Finding appropriate places to capture a moment is critical for a photographer. We've compiled a list of fantastic locations across the world where you may capture beautiful pictures, as well as tips on how to shoot great action photographs. Have a read on our top roundups and make sure to take notes about your next vacation and make sure to bring your camera with you in order to take professional photos of beautiful landscapes.

1. Key West, Florida



Location - Simonton Beach
The great thing about Key West, Florida is all the beautiful beaches you can find, each with different scenery, uniqueness, and its own set of charms. It’s a place for individuals who want a vibrant environment, with plenty of sun, cocktails, and beautiful scenery to shoot while cruising in a Key West Yacht Rental. These beaches are perfect for action photography because there is always some type of movement and action happening whether it be jet skiing, playing volleyball, surfing, and more.

There are obstacles when it comes to shooting from a boat which generally includes point of view in motion and the dangers of being near water. The good thing about images taken on the water and videos is that it allows photographers to capture activity and scenery that is not visible from land making it a unique picture experience. You can improve your action photography skills while keeping you and your camera safe if you follow these easy guidelines.

Shot - Boat Photography



When you’re taking pictures on a boat, as advised by Los Angeles Cinematographer Adam Feuerman, always keep your camera equipment in a dry bag. If you are going to be exposed to a lot of splashing, whether from the boat’s size or speed, keep a dry bag with you. Now that you have you are geared secure and you want to take the image, maintain a fast shutter speed. Even if the target that you are photographing isn't moving significantly in relation to the camera, the shutter speed needs to be set at a fast setting since your camera and lens would be in motion.

Additionally, consider using continuous shooting especially if you’re far from the target and your auto-focus is working overtime. This is a basic and strategically valuable use of spray and pray. Lastly, shooting in burst mode can rapidly drain your storage capacity, so always remember to keep your spare battery with you.

2. New York, Manhattan



Location - Times Square
New York City is a place with a practically limitless variety of things you can do, see, and photograph, ranging from the ancient to the contemporary. New York City is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places to visit, with a plethora of well-known attractions and a photographer’s dream come true. It is packed with outstanding photography sites just ready to be shot, from the beautiful skyline down to street photography. New York is a huge metropolis with plenty to shoot no matter what your preferences are on photography. You could be shooting classic pictures, people riding bikes, subways, architectural buildings, and more.

Shot - Photography in Crowded Places
New York City is a busy place, packed with people walking, running, driving, or cycling so taking photographs becomes somewhat of a struggle. Each and every neighborhood in New York has its own distinct appearance and feel. To capture it the best Adam recommends using a mirrorless camera since they are smaller in size and unnoticeable making the never-ending amount of walking easier. Additionally, keep in mind to turn off auto mode on your camera setting because while it can work well for cityscapes, it will fail miserably in situations of fast-paced action photography.

However, despite New York being a beautiful and interesting place to take photographs, taking action shots can become somewhat of a struggle since it’s a crowded place and there are people walking everywhere. When taking shots in a crowded place of people moving around, Adam suggests beginning at 1/125th of a second in order to shoot the pedestrians in perfect focus but if you want to blur the person moving, set a slower shutter speed such as 1/30 second.

3. Colorado, Breckenridge



Location - Breckenridge Ski Resort
Breckenridge is a beautiful ski resort for all levels of skiers which also has amazing nooks and crannies just waiting to be shot. It features basic, beginner terrains for families, beautiful mountains, intermediate routes for skiers who want to progress further as well as advanced slopes for advanced skiers. Breckenridge offers breathtaking views from downtown, the trails, and the mountain peaks. Breckenridge transforms into a snow paradise from late fall to early spring. Deep snowfall falls, smoothing the features of a town that is already beautiful and photogenic.

Shot - Skiing Photography
When you’re taking action photography of people skiing, snowboarding, or doing any other fast-paced activity in snow, you must ensure that you have the right equipment in order to shoot the greatest photographs. Digital or SLR cameras would work best however, ensuring that they are portable and easy to carry around since it would be uncomfortable and not very practical to carry around heavy equipment.

When photographing in a snowy, bright location, the mix of whiteness and sunlight might make it tough to get anything useful. The camera settings compensate for the whiteness by underexposing the image, resulting in a dark and gloomy image. SLR and digital cameras typically come with a variety of camera settings that allow you to best match the scene you're shooting. With these cameras, there is a snow option, and applying it will prevent underexposure and result in bright, sharp photographs. Additionally, when photographing in the snow, you'll also need to adjust the flash.

For freezing ski motion, you will need a shutter speed of at least 1/1000 second, or 1/2000 second since this way you can get the space-frozen snow particles in the air. Whereas, for the aperture, you need to adjust it at f/4 or f/5.6. If you need to achieve a higher shutter speed, D-SLR cameras have no trouble adapting to a higher ISO. Although, you can also obtain fantastic images by leaving your camera in automatic exposure settings.

4. California, Los Angeles



Location - Belvedere Skatepark
Choosing the finest things to do in Los Angeles might be difficult with so many world-famous places and sights to see and photograph. LA is considered to be one of the most photogenic places in the United States with a plethora of photography-worthy locations, ranging from huge mountains to beautiful beaches within minutes apart. Almost every sunset in LA is gorgeous which is why many people find themselves attracted to this place. Los Angeles is one of those places where you never feel like you have seen everything there is to see. New cafes, attractions, skateboard parks, and shops open up all the time. LA has many spots that have been traditionally ideal for photography.

Shot - Skateboard Photography
When it comes to action photography, there are several sites in Los Angeles to choose from and photograph, one of which being skateboard parks. Finding the appropriate angles is essential when it comes to taking action photography in skateboard parks. You can try and photograph skateboarders from the ground up since the pictures will look great because it gives excitement and height. However, you can also try shooting pictures from above since it’s a good idea to include a shot of the subject from the front.

Taking images of moving skateboards just like any other motion photograph, needs a high shutter speed which will allow you to freeze the perfect moment. Additionally, shooting in Shutter Speed Priority mode will help you avoid worrying about the aperture because the camera will adapt to the shutter speed you select.

Other than adjusting the camera settings, consider the background as a component of your image composition. You may make it simple by including the sky in order to achieve a contrast between the target and the background. However, it is usually advisable to keep your subject apart from the surroundings but since skate ramps are frequently bordered by buildings, colorful graffiti, and poles, make use of them to your benefit.

5. Nevada, Las Vegas



Location
Las Vegas is a city that is recognized all over the world for its passion and adventure. There are many head-turning attractions in Las Vegas, from streetside displays, dancing fountains, to exploding volcanoes. You will discover a never-ending list of shows, the largest electronic music festival, intriguing museums, nightclubs, and an abundance of other activities that you can capture with your camera.

Shot - Festival Photography
There are a lot of different types of festivals around the world and such events can be incredibly profitable for action photographers because people are always jumping and dancing around. One of which being, Electric Daisy Carnival, an electronic dance music festival in Las Vegas. For these events, you must often work quickly and in very congested environments. Planning ahead of time is probably one of the most crucial aspects of photographing in a festival.

Additionally, at festivals, the light can be really problematic and out of your control since you may come across contrasted daytime brightness, heavy shade, or cloudy light. In order to soften the shadows, you may apply a fill-in flash, a feature that every basic camera setting includes. If you’re shooting digitally in low light, choose a higher ISO level and with greater sensitivity, use a faster shutter speed to capture motion and avoid motion blur.