year might best suit the viewpoint-apps such as The Photographer’s Ephemeris and PhotoPills are excellent resources.
- Visit the location without your camera, so you don’t get tempted to start shooting as soon as you see something you like – there may be a better shot around the corner. Once you have checked the potential viewpoints and compositions, return with your camera on a suitable day.