Picture This

Photography that inspires travel Capturing the Quaint Villages of Britain

Looking for the best ways to capture your favourite travel memories? In this blog, you'll discover how Jamie manages to make every moment look like a professional photographer is your plus one!

We’re really fortunate in Britain to be surrounded by an abundance of beautiful towns and villages that retain so much history and character. I’ve taken many day trips to places like The Cotswolds because of the charming cottages and tranquillity that can be found there - and of course, they’re lovely to photograph.

To capture the quaint villages of Britain at their best, there are certain things I like to do.

The framing

Many photographers will frame a view with something in the foreground, often a bit of foliage like a tree branch or flowers. This is easy to come by in places like The Cotswolds where nature thrives with wisteria in the spring and summer roses.

I also like to follow the rule of thirds, that is to split the scene into three horizontal and vertical sections and place the subject matter where those imaginary lines would cross.

The golden hour

Another thing to keep in mind is sunrise and sunset times and the ‘golden hour’, the time just after sunrise and just before sunset when these places are drenched in golden light (if it’s not overcast of course). I think the warm tone really enhances the yellow Cotswold stone, and the upcoming autumn season is perfect to utilise this colour palette to full effect as the leaves begin to turn as well.

Picture this - pretty stone cottages, piping chimneys and golden hills basking in the low autumn sun, no filter needed!

Thinking about video too

Video content has become a lot more prevalent recently on social media, so I’m starting to think about capturing several short clips of a place I explore, as well as photos, you just never know when it may come in handy for something like a Reel on Instagram. I often use my phone camera for this as it’s quick and convenient to capture high quality clips - and I also like to include some slow pans or carefully stepping forward whilst keeping my hand/phone as steady as possible. 

Dodge the crowds

I like to time my visits to quaint villages when crowds are less likely - places like Castle Combe and Bibury are very well known, but my experiences have often been very peaceful as I tend to go later in the day. If you can visit during the week outside of the summer season, you may find it much more tranquil to take photographs.

I’ll often wait for a street to empty before taking photos, but if it is busy then I may think of alternative ways to capture the place or crop the image when editing. That is of course my own preference, there may be moments when capturing the hustle and bustle is more fitting, such as at a street market or festival.

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