How do you prepare to shoot a remote location before hand?

[angusparker]

So I’m in Spain for a while, and happened upon a great castle that was used in a Game of Thrones episode. It’s fairly remote (2.5 hour drive with a 5 mile dirt road access). From Madrid. On a recent visit with family in tow I took some pictures using my m43 camera which actually turned out OK even in the midday sun.

My question is what tools do you use to plan your shoots to get the best lighting, weather (clouds), location etc? I want to make the best use of my return trip with LF equipment.


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[Drew Wiley]

Dirt road? Double-wrap, first in plastic bags, then in bubble-wrap. Shoot well away from the road. Keep film in a cushioned picnic cooler.

[tgtaylor]

The weather bureau, topo maps, Google Earth, The Photographer's Ephemeris, images posted online.

Thomas

[Drew Wiley]

... and luck

[John Kasaian]

Comfortable shoes.
A hip flask or Bota bag & a sketch book, just in case you have to wait for the light or somethin'
Extra cable release (don't ask how I figured that one out)
Swiss Army Knife (the #2 Phillips just plain works better on camera stuff should anything need tightening)
A hat

[Drew Wiley]

Stetson cowboy hat? They stopped making XX once Super XX film was discontined.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I would ask for a donkey experienced for the area who cannot talk!
Oi! The last one would say, "No, this is a stale location. No, the light is not right..."
If I wanted all that I'd bring my wife who is probably stronger than the mule, donkey.
She is Irish after all.

(I don't think I can unlearn donkey talk. Like I said, my wife is Irish.)

[Corran]

Location scouting via satellite imagery: maps.google.com
Sun direction and angles: www.suncalc.com
Weather: www.weather.com and a live radar app on my phone
Images of the location by others to get "on the ground" views: Flickr, Instagram using search or hashtags

[John Kasaian]

Stetson cowboy hat? They stopped making XX once Super XX film was discontined.

If the OP has a beard the passing Spaniards might mistake him for Ansel Adams, Then he'll never get his shots,, LOL!

[angusparker]

Such excellent suggestions. Keep them coming! I’ll write them up in an organized blog post in a month. Spanish wives are perhaps not as hearty as Irish ones or donkeys. So I will have to improvise!


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[John Olsen]

I was checking out a waterfall on Google maps yesterday and could actually see the falls facing toward the SE and the distance to a viewing point on the trail. I know what lens to take and what time to be there, for sure.

I the past I've even gotten historic photo books through interlibrary loan (how quaint) to scope out opportunities. One project included a trip to the National Archives in Mexico City to see a true one-of-a-kind book. The planning can be an essential and fruitful part of an expedition. Leave time to explore before going.

[angusparker]

I was checking out a waterfall on Google maps yesterday and could actually see the falls facing toward the SE and the distance to a viewing point on the trail. I know what lens to take and what time to be there, for sure.

I the past I've even gotten historic photo books through interlibrary loan (how quaint) to scope out opportunities. One project included a trip to the National Archives in Mexico City to see a true one-of-a-kind book. The planning can be an essential and fruitful part of an expedition. Leave time to explore before going.

Great advice. Thank you.


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