advanced photographer - 41 great days out

www.advancedphotographer.co.uk14 advanced photographer LOCATION GUIDE

Must-Shoot Locations23

Keep yourself and your camera busy this summer with the help of

Advanced Photographer magazine. Here’s our guide to locations and

events that are worth exploring with your camera

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

www.advancedphotographer.co.uk2 advanced photographer GREAT DAYS OUT

Great Photo Days Out

There are plenty of locations and events, both in the UK and beyond, where taking great pictures is like shooting fish in a barrel and there is a shot to be had wherever you point the camera. Almost. Of course, taking great shots isn’t quite as simple as this. You still have to apply your own creative touch and interpretation, but the point is the odds are more definitely in your favour.

Our Great Days Out guide features spots where the photographer has to work a littler less hard, but there’s still effort to be made for images with a degree of originality. The point is that the raw ingredients are there so it’s up to you to exploit the potential.

At this time of year, photography for many takes second place, behind the family and holidays that can curb your creativity if you’re not careful. However, one of the criteria we applied to our selection of venues was, it had to have some broader interest beyond that purely of taking pictures. So the family get a day out too.

In terms of kit, you might find that lugging a backpack of camera hardware isn’t appropriate, so you may decide to travel light. Travelling light means different things to different people. You may just decide to take your classy compact or maybe you are one of the many who has recently invested in a CSC to supplement or even replace their existing DSLR outfit. Or maybe travelling light to you means one DSLR and three lenses. It is very much a matter of personal preference. Personally, I find it difficult to leave a lens at home so will often take too much – and will frequently return home afterwards with half the stuff unused.

Finally, it’s worth reminding you that our quoted admission prices are for turning up on the day. You can save a few quid by pre-booking online or buying a season ticket. Anyway, we hope you enjoy our selection of locations and events and you get home with a pile of great images.

Happy holidays!

WELCOME

Will Cheung FRPS, Editor

www.advancedphotographer.co.uk GREAT DAYS OUT advanced photographer 3

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

© C

liv

e M

inn

ett

1 35th Bristol international Balloon Fiesta8-11 Augustwww.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk



2 Beamish, County Durham

4 shuttleworth ColleCtion, olD warDen, BeDforDshire

Billed as the home of the Edwardian Flying Machines, Shuttleworth offers you the chance to get not only static shots of old aircraft, but aerial shots too as these airworthy antiques take to the skies – a long lens and a tripod should definitely top your packing list for this day out. There are also eight hangars filled with old cars, motorcycles and other vintage vehicles.

WeB: www.shuttleworth.orgopenIng tIMeS: Daily, 9.30am-5pmprIceS: Adult £12.00

WeB: www.beamish.org.uk openIng tIMeS: March to October, 10am-5pm. See website for details. prIceS: Adult £17.50

The Living Museum of the North, Beamish offers you the chance to photograph three periods – Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian – of northern life. They’re represented by the many re-enactors and in the refurbished

buildings, including a pit village and farm. And to get around the vast site, you can hop on a vintage tram or bus. The museum hosts plenty of events too, such as the Agricultural Power from the Past weekend.

Port Lympne and its sister wildlife animal park, Howletts, both in Kent, are different from other zoos, with their emphasis on endangered species. Port Lympne is one of the UK’s largest wild animal parks so

the creatures have plenty of space to roam which can help photography. One of many highlights is the gorillas – try to be around for feeding times and remember to shoot quickly because it doesn’t last long.

WeB: www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne tIMeS: Daily prIceS: Adult £23.95

3 Port lymPne, Kent

© w

iLL

cH

EUN

G©

Ad

E M

cFA

dE


5 Blists Hill Victorian town, ironBridge

Blists Hill is one of ten Ironbridge Gorge museums, so take a trip back in time – and plenty of kit! – when you visit this recreated Victorian town. You’ll need a lens for portraits of the characters in authentic garb, an optic for close-up details in the shops and cottages, and a wide-angle for general scenes; either that or a zoom covering a huge range. Alternatively, do your research first and focus on a particular subject. Dress sensibly too, especially footwear.

WeB: www.ironbridge.org.ukopenIng tIMeS: Daily, 10am-5pmprIceS: Adult £15.95

© D

Ar

ren

HA

rBA

r

© w

Ill

cH

eun

G

IN ASSOCIATION WITH



8 Westonbirt Arboretum, gloucs

A great location any time, but Westonbirt really comes into its own during autumn. Get yourself down there for some wonderful autumnal colours. It gets busy, though, so be patient and keep an eye out for people in the background.

WeB: www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt prIceS: Adult £9 (October-November)

7 KeW royAl botAnic gArdens, surreyFrom sweeping vistas to cute thatched cottages to the treetop walkway, Kew has something for everything – and that’s on top of the stunning collection of plants from around the world. And Kew positively welcomes photographers (but not tripods, you need a permit); its website even has a dedicated photography page.

WeB: www.kew.org openIng tIMeS: Daily from 9.30am prIceS: Adult £16

6 north yorK moors rAilWAy

Take a step back in time and visit this popular preservation railway. The line runs for 18 miles from Pickering to Grosmont station with a further six miles to Whitby. Photo opportunities abound among the wonderful steam engines and well-kept rural stations. There are regular special events too that offer something different for the photographer, one of the most popular being the Railway in Wartime weekend that takes place 11-13 October.

WeB: www.nymr.co.uk©

Ed

dIE

CO

CO

zzA

© W

Ill

Ch

Eun

G

© W

Ill

Ch

Eun

G


IN ASSOCIATION WITH

10 British Wildlife Centre

Boasting the finest collection of native British wildlife, the Centre is a great destination if you’re a nature nut. The inhabitants come in all shapes and sizes, from harvest mouse to red deer, and they all live in natural settings (where possible!). The Centre also hosts its own photographic days – check out the website.

9 Castle ComBe, Wilts

There’s a road and path around the whole circuit with banked areas for spectators giving many locations to take great shots. The action is quite close too, so a 200mm lens can be used for track shots and a standard or wide-angle can be used for a whole raft of other photo paddock and candid shots of drivers, spectators and teams. The circuit has events throughout the year with both race meetings and action days for classics and specific makes.

WeB: www.castlecombecircuit.co.uk opening time: See website for event. prices: Adult £15

WeB: www.britishwildlifecentre.co.uk opening times: Weekends & bank hols. prices: Adult £10.50 ©

hel

en h

oo

ker

© M

ike

Gr

oo

M



© h

elen

ho

ok

er

11 InternatIonal Centre for BIrds of Prey, glouCshome to many birds of prey, including eagles, falcons and owls. There are three flying displays each day, which are great opportunities to hone your in-flight shooting skills. The members of the flying team are also on display in the hawk Walk between displays, many of them with natural looking backgrounds so there’s plenty of opportunity to take attractive avian portraits.

WeB: www.icbp.org openIng tIMeS: From 10.30am (Mar-Oct) prIceS: Adult £11


IN ASSOCIATION WITH

© w

ill

ch

eun

g

© w

ill

ch

eun

g

© D

ar

ren

ha

rba

r

© h

elen

ho

ok

er

12 IWM DuxforD, CaMbrIDgeshIre

WeB: www.iwm.org.uk openIng tIMeS: Daily from 10am prIceS: Adult £17.50

This former First and Second world war airfield is now home to a stunning collection of iconic aircraft, as well as plenty of tanks, military vehicles and even boats. it’s not just about planes and military kit though, there’s also the remarkable architecture of the american air Museum to train your lens on. and if you tire of taking photos, you have until December to see roger Freeman’s Portraits of americans in britain.

13 blaCk Country lIvIng MuseuM, DuDley

whether your thing is environmental portraiture, detail shots or street scenes, a visit to this living museum should be on the agenda. across this 26-acre site, you’ll encounter vintage trams, costumed re-enactors and reconstructed shops and businesses. it’s a busy, bustling place so unless you’re happy dodging the other visitors, or restricting your photography to close-up details, we’d advise arriving early and staying late.

WeB: www.bclm.co.uk tIMeS: Daily, 10am-5pm (until Nov) prIceS: £15.50

14 rhs WIsley rhs garDen, WIsley, surreyPop a macro lens on your camera and head to wisley for some botanical beauty shots. There’s certainly plenty to focus on as it’s the rhS’s flagship garden. check out the blooming borders, gorgeous rose gardens and state-of-the-art glasshouses for a rich variety of flowers, grasses and shrubs. before you set out it’s worth checking out the website’s slide show of what’s currently in bloom.

WeB: www.rhs.org.ukopenIng tIMeS: Varies through the year so check the website. prIceS: Adult £11.85 (free to RHS members)

15 bluebell lIne steaM raIlWay

it’d be easy to spend a whole day here. The stations are restored to period condition and a regular timetable of steam trains runs, with more trains during popular holiday periods. The staff are helpful and knowledgeable (some even worked here when it was a british rail line in the 1950s) and are always dressed in period costume to complete the look. The line has recently been extended right up to east grinstead and now has its own platform at the mainline railway station there. See the website for timetable details.

WeB: www.bluebell-railway.co.ukopenIng tIMeS/prIceS: See the website for details and events diary.



Big events in the UK 2013While our featured locations are open all summer, and some are open all year, many also host special events so check the websites for more details. The following Great Photo Days Out are all

specific events. Of course, there are loads of photogenic events that happen once (or more) a year that are worthy of your creativity. These are just a few for you to consider taking your kit to.

This list of 26 events is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you plenty of ideas to look for similar events in your local vicinity. So pack up your lenses in your old kitbag and shoot, shoot, shoot…

18 Dartmouth

regatta29-31 Augustwww.dartmouthregatta.co.uk

16 NottiNg hill

CarNival, loNDoN25-26 Augustwww.thenottinghillcarnival.comSee this month’s Go Shoot in the magazine for technique advice for shooting the massive street party.

17 the Braemar gatheriNg, Braemar7 Septemberwww.braemargathering.orgSee www.shga.co.uk, the website of the Scottish Highland Games Association, for a full events listing.

16

18

© C

Ar

Ol

SAu

nD

erS


IN ASSOCIATION WITH

© j

oh

n ir

vin

e

21 Goodwood

Revival13-15 Septemberwww.goodwood.co.uk

19 ManchesteR PRide

23-26 August – the parade is on 26 Augwww.manchesterpride.com

22 whitby Goth

weekend1-3 Novemberwww.whitbygothweekend.co.uk

20 Uk GRavity endURo MoUntain bike RacinG, dyfi foRest 17-18 Augustwww.ukgravityenduro.comSee www.britishcycling.org.uk and www.ukcyclingevents.co.uk for all types of cycling events.

19

21

22

© P

hil

Wh

all

ey

© e

dd

ie C

oC

ozz

a

© W

ill

Ch

eUn

G©

Wil

l C

heU

nG


Great Photo Days Out4

27 Changing the

guard, BuCkingham PalaCe and Windsor CastlePlease check the official website for full details: http://bit.ly/UO2KI

23 edinBurgh

Festival Fringe2-26 Augustwww.edfringe.comFor technique advice, see Go Shoot in Issue 33.

28 BuPa great Birmingham run20 Octoberwww.greatrun.org

26 egremont CraB

Fair: home oF the World gurning ChamPionshiPs, CumBria21 Septemberwww.egremontcrabfair.com

23

27

© W

ILL

CH

EUN

G©

PH

IL W

Ha

LLEy

25 tough mudder sCotland 2013, dalkeith, edinBurgh24-25 Augusttoughmudder.co.uk/eventsSee the website for Tough Mudder events in yorkshire, south-west and north-west England.

24 staFFordshireCyCling Festival 9-10 Augustwww.staffordgp.co.ukSee the website for more details of the differenttypes of events over the two days.



30 TOTAL WARRIOR

3-4 Augustwww.totalwarrior.co.ukYou’ll have to hurry not to miss this one.

31 IROnmAn WALes, Tenby8 Septemberironmanwales.comSee www.ironmanuk.com for more events.

29 TOugh guy mud

bATTLes, OLd PeRTOn, sTAffs5-6 Octoberwww.toughguy.co.ukSee the website for details of more Tough Guy events.

30

© M

ax

wel

l K

no

wle

S


IN ASSOCIATION WITH

34 The NeaTh Valley ModerN aNd hisToric sTages car rally10 Augustwww.threecountiescarclub.co.uk

33 raF leuchars

air show, leuchars, FiFe7 Septemberwww.airshow.co.uk

32 The uK

sTeaMpuNK FesTiVal13-15 Septembersteampunk.synthasite.com

29

32

33©

Ed

diE

Co

Co

zza

© J

oh

n P

ow

Ell

© w

ill

Ch

Eun

g



40 Wiggle etape Cymru, Bangor-on-Dee raCeCourse, Wrexham8 Septemberhumanrace.co.uk/events/cycling/etape-cymruThe website also has details of other events including triathlon, off road and running.

37 the ViCtory shoW, CosBy, leiCs6-8 September www.thevictoryshow.co.uk

36 the royal eDinBurgh military tattoo2-24 Augustwww.edintattoo.co.uk

41 Bupa great north run, neWCastle15 Septemberwww.greatrun.org

38 Bournemouth air FestiVal29 August – 1 September bournemouthair.co.uk

39 Worthing BirDman10-11 Augustwww.worthingbirdman.co.uk

35 ni international

airshoW, West Bay, portrush31 August – 1 Septemberwww.niinternationalairshow.co.ukFor details of more airshows go to www.airshows.org.uk.

35

© ia

n F

yFe

AP.indd 1 19/7/13 11:57:56

AP.indd 1 19/7/13 11:58:31

advanced photographer - 41 great days out

Documents

great pictures

great shots isnt

pile of great images

selection of locations

old warden

old cars

static shots of old

aerial shots