Isle Of wight - Where to photograph & what to take?

AndyWest

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Hi

I'm off to the Isle Of Wight at the end of October with the wife and 2 teenage boys for a looong weekend. It has been about 15 years since I last went and I wasn't into photography at the time so I'm at a loss for places to visit with my cameras and family in tow.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Also I am at a loss of what to take. I want to take no more than 2 cameras. I really want to take the Lumix LX7 as it's new and not had a trip out yet. I have the X100 and Lumix GX1 with 14mm & 20mm lenses. What would you take?

Thanks
 
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The Needles just for starters..
 
You can get a few good shots off the pebbles in cowes looking across the estuary, the road from Cowes to Sandown goes up pretty high and there's a few places to stop with great views, also take a drive along the A3055 on the north of the island, there's a nice bay ( via steps) with nice rocks, just can't think of the name of it. The needles arn't easy to take unless you go hiking or take the lift to the beach below, make sure you don't mind heights as the lift is a bit hair raising.
There's a few pics I took when we went in the summer, bear in mind I'm a newbie so not brilliant quality... They're at Martyndt on Flickr

Edit... Just remembered.... Compton Bay on the A3055
 
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IoW Zoo, Shanklin Chine, BlackGang Chine. The ferry port/harbor.

Its all lovely :)

note to self *must go back to IoW SOON!
 
I think you mean Isle of Wight?

Isle of White sounds like a resort for racists... :nono: :lol:
 
Surely the idea is to go and take pix of what YOU find memorable, or quixotic, or just plain picturesque...

Asking others for advice on what to photograph will just lead to more anodyne pictures that mean little to you and less to everyone else. Just my opinion though.
 
I think you mean Isle of Wight?

Isle of White sounds like a resort for racists... :nono: :lol:

Last time I went I was struck by the whole 1950's feel to the place so may not be too wide of the mark :)
 
Brilliant stuff peeps. Much appreciated. I'll make a list and try and get round as much as possible.

Thanks
 
Car park behind Vue cinema in Newport.

Godshill out side communual toilet.

Vectis Bus depot

There are some rocks in Brightstone where locals dance naked on a Summer solstice

73 old peoples homes.

Some once said there was a Flamingo at Flamingo world in Seaview.... i did not believe them.

I was brought up there.... It's like bloody Jurasic Park!!!! Watch out for Geoff Goldblum


I have posted a couple of my efforts on the X10 thread.
Yep I've travelled that bus route once or twice......
 
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I am sure I read about some particularly good wildlife trust sites there - might be worth a Google.
 
Take all you've got! I take it you're taking a car so have plenty of luggage space? None of your kit is that bulky and most of it would fit in the glove compartment. Possibly worth taking a few identical shots to see which camera give the most pleasing results. Been a long time since I visited the Isle and that was on a wednesday when everything (apart from 1 [one] ice cream shop) was closed! 1950s just about sums the feel up, although there are a few modern cars there now, I believe.

VERY picturesque in places. Layers of sand in the cliffs at Alum bay, the old rocket testing station on St Catherine's Head (?). In fact, start up Google Earth and zoom in on the island and click on some of the photo symbols and see what floats your boat! Sunset over the needles or an uninterrupted view of it from the top of any of the cliffs along the SW part of the coast. If the weather's clear, views of Portsmouth across the water. My visit was before I got back into photography so I only took a film compact. May have to go back with a car (went as walk on passengers on a ferry and took a bus tour last time) and a bagful of cameras and lenses!

Have a great time and don't neglect the family in favour of photography! (Try getting the kids so knackered that they need a rest then suggest rest stops where you want to take a pic!)
 
The Needles just for starters..

Don't bother paying the money to go down the chair lift to the bottom of the beach. The area is now really restricted to a tiny bit of shingle, you can't walk along the beach. I also wouldn't bother with anything at the tatty amusement park, although there may be some good photos to be had in the glass making.

Do however go to the National trust Needles battery. You get a great shot of the needles from there, plus the kids will love it. Really interesting, tunnels and the coffee shop is in an observation tower with great views and even better cake. The NT also have a windmill at Bembridge.

You haven't said what sort of thing you're into but as you drive around you'll just see things. Be aware that the locals don't really drive over 20mph. There's a big Tesco's at Ryde and petrol station selling all types of fuel and the locals treat the pay at pump machines with suspicion so they are always quiet.

Carisbrooke castle, there's a vineyard, cider maker, the garlick farm is worth a visit. Robin hill for the kids, plus they have red squirrels.

There's some lovely old cottages out around Freshwater

There's some good examples of landscape shots here: http://www.islandvisions.co.uk/gallery.html

Have fun, just remember that the IOW is trapped in a bygone age :)
 
Thanks :thumbs:
 
the Isle of wight is not trapped in a bygone age..... the traffic is worse than the M25 in rush hours. It has a Sainsbury's.

It was fantastic growing up there but some of the towns are looking jaded....

Plus it has the woerst roads in Britain... so take the Landrover!!!!!!

If you get time go to dimbola Lodge in alum Bay.. http://www.dimbola.co.uk/
 
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Looking interesting. I may have to extend my visit to a whole week!! :)
 
What to take? The first ferry back to Portsmouth if I were you!

:D
 
Isle of wight is such a perfect island for photography as well as for fun, wherever you roam, the places will tempt you to click them, whether they will be the beaches, the mountains, the monuments, wildlife centers and a long list. Evenings spent in parks are very fruitful.
 
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