![\"st](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/opening-image-st-pauls.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tImage: Graham Lacdao<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
London is full of photogenic buildings so it was a hard choice, but few things capture the spirit and dynamism of the \u2019 capital more than St Paul\u2019s and the City skyline. \u2018To get this shot I liased with St Bride\u2019s Church in Fleet Street and shot from the tower \u2013 the view is dead on, so it\u2019s worth getting in touch to see if you can also get access,\u2019 says Graham Lacdao<\/a>, official photographer of St Paul\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u2018I used a 70-200mm Canon L lens at f\/8, which is an ideal focal length. Get the best viewpoint you can: during the day, the most successful shots are from distant viewpoints with a zoom lens. If you\u2019re much nearer to the cathedral, a tilt and shift lens is very handy.\u2019<\/p>\n SE1 9SG (nearest tube London Bridge), www.the-shard.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Jeremy Walker<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n The Shard is one of the most striking modern buildings in the capital and there are lots of great photo opportunities nearby. \u2018I shot this from one of the piers on Tower Bridge \u2013 they don\u2019t usually kick you off for having a tripod, so it\u2019s rock solid,\u2019 advises Jeremy Walker<\/a>. \u2018Timing is important: I took this just after sunset, which is a great time to shoot. I also used a 2-stop soft grad ND filter and opened up a few shadows in software.\u2019<\/p>\n Brighton BN1 1EE, brightonmuseums.org.uk\/royalpavilion<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Matt Goddard<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Brighton is full of photography ideas, from the beach to the Lanes, but the Royal Pavilion is rightly popular all year round. The gardens are open every day, so there are lots of opportunities to shoot this iconic building.<\/p>\n \u2018Keep a look-out for the ideal conditions of soft light on partly clouded days or around sunset and sunrise,\u2019 says local photographer Matt Goddard<\/a>. \u2018Soft light makes the Pavilion\u2019s stonework glow with a soft warmth that needs to be seen to be believed.\u2019 You can also get some really eye-catching reflections. Remember that tripods are not allowed inside the museum. NCP\u2019s Brighton Theatre car park is three minutes away.<\/p>\n Wiltshire SP4 7DE, www.english-heritage.org.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Dion Hitchcock<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n \u2018Here I created a five-shot vertical panorama using a 24mm lens at 3200 ISO to maximise the light, then stacked the images in Lightroom,\u2019 says photographer and tour leader, Dion Hitchcock of UK Photo Tours. <\/a>\u2018Use a light pollution filter if possible. Earlier in the year will give you an arch on the Milky Way: the PhotoPills app is a big help.\u2019 See bit.ly\/stonehengefreepath for a guide to easy access.<\/p>\n Marizion, Cornwall TR17 0HS, www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Matt Watkins<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Try a shot from the shore near Marizion. \u2018I took this on a Hasselblad 500C\/M with a Zeiss 80mm f2.8 lens along with a Formatt-Hitech Firecrest Ultra 4 ND soft edge grad filter to balance the exposure,\u2019 says reader Matt Watkins<\/a>. You can park at the St Michael\u2019s Mount and Long Stay Marazion car park.<\/p>\n Birmingham B5 4BP, www.bullring.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Dave Musson<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Some modern buildings date quickly but this iconic structure is still looking fresh. You have a range of approaches: use a wider lens to capture the whole of the building, or zoom into the 15,000 aluminium discs and elegant curves. The latter can look particularly striking against a bright blue sky, so consider using a polariser to boost the colours and reduce glare. Pick your time too.<\/p>\n \u2018If you get there early enough, Selfridges makes for one of the best spots in the whole city to take in the sunrise,\u2019 says photographer Dave Musson<\/a>. Show shutter speeds will give attractive starburst effects on street lights. There is ample parking at Moor Street Car Park.<\/p>\n LN2 1PX, lincolncathedral.com<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Derek Forss<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Picking one cathedral was a challenge, but it\u2019s a favourite of many experts, such as Simon Jenkins, author of England\u2019s Thousand Best Churches. \u2018Including the Tennyson statue gives foreground interest and he\u2019s associated with the area,\u2019 says photographer Derek Forss<\/a>. \u2018I shot handheld, using an Olympus 12-60mm lens at f\/8 and 1\/400sec, so I was able to move fast; with such a popular cathedral, there are usually people about to walk into the frame.\u2019 There is free parking outside or several public car parks nearby.<\/p>\n Derbyshire DE45 1PP, www.chatsworth.org<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Derek Forss<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Again, the choice of English stately homes is massive, but we picked Chatsworth as it\u2019s at the heart of the equally photogenic Peak District, and is within striking distance of major conurbations including Manchester. For this image, Derek Forss included the iconic fountain for extra interest. \u2018You often get a rainbow as the wind is blowing \u2013 it blows the spray from the fountain to one side, though at certain angles you can\u2019t see it.\u2019 Note that tripods are not allowed in the gardens, however. There is a dedicated car park.<\/p>\n Gateshead NE8 3BA, bit.ly\/gatesheadbridgeinfo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Rob Cole<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n This hugely photogenic bridge spans the River Tyne between the Gateshead arts quarter on the south bank and Newcastle\u2019s Quayside area on the north bank, also encompassing many eye-catching buildings. Reader Rob Cole shot it with a tripod, using a Sigma 10-20mm (10-second shutter speed at f\/16, ISO 100).<\/p>\n \u2018I set up before sunset and waited for the blue hour, slightly tilting the camera down to give a sense of stepping into the frame. The lines of the old iron railings and pavement kerbing lead nicely into the scene.\u2019 Gateshead Quays are served by a range of council-owned and private car parks.<\/p>\n suggest Cawfields NE49 9PJ, www.english-heritage.org.uk\/visit\/places\/hadrians-wall\/<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Getty Images<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n It was a hard choice between this or the Angel of the North sculpture, but as the latter is also close to Gateshead, we went with the wall \u2013 it\u2019s not too long a drive from the Lake District and North Yorkshire, either. \u2018Where Housesteads Crags and Cuddy\u2019s Crags meet is one of the iconic views of Hadrian\u2019s Wall,\u2019 says photographer Roger Clegg<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2018Views to the south take you across South Tynedale to the distant North Pennines. It is one of my favourite places \u2013 one reason is its tendency to early morning mist and fog. A wideangle lens is handy for dramatic images from close range while a telephoto will pull in distant views.\u2019 Cawfields Milecastle has a Northumberland National Parks car park nearby.<\/p>\n Edinburgh EH1 3BJ, www.edinburgharchitecture.co.uk\/newtown-dugaldstewart<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Jeremy Walker<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Edinburgh Castle is a wonderfully photogenic building, but why not include it as part of the city skyline, taking in the Dugald Stewart Monument? \u2018Calton Hill is a great Edinburgh location,\u2019 says pro Jeremy Walker. \u2018I shot this cityscape after sunset, when the street lights came on, using a 35mm lens for width, a tripod (the shutter speed was 15 seconds) and a LEE 0.6 ND filter. As I was on a hill and parallel to the monument, with the camera level, the lines were nice and straight.\u2019 The Q-Park OMNI car park is close.<\/p>\n Falkirk FK1 4RS, www.scottishcanals.co.uk\/falkirk-wheel\/<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: John Cuthbert<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n This eye-catching rotating boat lift connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal and opened in 2002 as part of the Millennium Link project. \u2018This image was carefully planned, rather than just turning up,\u2019 says AP reader John Cuthbert. \u2018I chatted to the Falkirk Centre in the day and arranged to photograph the wheel at night, making security aware, and ensuring the lights were turned on \u2013 they were very helpful. I shot at 10 seconds at f\/8, ISO 50, using a tripod on a Sony Alpha 99 with a 24-70mm Zeiss lens. I didn\u2019t have to do much to the image apart from sharpening, and it has done well in compeitions.\u2019 There is a main car park just a few minutes away.<\/p>\n Falkirk FK2 7ZT, www.thehelix.co.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: John Cuthbert<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Yes, Falkirk again, but The Kelpies, the largest equine sculptures in the world, were another popular reader suggestion. \u2018I took this shot early in the morning to get the best light and have the place to myself,\u2019 says reader John Cuthbert. \u2018I shot at 1\/8th of a second on a tripod at f\/10, using a 26mm focal length. The Kelpies are on a public right of way so there are no access issues, and you can walk along there at night too.\u2019 There is parking at the Kelpies and Visitors Centre.<\/p>\n Dornie IV40 8DX, www.eileandonancastle.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Getty Images<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Again, trying to decide on one Scottish castle was difficult, but this is one of the most beautiful, principally because of its location. Eilean Donan is situated at the meeting of three lochs, with the Highlands surrounding it. A wideangle lens is highly recommended to soak in the wonderful scenery and as with most of the buildings here, choose your time carefully \u2013 the blue hour is ideal.<\/p>\n \u2018Once the colour has disappeared from the sky you tend to get a nicely illuminated castle but the background fades to black with little detail so you don\u2019t get the same beautiful surroundings in the shot,\u2019 advises photographer Nick Cockman<\/a>. There is a car park, which happily, also offers one of the best vantage points.<\/p>\n Cardiff CF10 5AL, www.wmc.org.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Getty Images<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n This one of the most widely photographed buildings in the capital, and it\u2019s not hard to see why. It is the national arts centre of Wales, and a great source of pride, with some wonderful typography on its stunning fa\u00e7ade \u2013 the building is a fascinating shape, too. \u2018It\u2019s a good idea to get there early in the morning to avoid passers-by, again using a longer lens, or you can take advantage of pedestrians by slowing them down via motion blur, or removing them altogther,\u2019 advises AP\u2019s features editor and Cardiff resident, Amy Davies. \u2018A Neutral Density is great for achieving this without blowing out the exposure. The Centre is made from slate, metal, wood and glass and looks great against a clear blue sky, so consider using a polariser to deepen the blues.\u2019 There are numerous car parks nearby.<\/p>\n LL32 8AY, cadw.gov.wales\/visit\/places-to-visit\/conwy-castle<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Derek Forss<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Conwy, built by Edward I between 1283 and 1287 as he took on Wales, is a classic Welsh castle. For this image, Derek Forss included Thomas Telford\u2019s equally famous bridge to add interest. \u2018Including it makes for a more interesting image than a conventional postcard view of the castle. I took this image handheld, at 1\/200sec and f\/8.\u2019 There is a car park outside the castle.<\/p>\n SA62 6RD, www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Drew Buckley<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n This was taken in the graveyard of this beautiful church by pro Drew Buckley<\/a>. \u2018It\u2019s an hour compilation (a 60x30sec image stack in StarStax) of stars rotating around Polaris. I shot during a full moon, which kept the sky blue (f\/4, ISO 1250). Other good viewpoints are from the top of the steps, or from the path behind the gatehouse.\u2019 Parking nearby.<\/p>\n Anglesey LL65 1YH, bit.ly\/southstackinfo<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Dibs McCallum<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n Lighthouse fans may berate us for not including more, but this is a classic. \u2018I shot this at sunset in autumn, a great time,\u2019 says reader Dibs McCallum<\/a>. \u2018The sunlight complements the colour of the vegetation, while the very clear water at this location gives a calmer look for long exposures. I shot on a Fujifilm X-T2 and the wide 10-24mm lens (f\/8, 40 seconds, ISO 200).<\/p>\n I also used 100mm Formatt-Hitech Filters, which included a polariser and 3-stop soft grad filter and 6-stop ND. It can get windy there so please be careful.\u2019 There is a large car park at the South Stack Visitors Centre.<\/p>\n Belfast BT3 9EP, www.titanicbelfast.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Getty Images<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n This jaw-dropping modern building is located exactly 100 metres in front of where Titanic\u2019s hull was constructed and launched, so you really feel part of the fateful vessel\u2019s history when you visit. You also get a strong sense of the long industrial heritage from the Harland & Wolff shipyard. The conventional approach is to shoot from the shipyard side of the river, but you can try shooting across the River Lagan from the Belfast city side.<\/p>\n The Titanic Building creates beautiful reflections, especially during the blue hour \u2013 you will get attractive starburst effects too. You\u2019ll usually need a tripod or good image stabilisation if you are shooting handheld. Titanic Belfast has 520 underground parking spaces.<\/p>\n Coleraine BT51 4RP, bit.ly\/ntmussenden<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t Image: Getty Images<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n You can capture some superb images of this \u2018temple\u2019 (built as an 18th century library) nestling in the surrounding North Coast headland. \u2018From October to March, it\u2019s a great location to shoot at any time of the day,\u2019 says pro Tyler Collins<\/a>. \u2018When you\u2019ve got one of those showery days with bright spells it works exceptionally well, as you can go for some real dark moody images.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a great location for astro photography; you do have some light pollution coming from the hills of Donegal to the east and from Castlerock to the west, but looking out north you have nothing but horizon.\u2019 There is a car park at the nearby Downhill Demesne.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve covered a very wide variety of iconic structures in this feature, so which lenses and accessories will prove the most useful?<\/p>\n Lenses<\/strong><\/p>\n An obvious choice for soaking up the subject within its wider context is a wideangle zoom. A good starting point is a 16-35mm (or equivalent), which is handy for both interior and exterior work. But many interesting buildings will also have fascinating details, and to capture these, especially if you can\u2019t get close access, try a 24-70mm or 70-200mm zoom (or equivalent).<\/p>\n Tilt and shift lenses<\/strong><\/p>\n Converging verticals\/leaning-lines don\u2019t look very professional, so for the slickest results, consider a tilt and shift lens. Wideangle 24mm lenses tend to be ideal for architectural exteriors, while wider optics are great for interiors. These don\u2019t come cheap, however, with few choices under \u00a31,500 \u2013 so try hiring one. See our recent round-up at bit.ly\/aptiltshift<\/a><\/p>\n Filters<\/strong><\/p>\n A neutral density filter can help to remove people from the scene if needed by using a longer exposure time, while a polariser can reduce glare from a reflective surface.<\/p>\n Tripod<\/strong><\/p>\n A tripod\u2019s useful if you want to shoot at night without resorting to using a high ISO speed. Many cameras now have powerful image stabilisation for shooting handheld.<\/p>\n Editing software<\/strong><\/p>\n If you can\u2019t stretch to a tilt and shift lens, both Lightroom and Photoshop have some powerful perspective-correction tools. Lightroom Classic\u2019s Transform panel, found under Develop, has options including Auto (often very effective), Guided, Level, Vertical, and Full.<\/p>\n Revealed! The world\u2019s best monument photographs<\/a><\/p>\n Best UK locations for capturing Autumn landscapes<\/a><\/p>\nThe Shard<\/h3>\n
![\"Shard](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/shard.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nSouth East England<\/h3>\n
The Brighton Pavilion<\/h3>\n
![\"brighton](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Brighton-Pavillion.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nSouth West England<\/h3>\n
Stonehenge<\/h3>\n
![\"stonehenge](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stonehenge.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tSt Michael\u2019s Mount<\/h3>\n
![\"St](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/st-michaels-mount.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nThe Midlands<\/h3>\n
Selfridges<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Birmingham-selfridges.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tLincoln Cathedral<\/h3>\n
![\"Lincoln](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Lincoln-cathedral.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tChatsworth House<\/h3>\n
![\"chatsworth](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Chatsworth.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nThe North East<\/h3>\n
The Millennium Bridge<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Rob-cole-tyne-bridge-sage.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tHadrian\u2019s Wall<\/h3>\n
![\"hadrians](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Hadrians-Wall.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nScotland<\/h3>\n
Calton Hill<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Edinburgh-skyline.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tThe Falkirk Wheel<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Falkirk-Wheel.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tThe Kelpies<\/h3>\n
![\"the](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Kelpies.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tEilean Donan Castle<\/h3>\n
![\"Eilean](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Eilean-Dor.jpg\")
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\nWales<\/h3>\n
Millennium Centre<\/h3>\n
![\"millennium](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Cardiff-Millenium-Centre.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tConwy Castle<\/h3>\n
![\"conwy](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Conwy-Castle.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tSt David\u2019s Cathedral<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/St-Davids-Cathedral-.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tSouth Stack Lighthouse<\/h3>\n
![\"South](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/south-stack-lighthouse-BETTER.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nNorthern Ireland<\/h3>\n
Titanic Building<\/h3>\n
![\"titanic](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/new-titanic.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\tMussenden Temple<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Mussenden-temple-NI.jpg\")
<\/a>\t\t\t
\nRecommended gear<\/h3>\n
\n\nRelated reading:<\/h3>\n