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There are many countries that would claim to be the ultimate destination for a landscape photographer, so what makes Scotland so special? Well, it might not have the mighty mountains of the USA. Or the volcanoes of Iceland or even the endless views of New Zealand, but there’s a reason that every year thousands of photographers flock to this tiny country and are captivated enough to return. Here X reasons why that might be.

Castles

The one thing that sets Scotland apart from all of the other countries above is its castles. No other country can mix as many incredibly historic castles with amazing landscapes. It is estimated that there were once up to 3,000 castles in Scotland. The many that still remain are all in various states of degradation. Some are still standing as proudly as when they were built, others are mere ruins like a blot of on the landscape. Even the ruins still mix with the landscape to provide some of the most unique and iconic scenery a photographer could ever wish for.

Unique mountains

Scottish mountains (Munro) are unique and seem just blend into the landscape, unlike the more striking mountains you will find elsewhere. There are no mighty peaks such as you’ll find in North America or the Alps. In fact, the highest mountain in the whole of the United Kingdom is Ben Nevis in Fort William at only 1,345 meters height. Yet these mountains still feel grand and walking or driving through them makes them seem like giants. Undoubtedly one of the main reason why they look so different from other mountains is the gentle way they slope into the valleys. This as well as the unique green and brown colours makes them incredibly photogenic. You will also often find that your composition will be helped with a lonely old cottage sitting in the shadow of an imposing Munro providing the perfect point of interest.

Magnificent lochs

You won’t have to travel far in Scotland to come across a loch. Each loch is a haven for birds and local wildlife as well as fish. One of the things that often hits people is the sheer size of some of the lochs. These lochs will often be flanked by mountains, cottages and even old castles. You will sometimes also find locals fishing by or in the lochs which again help to add a point of interest to the scene. If you are lucky you may even encounter some early morning mist just to add a bit more mystery and atmosphere to an already magnificent scene.

Beaches and coastline

You wouldn’t necessarily associate Scotland with incredible beaches. But you’ll be amazed at some of the beautiful beaches and coastline you’ll encounter. The thing that makes these beaches so photogenic is that there are often striking cliffs or mountains in the background. Or they might be the odd sea stack for you to use as your point of interest. But for those who want golden sand beaches that you’ll expect to see in the Mediterranean, well, there are plenty of those as well.

As for the coastline, it is amongst the best for photography in the whole of the United Kingdom. From the incredibly photogenic Duncansby Stacks to gorgeous lighthouses, the Scottish coast has it all.

The weather

Sunshine followed by rain followed by sunshine followed by hail followed by sunshine. This might be a typical day of weather that you’ll encounter in the Scottish highlands. But while in many other countries photographers would despair at the sight of clouds and rain, for some reason it just seems to work in photos of Scotland. In fact, a photo of a Scottish castle or the Munros just doesn’t look right in glorious sunshine. This means that as a photographer you can worry less about the weather and more about your composition and photos. Even when you do encounter bad weather, there is a chance that it will pass quickly. But then there is also a possibility of prolonged spells of rain. So make sure you pack waterproof clothes and something to cover your camera with.

Historic cities

Once you have had your fill of landscape photography you can pop into one of the many historic cities in Scotland. Whether it’s Inverness or Dundee, Sterling or Aberdeen, or even the big two Glasgow or Edinburgh, there is no shortage of cityscapes, castles, old churches or even the odds Scotsman to capture in photos. These cities are some of the most photogenic in Europe and you should make time to explore them. The great thing about Scotland is that just a short drive from any of these cities will take you out into the wilderness.

Scotland is one of the world’s best photography locations and once you visit, you will understand why. There really is everything that any landscape photographer could want. The close proximity of the locations to one another also means that you can easily change your plans to suit the weather conditions if need be. So why not make Scotland your next landscape photography destination, you won’t regret it.

The world is full of amazing places to photograph. Some of these are natural landscapes or amazing cultural festivals. But arguably the most iconic are the famous monuments that we have all seen thousands of photos of. But does that mean they shouldn’t be photographed? These are rightly some of the most popular photo spots in the world, so here are 12 of the most photogenic monuments in the world.

Eiffel Tower

The creation of Gustave Eiffel, “La dame de fer”, (the Iron Lady), stands proud in the centre of Paris. But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, when Eiffel first put forward the proposal for his wrought-iron lattice tower, it was met by huge opposition from the artistic elite. It was described as a “metal asparagus” that would overshadow the beautiful buildings of Paris such as Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe. Nowadays, it is loved by the majority of Parisians and is seen as a cultural and historical symbol of France.

Tower Bridge

Not to be confused with the unremarkable-looking London Bridge, Tower Bridge was constructed between 1886 and 1894 due to the need to connect the centre of London to the growing east end of London via a bridge further down the River Thames. However, a traditional bridge that sat at road level wouldn’t work as it would block access for ships using the various docks along the river. Construction on the bridge started on the 22nd of April 1886 and was officially opened in June 1894.

Machu Pichu

The mere mention of this place conjures up visions of explorers of yesteryear. This lost city in the tropical mountain forest of the Peruvian Andes in the northwest of Cuzco is believed to have been a royal residence or possibly a sacred religious site of the Inca’s. It remained hidden until 1911 when American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it. When Bingham arrived in Urubamba Valley a local farmer told him of the ruins on top of the mountain. He called the mountain “Machu Picchu” which means “Old Peak” in the Quechua language. Led by an 11-year-old boy, on July 24th, Bingham finally reached the lost city.

Taj Mahal

This incredible mausoleum might just be the grandest act of love in history. Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 and taking over 20 years to complete, it houses the remains of the Shah’s beloved wife. Sitting beside the Yamuna River in Agra and built from white marble which mimics the colour of the light throughout the day, this is one of the most stunning and famous pieces of architecture in the world which combines Indian, Persian and Islamic influences.

The Great Wall of China

This ancient series of fortifications built across what is now northern China needs no introduction. It is one of the most incredible feats of engineering and is riddled with mystery, myths and questions. It is also one of the most popular photography locations in the world. Photographing the wall is not easy as you are often facing hoards of tourists. So the biggest advice is to arrive early morning and hope for great light and some mist in the mountains.

Colosseum

A glimpse into the magnificence of the Roman empire stands proud in the centre of Rome. The amphitheatre was the largest ever built and dates back to AD80 when up to 80,000 spectators cheered on gladiators. Photographing the Colosseum is relatively straightforward, but capturing unique shots is not. Look for interesting angles and geometric shapes and you can always use it as a background for a point of interest in the foreground. Blue hour shots using slow exposure will also look great.

Angkor Wat

The first sight of the largest religious structure in the world is enough to make the hairs stand on the back of your neck. The classic shot from the front of the complex at sunrise is often on the bucket list of photographers. Unfortunately, that involves sharing the area with hundreds of other tourists and photographers. But Angkor Wat offers so many more photo opportunities than just this classic shot. Keep your eyes open when wandering around the temples and you may find the striking orange robes of the monks punctuating the scenery. And don’t forget about the close-up shots of the intricate carvings.

St Basil’s Cathedral

It is hard to believe that a man that committed so many atrocities was also responsible for this marvel in the centre of Moscow. Ivan the Terrible ordered the building of the church to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. The colourful Orthodox church in Moscow’s Red Square was completed in 1561 and was the tallest building in the city for almost 40 years. With good light it almost impossible not to capture a beautiful photo of this museum. Its location next to the political heart of Russia (the Kremlin) provides ample photo opportunities.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza dominates the desert landscape. This mighty structure never fails to amaze and like all the great monuments of the world, there are plenty of opportunities for great photos as long as you are willing to be patient and persistent. Look for interesting foreground additions such as camel herders to incorporate into your shots.

Christ Redeemer

The 30-meter high statue of Christ located at the peak of Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro is a symbol of Christianity across the world and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Whilst you can capture photos of the statue from near the statue itself, the best shots are arguably from Sugarloaf. But this is a busy spot so you may want to head up at sunrise to avoid the crowds (but be aware that some parts of the city are not safe when it’s dark. Check with your hotel to be sure).

Empire State Building

The worlds tallest building until the construction of the World Trade Center in 1970, is one of the world’s most iconic buildings. But what makes photographing it so special is that there is almost a perfect viewing area to do so from the top of the Rockefeller Center. From the “top of the rock”, the Empire State Building is perfectly positioned to photograph at sunset with views of Manhattan and beyond.

Neuschwanstein Castle

The ultimate fairytale castle deep in Bavaria was commissioned by King Ludwig II as his personal retreat. Construction began in 1869 but was never completed due to his death in 1886. The most popular location for photos is from the metal bridge that is the “Neuschwanstein Castle viewpoint”. But if you are prepared to do some walking you can capture a variety of different shots from the different walking trails in the area.

These are just some of the famous monuments in the world that are worthy of photographs. The reality is that this list could be entirely different and much longer. For example, there is the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, So, if haven’t already been why not add them to your bucket list. Just make sure you take plenty of memory cards.

6 Reasons Why Scotland Is The Ultimate Landscape Photography Location