Before you visit an area with the intent to take photographs, pros will tell you it’s best to scout the location first. The benefits to scouting an area seem obvious, but in case you aren’t convinced, here is what Seattle-based photo guru Chase Jarvis has to say on the topic:

Scouting. Whether you do it weeks, days, or hours in advance, you should–if at all possible–build time into your schedule to visit the location before you shoot. Take into consideration how the light looks, where the sun moves, logistical challenges, etc. Take sample images and look at various angles. Make a game plan.

Now, if you’re like me (read: not doing this commercially) you probably don’t have a lot of interest in taking a vacation to scout out your vacation. But that can’t prevent you from doing a little scouting. Hit the jump for my tip:

Google Maps includes an option to show local photographs -- Clicking on the above map will jump you to directly to Google Maps

Googlize It!

Of course your first step should be to google the location that you’re going. See if you can get any information about hours, permits, rules, etc. Perhaps the “official” site of whatever has some pro photographs already up there to give you an idea of what you can expect to see.

Second step, pull up a Google map of your destination. Google Maps is much more useful now than a few years ago. For instance:

• You can establish driving directions with multiple destinations
• Once you’ve got those driving directions you can alter the route
• Selected cities can give you a street-level view of where you’re going and what you might see along the way
• There are options to show the topography (elevation) of areas which are fairly detailed and include detailed contour lines
• In selected areas you can show current traffic, display routes for mass transit options, or calculate a walking route
• You can show photographs that other people have taken in the surrounding area

That last point is what I just discovered on Google Maps. I can preview the photographs — and many are quite good — that other people have taken in the area. The above image of Google Maps is a link, clicking on it will take you to a full version of Google Maps so you can play with the photos option — it’s quite addictive. Feel free to play, and feel free to use Google Maps to virtually scout your next casual shoot.