Expert: Alun Hill MCIJ - 6/30/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi - I'm going to the lake district this summer for some landscape and nature photography, but it seems that most of the lake district photo locations have been shot already. A hundred times over. Do you know of any quieter, less-travelled locations that could present some interesting, different photos?

Thanks,
Nahum

ANSWER: The Lake District is very, very popular in Summer and I hope you have travel and hotel reservations already sorted - or you may have difficulty.

If you're hiring a car, remember that the roads are also very small and very busy at this time of year.

The Lake District is, however, huge, and whilst I don't know fully what positions have not been photographed, as a photographer myself, I actually like snapping the faces on the High Streets, with mountains in the background!

Get yourself some decent walking shoes and head out of town, snapping as you go!

Let me know how you get on, please!

Alun



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I will be staying in Keswick. And seeing as you're also a photographer, is there anything I should bring that one wouldn't normally include in their gear? Larger lens hoods for rain? I've not been to the lake district before so I don't know what the weather is usually like.

Answer
The "golden hour" - the hour before dark and after dawn - is wonderful in this part of the world, especially in Summer, so a good lens hood is a "must"!.

The light is really fantastic at most times, though, so a good wide angle lens to capture the lakes, hills and, of course, the wonderful boats on the lakes (at least one is steam powered and is terrifically photogenic, both from the shore and aboard.

If you ask, the crew will allow you to see the gleaming, yet very old, engine, thrashing away - a great sight!


Have a great time - I'm getting a desire to go back there myself .. right now!!



Alun