Black & white photography tips: How to find the best places for shooting

Whenever I’m planning to go on holiday or just for a short phototrip, I do a previous internet research about the area I’m visiting. I look up particular places that seem photogenic at first sight. I search via google (of course) and photographic websites. For instance, when I went to Bali, I opened a 500px site and wrote “tag” Bali into the browser and it showed me photographs from many photographers ordered directly from the best to the least popular ones. Some photographers even write a comment next to each photo which can also tell you something about the place. When you find the best photographs, check their complete profile, it is very probable that he/she has taken some more amazing photos of this destination and has found other interesting places. Do not hesitate to write them an e-mail and ask them for advice, communitacion is very important in photography. I am always happy, if someone asks me for any kind of advice, this means that people really like your work and that’s great! It actually means that you’re on the right track.

It is quite unlikely, that there is a place left in the world where there hasn’t been anyone taking photographs and hasn’t published a beautiful photo. For example, let’s take a look at photographs your hometown, there are hundreds or thousands of photographers who not only know all the best-known places for taking amazing photos but they know the most suitable compositions and light conditions for this or that month of the year as well. Do not always let the photograph that motivated you to come here to seduce you, search for a unique composition. If you’re reading my blog, you’re probably interested in black & white photography, fine art photography or long exposure photography. Just the fact that you’re using filters, that you‘re studying new post process conversion techniques to convert images to black and white, that you’re learning how to form your vision makes you different from 95% of photographers.

How about your research before phototrips? Let us know…