How to take breathtaking photos of Nottinghamshire

Fancy yourself as something of a whizz with the camera? Ever look on instagram at some of the stunning photos on there and wonder how do they do it? We spoke to Greg Howard, an amazing local photographer and digital artist, to get some tips and tricks to help you take some memorable photographs. Luckily, we're blessed with some beautiful subject matter here in Nottinghamshire - from the majestic Newstead Abbey, to the atmospheric trees of Sherwood Forest - so read on, and then grab your camera and get out and explore for yourself!

Is Nottinghamshire a good place to take photos?

Nottinghamshire definitely has some great scenes to photograph if you can get to the right locations at the right time of year.

Along with the all the nature based parks in Nottinghamshire and street photography that you can do in the city centre, some of the best spots I’ve found were actually just while driving around when the light was nice and pulling over when I see a photo opportunity - so if you’re determined to get out there and hunt the spots Nottinghamshire has a lot to offer!

Where are your favourite spots to shoot?

A few of my favourite places to take photos in Nottinghamshire are Clumber Park, Sherwood Pines and Newstead Abbey. They look completely different in Spring and Autumn so you can re visit the same spot and get completely different perspectives and colours each time.

An all time favourite would be the iconic row of lime trees at Clumber Park when they’re in full Autumn bloom. 

What do you look for in a good photo?

I love all styles and themes of photography so a good photo to me just has to emit emotion. If the viewer feels happy, sad, lonely, on edge or what ever the emotion may be, then I consider it job well done.  

What tips would you give to anyone wanting to get out and capture some unique photos?

Its always great to have a quick look at the photos from the location other people have taken online before heading out, this way you can get a good idea of what vantage points are there before you’ve even arrived. 

Once I get to the location I like to walk around and explore it for a while instead of just getting the camera out and clicking the shutter. This helps you frame compositions in your head other people might not have picked up on before, therefore your photos are bound to be unique and more personal to the ones you saw online earlier.

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How Greg got the shot - Using a double exposure and a zoom burst to blur the road but not the trees, creating a sense of movement. Where is it? - Clumber Park's famous Lime Tree Alley

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How Greg got the shot - Using a very long exposure of 120 seconds to blur the water and give the photo its mystical quality. Where is it? - The gardens at Newstead Abbey

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How Greg got the shot - Using a 50mm lens and a very wide aperture to blur the background - creating a 'bokeh' effect, where only a small part of the image are in focus. Where is it? - Victoria Embankment, on the River Trent

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How Greg got the shot - Taking the photo early in the morning meant there was less natural light, creating greater contrast in the colours. The morning fog also added to the atmospherics. Where is it? - Near Arnold

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How Greg got the shot - A 60 second exposure, helps the lake's water look glassy smooth. Where is it? - Newstead Abbey

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How Greg got the shot - Greg used a longer exposure to capture the movement in the clouds, while a second, shorter exposure kept the field nice and still. Where is it? - Near Arnold We hope these photographs have inspired you to get out and take some for yourself. If you do, we'd love to see them, so please share on twitter and instagram using #LoveNotts! You can see more of Greg's fantastic shots on his website and instagram.