The best landscape photographers spend more time planning than shooting. Scouting — online and on foot — is how you end up in the right place at the right minute.
1. Find candidates
- Browse locations by state and type on our location directory — each has elevation, nearby spots and a map.
- Look at photos from the area to see what's there, then look for what's not been done.
- Use topographic maps to find overlooks, ridges and lakes with open views.
2. Check the light
For each candidate, ask: where is the sun at the time I want to shoot?
- The sun-path diagram and azimuth table on each location page show sunrise and sunset directions through the year.
- The sun & moon map draws those directions on a map from any point.
- Check terrain: a mountain to the east delays sunrise.
3. Check the sky
- Cloud forecasts for sunrise and sunset: the sunset forecast.
- For night work: moon phase, Milky Way window and sky darkness via the photo trip planner and light pollution checker.
4. Check access
Road and trail status, gates and seasonal closures, parking, permits, fees and drone rules. Use the drone checker before flying.
5. Scout on site
Arrive in daylight before a sunrise or night shoot. Walk the area, try lenses, note foreground options and the safest route back in the dark. Drop a GPS pin.
6. Have a backup
If the main plan fails (fog, closure, crowds), know a second spot nearby facing a different direction. Our "nearby spots" lists exist for exactly this.
About 1 min read · Updated 2026-10-20