Ever find it hard to find somewhere unique?

AESamuel

AESamuel

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Asa
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Hey,

I really want to get into more landscape photography. A lack of people to photograph and the fact than more often than not I can spend my time with it - bar waiting for lighting conditions, for example - really appeals to me and landscapes have been some of the most stunning photographs I have seen.

Now I live in Cornwall which many would agree has some really fantastic places to take pictures. Lots of very lovely and photogenic landscapes around. My only problem is that they've all been photographed to death!

What would you say is the remedy to this? Try and use my local knowledge to scout out new photographic opportunities, or suck it up and take the millionth photograph of that cliff over there? :D

Thanks for any comments, suggestions or anything you may have to add,
Asa
 
Use your local knowledge, go explore, see where you think you might get a shot. I use my satnav to tag possible locations I find whilst out and about, then you can research them, use The Photographer's Ephemeris to work out when the light will be right for what you want to achieve, what time of year, the tide conditions (if the coast) etc, then go and nail it, put your own stamp on the place.
 
AESamuel said:
Hey,

I really want to get into more landscape photography. A lack of people to photograph and the fact than more often than not I can spend my time with it - bar waiting for lighting conditions, for example - really appeals to me and landscapes have been some of the most stunning photographs I have seen.

Now I live in Cornwall which many would agree has some really fantastic places to take pictures. Lots of very lovely and photogenic landscapes around. My only problem is that they've all been photographed to death!

What would you say is the remedy to this? Try and use my local knowledge to scout out new photographic opportunities, or suck it up and take the millionth photograph of that cliff over there? :D

Thanks for any comments, suggestions or anything you may have to add,
Asa
Click to expand...

to an extent everywhere has been done before (in the uk anyway - i'm sure theres some really remote places on earth that havent). however everyday's light, weather, cloud formation etc is unique , and the way in which each photographer treats it is different so i wouldnt worry too much about what has been done before , just try to get the best shots you possibly can
 
big soft moose said:
to an extent everywhere has been done before (in the uk anyway - i'm sure theres some really remote places on earth that havent). however everyday's light, weather, cloud formation etc is unique , and the way in which each photographer treats it is different so i wouldnt worry too much about what has been done before , just try to get the best shots you possibly can
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:plusone:

It'd be like me never photographing Corfe Castle for instance. Yes its been done to death, but not by me it hasn't.
 
The challenge is to photograph a scene as it has never been photographed before. That is where the fun lies.
 
If you want somewhere unique, you need to live on the moon. Even that's been done before.
The idea is to interporate the landscape your way.
 
ams99 said:
Try living in the Midlands! :(
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^^

Yes, it seems that around here, practically every landscape is ruined by a new housing or industrial estate or road/DC/MW/bypass. You could head West into Wales, but in Wales your limited to roads and footpaths, of which there are nowhere near as many as in England, most of the land is owned and inaccessible.

My recent trip to the peak district was something of a revelation.



And apologies for dragging up an old thread :S
 
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Lyonspride said:
^^

Yes, it seems that around here, practically every landscape is ruined by a new housing or industrial estate or road/DC/MW/bypass. You could head West into Wales, but in Wales your limited to roads and footpaths, of which there are nowhere near as many as in England, most of the land is owned and inaccessible.

My recent trip to the peak district was something of a revelation.

And apologies for dragging up an old thread :S
Click to expand...

The Countryside and rights of way act applies just as much in Wales as it does in England. Wild land as defined by the act is designated as access land and you can wander where you want. If you invest in an OS Explorer map the areas shaded a yellowish colour are free for you to explore.

Mike
 
nigpd said:
Or Milton effin Keynes :D
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I win, Luton :p At least MK have some nice lakes.

It's more about photographing the scenery rather than the subjects. No 2 times the lighting and weather will be 100% same. so get out there and shoot!
 
Ha! I easily win the feature-less landscape contest! :D

Beat this!
1626-9-full.jpg


AESamuel said:
...Try and use my local knowledge to scout out new photographic opportunities, or suck it up and take the millionth photograph of that cliff over there?
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Yes to both! :thumbs:
 
Sometimes I will go out with a single prime lens which can force you to think more about your shots rather than just zooming and framing. Perhaps trying a focal length that you wouldn't normally associate with the type of photography you are doing. I always feel inspired by the late American photographer Galen Rowel who reckoned to have taken a huge percentage of his shots with just two lenses, 24mm and 85mm.
 
I'd definitely go and take that millionth photograph of that cliff over there, but I'd worry that cliff to death , approach it in different light/angles to put my own stamp on the composition, perhaps consider a long lens rather than the usual wide-angle or creative use of filters/aperture.

Whatever, it's worth spending some time at a location to 'see' compositions rather than 'looking' at a scene.
 
I don't really see what's wrong with taking a picture that's been taken before. If I can recreate something, even if it's straight off a postcard, and my exposure is sharp and attractive, then I'm happy. In fact, I often browse postcards in shops while I'm on holiday to get ideas of the best views.
 
Lyonspride said:
^^

Yes, it seems that around here, practically every landscape is ruined by a new housing or industrial estate or road/DC/MW/bypass. You could head West into Wales, but in Wales your limited to roads and footpaths, of which there are nowhere near as many as in England, most of the land is owned and inaccessible.

My recent trip to the peak district was something of a revelation.



And apologies for dragging up an old thread :S
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Having moved from Sheffield to North Wales I can honestly say that you're much more likely to find that infrequently photographed place over here than you are in the Peak District, you're far less likely to be surrounded by hordes of people once you step away from the main routes.

Simon
 
Come to Scotland.. prepare to be amazed!
There are loads of places that have not been photographed to death.

On a more serious note, how about using a lens that is not normally used for landscapes?
Most pics are taken with a wide angle, so why not use a tele?

At least it will give you something to think about.

Ken
 
I've been doing a 52 this year on my push bike purely to prove that you don't need exceptional locations to take good landscapes. All shots are landscape photos, all taken with primes, and all within a 60 minute cycle route house-house. Going over the same ground day after day lets you (one) see how light and seasonality changes the landscape. The benefits are that I can easily return for a reshoot if required.

Link to 52 if you're interested.

Oh and to you MK & Lutonites... I used to live in Totternhoe and the Knolls are a worthy visit. Not far by car? Ampthill is also a lovely village worth a visit!

Ian.
 
I think everything's been done in just about every context so I'd try not to worry too much about that and worry about what you like to photograph and what moves you, personally.

If that's something that's been done, so what? You'll probably do it a little differently anyway and that would be your 'niche'.

And if it's for a hobby or a creative expression of something within you then really don't worry about being unique - Unicorns were pretty unique and look what happened to them: we eat them in our lasagnes now.
 
I grew up in Cornwall, now live in Didcot.... Oh how I would love to be in Cornwall again :)

One thing I'm learning is explore, get walking or cycling, get out and about. Any place you go in a car or walk to 5 mins from a car park will have been done a million times. All the normal places like Portreath, Gwithian, Godrevy, Lands End, Porthcurno, Newlyn & Mousehole, Mounts Bay, etc are easy access to everyone. Thats not to say you couldnt still capture an equally beautiful photo to the ones you've seen before.

Best thing to do is be out there, a coastal walk or country walk in the evening could net you a killer evening landscape or sunset ... if you dont mind going to bed early... even sun rise (check the weather forcast before hand though!) ... there are often over cast early mornings which are dull then POW, just for a minute as the sun breaks the horizon it will illuminate the underside of the cloud layer as it rises and everything is beautiful for a moment until it rises a bit further and is blocked by the clouds.

If you can only easily access the more popular areas (time restrictions like I have) then get creative and experiment with some new ideas and so on. OR even try to replicate some of the photos you've seen ... its a challenge and keeps you busy plus the end results might well be better than the photos you've seen :)
 
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most places may have already been shot before, so find an angle of it that hasn't been covered as much or at all, all photographers have their own styles, your own style mixed with different lighting and a different angle will result in a completely different photo.
 
AESamuel said:
Hey,

I really want to get into more landscape photography. A lack of people to photograph and the fact than more often than not I can spend my time with it - bar waiting for lighting conditions, for example - really appeals to me and landscapes have been some of the most stunning photographs I have seen.

Now I live in Cornwall which many would agree has some really fantastic places to take pictures. Lots of very lovely and photogenic landscapes around. My only problem is that they've all been photographed to death!

What would you say is the remedy to this? Try and use my local knowledge to scout out new photographic opportunities, or suck it up and take the millionth photograph of that cliff over there? :D

Thanks for any comments, suggestions or anything you may have to add,
Asa
Click to expand...

Just a thought, have you explored your Local Cemetery, lots to see I promise.

I also live in Cornwall, Camborne, what part do you live in?
 
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Cornwall is so rich with photographic opportunities that I find it difficult to believe that the OP has properly opened his/her eyes. Quite apart from the fact that in even the most jaded locations it is always possible to find an original angle or to chance upon a fabulous light, you can surely see that the place is just teeming with astonishingly beautiful scenery.

Then there is the qualitative matter. Take any popular location and look it up on google images. I did this the other day with the famous Crowns Section at Botallack Head, and. of many hundreds of images I found about 3 that could be truly considered exceptional.

As with many who have commented here, I live in a flat county so really have to work hard to find potential photographic interest in our landscapes. You don't realise how lucky you are!
 
ams99 said:
Try living in the Midlands! :(
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are you forgetting the peak district????

and its not about unique locations as long as your unique and the light is different take the shot. it wont be the same as anyone elses
 
AESamuel said:
Hey,

I really want to get into more landscape photography. A lack of people to photograph and the fact than more often than not I can spend my time with it - bar waiting for lighting conditions, for example - really appeals to me and landscapes have been some of the most stunning photographs I have seen.

Now I live in Cornwall which many would agree has some really fantastic places to take pictures. Lots of very lovely and photogenic landscapes around. My only problem is that they've all been photographed to death!

What would you say is the remedy to this? Try and use my local knowledge to scout out new photographic opportunities, or suck it up and take the millionth photograph of that cliff over there? :D

Thanks for any comments, suggestions or anything you may have to add,
Asa
Click to expand...

Hi Asa as many have said it is about putting your own stamp on things I recently went down to Dungeness to take some shots of that boat [you know the one] I spent well over an hour walking around it trying different angles waiting for the light to change etc, when I got home I spent just as long working on it in Lightroom & Silver FX Pro until I was happy with it then I printed it to A3 mounted and framed it and hung it on the wall, the point of this is although this subject has been done to death this one is unique to me and I am very pleased with it so don't worry about what has gone before just get out there and give it your best shot.:thumbs:
 
I really miss Cornwall for photography. Firstly I don't think there's anything wrong with re-imagining classic scenes - they're classics for a reason! But it can be disheartening when you see all the shots that are better than your version!

I quite like doing minimal compositions of well known areas rather than the classic wide views though, it helps set your images apart.

eg.

Peagreen_Sea_by_HairyToes.jpg

(St Ives)

c53c917e45e800502c67ee4e3f7607b2.jpg

(Godrevey)

Land_Sea_Sky_VII_by_HairyToes.jpg

(Porth Nanven)

Land_Sea_Sky_IV_by_HairyToes.jpg

(Holywell Bay)

Land_Sea_Sky_I_by_HairyToes.jpg

(Porthcurno)

8_37_by_HairyToes.jpg

(Mousehole)

I've posted all of these shots before (most of them are quite old now, and looking back at them I think the PP could be improved), but just wanted to illustrate that there are plenty of unique views of heavily photographed locations out there if you look at them a little differently and don't just point the camera at the obvious landmarks.

Also, get out there in the early hours and the bad weather - you can be sure I was the only person pointing a camera at any of these scenes!

EDIT - oops, just realised how old this thread was. Hopefully the OP has discovered his creative streak by now! :p
 
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I usually search around local spots (not in cornwall but anywhere I'm keen on doing some photography), find something that may be a bit pants in day, but will normally try at night, and I've taken some of my favourite shots this way, long exposures etc of maybe a bridge for example that looks mundane but at night even unlit etc can change dramatically. lots of times you strike out. Just take photos and enjoy being out there, don't worry so much if other people have done it before, or find a shot you love then wait for the right lighting.
 
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