10 WAYS TO...SHOOT THE PAST

From castles and country houses to medieval bridges, there are many historic features in the landscape to photograph

- Wendy Evans

The advantage of living somewhere that has been occupied since Neolithic times is that history litters the landscape.

It's everywhere, from standing stones to medieval bridges, Elizabethan country houses to Norman castles... even cathedrals that are over a thousand years old. Wherever you go in the UK, there are many fantastic and fascinating places to explore and photograph.

You can view the architecture on its own merits, or as part of the landscape it was designed to complement. You can also head inside and discover intricate frescoes, stunning ceilings, tombs and relics, all of which pose adifferent kind of photographic challenge. In this feature, we'll look at the best way to photograph these elements, which lens apertures-are best for each type of location, how to master the challenge of tricky lighting and what metering system will save the day. There will be inspiration to get you outdoors on the hunt for those iconic or off-the-beaten-track locations and advice on the best way to go about shooting them.

As long as you have a wide-angle lens (16-24mm) that will enable you to shoot in most situations, you won't need a mountain of camera kit. A tripod will be handy and some filters can * play their part but the key to capturing photos of historic scenes is lighting and your ability to construct a winning composition.

1. STANDING STONES

Capture a slice of Neolithic history by shooting standing stones and stone circles at either sunrise or sunset