hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

I'm thinking this is directed at the folks here that normally shoot pix for a living, but I suppose others may find have some interest.

I am curious what kind of notes does a photographer make before visiting a new area regarding a shoot?

Let me provide an example.

Let's say that you find that you'll be in the area of "Horsehoe Bend" in Page, AZ and you'd like to snap a few of the iconic spot. What do you do for research? I would imagine that you keep some sort of notes. What practices work for you?

Obviously the same would hold true for just about anywhere. I would imagine that portrait shoots are fairly different unless they were outdoors with some specific backdrop. I am curious about the process leading up to pressing the shutter button.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

I always visit a website about the area. roadtrippers.com is a good site if you are driving to find interesting places along the way, but also will provide photo ops and landscapes, parks, and interesting points of interest in the area you are visiting if you fly in.

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Thanks for the tip. I've used that before to get a timeline for a roadtrip with basic stops and destinations. It's nice software but the drawback is that it's web based and not always able to provide access when you are away from the grid.

I was thinking more along the lines of determining where the sun would be rising or setting in relation to the outdoor features.

http://www.sunearthtools.com/tools/coordinates-latlong-sunpath-map.php

So, what I am looking for is probably how photographers lay this out in a notebook. I'll take a wild guess here that the pros probably list the lens their likely to use, estimate the time it takes to hike to the spot, maybe a few other things that I am not thinking of....maybe more than a few.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Not a pro.
When I travel I take all my kit (2 bags and tripod) I am only choosy when I am carrying it.
Google earth has a wealth of photo locations - some only become apparent when you zoom in. It also shows the sun's track in a basic way.
Tourist information often has stock photo's of the area. When there, souvenir shops have photo postcards (It can be a little 'last minute' though).
I planned a route through Scotland using the best bits of several tour operators websites to gain ideas and locations (plus entrance fee's for castles etc) Look for their 'scenic tours'.
In the UK we have a lot of local conservation groups - online. They often either produce maps of their 'preserve' showing places of particular interest or list species they have logged, best times to see etc.
Ordinance survey online: Their maps are often in the local libraries too. Their explorer maps are 1:25000. But they also do older 3": Mile (about 50p in junk shops). Great land form maps too. Most you can look at for free.

Locally, I have images in my head that I need the opportunity to go and get, or re-do with better light or kit. I have kind of got out of the habit of organising a day a week to 'photography' in all of its forms. I am not selfish - some locations my wife is interested in going to (some not). So on any day out I 'log' locations to catch on the way back or revisit. Then its just a case of having an excuse, like walking the dog or 'lets go shopping'.
Planning (and dreaming) is an integral part of most of our holidays and trips. With so much on-line you can quickly get a feel for 'what has been done' by other photographers. (Search 'place' in gallery!!) Write a list and try not to 'hog' all of the available time.
Finally, I keep a camera and two lenses in the car for most of the year!
Plan to have fun

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I too visit a website or sites about the area (also look for other places of interest in the same area). I have a pocket notebook that I make notes in (both prior to the shoot and during it). Prior to the shoot, I list areas or items that I want to be sure to shoot (like the water wheel mill at so and so, or an old barn at so and so junction. I also make notes on the shoot like Pics 2017-01-17 DSC_0661.NEF-0667.NEF Shots of moon 07:30. This gives me a location and time and which images were shot. The time can be approximate but I always use my starting time. If I move to another location, I make another note. The subject is just to jog memory as it could be something as general as beach shots, or bird shots and the location should be fairly specific... Clearwater Beach by Palm Restaurant, Clearwater Beach by Pier 60... Largo Nature Center on the pond. Then list the starting and ending shot numbers. This should be enough to jog your memory of the events. I know it seems time consuming and cumbersome, but after you get used to it, it becomes automatic. Also you will determine what additional information you need from experience and I always either use a page per shoot or leave spaces to add info after the fact (like when I'm editing photos). The notebook I use is one of the pocket notebooks that will fit in a shirt pocket. I have a Domke Photog shooters jacket/vest (the sleeves unzip and remove to make it a vest) because it has numerous pockets. I can carry my note pad, extra batteries, a spare lens, a couple of filters, etc. when shooting. I know there are people that make fun of them but I have what I need and don't have to carry a backpack or camera bag when hiking or shooting. I load what I will probably need into pockets at the car and go. If I need more, I go back and get them.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I recently (June) went to Israel for 2 wks. I took as many pics of the signs as I could just before or after visiting tourist sights.

Tom B Loc: Rhode Island

Try this. I think it's great and use it frequently. http://photoephemeris.com

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Actually that is a new one for me, I never thought of taking notes.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

Not a Pro... When going someplace new, I do some online research about things to see. But around home, whether running errands or just exploring, when I see something that I think would make a good subject for pictures, I write it down. Also the time of day I think would be best, because of the angle of the sun in that location. Then I go back and see if I was right! When just exploring I generally have my gear with me, but running errands I don't because I don't like to leave it in the car, and probably won't have time anyway.

The biggest thing that works for me is to keep my eyes open wherever I am. If you are only interested in photographing the iconic sites, then you just have to go there, find the best light and angle of view possible, and take a picture. Spend a few minutes or hours or days but it is difficult to get something unique when so many others have already done it. On a back road, in a city, no matter where you are, there will be combinations of subjects, compositions, and light that will only be there for a few seconds and will never come back in the same way again. That is what I try to capture. Then I just have to remember/write down where I was!

Bill P

Everybodys different. If you're the sort of person that likes to compulsively study every little thing ahead of time, go for it. If you're the kind of person that likes to have pleasant surprises in your life, and are energized by them, then don't take any notes.

Photocraig

Photographing posted signs and road signs are ready made location markers and reminders and serve as organizational tools. They also make great opening and closing markers, and if captured well with good light, actually add context to a set of images. After shooting a huge number of frames in our digital world, those places tend to run together--even with the date stamp.

Also, my smart phone gives me GPS coordinates (since my old camera does NOT). That's a universal locator down to +/- 10 feet. My notes when I use them include the coordinates, and observations since the EXIF records the rest. And, with a smart phone, you can dictate the notes so you don't have to find a pencil.

The Photographer's Ephemeris and google Earth and Maps are invaluable aids. And if I'm off the grid, rarely now days, I always print the key screens for the angles. That samrt phone compass helps here, too. Someday, I'll graduate to a tablet.
C

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

It is possible to combine the two. I always research prior to taking my trip so I do not miss anything along the way, then enjoy the pleasant surprises that pop up along the way. Best of both worlds.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

For research, I use google. There will be many articles written about the more notable locations to photograph.

Notes for film (black and white) contain, Film type and ISO used, lens used, exposure number, exposure values of the darkest portion of the scene and the Zone into which I'm going to place that part of the scene, exposure values of the brightest part of the scene and where that falls vs. where I would like to place it. This will determine my development time. Additionally, any filters used and the exposure compensation for that filter. There may be other notes included, such as, atmospheric conditions. time of day, general mood of the scene, etc.

I hope this helps.
--Bob

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Thanks Bob! It does help. I don't expect to go back to film and I'm certain that I won't be in a darkroom. I'm just not good with chemicals. Just the same I think that at some point, if you are taking a lot of pictures, it helps to remember where it was, what you were thinking or trying to do. I am still fairly early on in my learning curve. I'm past the point and shoot but have hardly mastered the equipment yet. I am at the point where I have a handful of lenses and am learning what they seem to do best.

I'd be lying if I said my composition skills were good or even consistent. My youngest daughter can be shooting right next to me and I find myself asking why I didn't see it that way.

At any rate I thought some sort of written notes would help me improve, even if it's only technique.

hondo812 Loc: Massachusetts

Thanks everyone with your thoughtful responses. They are much appreciated.