Photography Brittany an essential guide

Photography Brittany coast is synonymous of capture breathtaking landscapes. Here, where the wind getting wild the lighthouses and the cliffs turn impetuously to the sea. In these fishing villages the days are marked by the rhythm of the tides. At the center of the photography journey there will be landscape pictures, especially in the hours of better light. But even visiting typical Breton villages, also you can making some documentary and travel photography. Indeed, you will not regret follow the Breton coast between cliffs, lighthouses and villages.

Be prepare Photography Brittany

Brittany is a spectacular land, but it is good to be prepared to sudden and unpleasant situations. In fact, the weather is definitely variable, so it can range even on a sunny day to a storm of water. Moreover the place is famous for its powerful oceanic storms with winds that sometimes reach 200km / h and if we have luck to come across a similar weather event is good to accept the situation and have a good anti rain. Therefore ,Waterproof boots are a must, useful for walking on the cliffs and having your feet dry and warm during a possible disturbance. Also a waterproof backpack cover is a must, to have the equipment always under cover. Remind that here are extreme situations, but not improbable. So starting biased is always part of the game.

Photography Brittany
Rocks, Bretagne, France

Once you’ve got your gear together, you need to prepare like a highly organized person to capture amazing landscape and scene. So try to check everything, starting from the weather and location. After knowing when and where it is, i look a map of the country, figured out an itinerary and finally you get there. Is important to know What kind of subject want to shooting and what story you gonna want to tell.



Pick the perfect Itinerary

Organizing a Brittany Photography trip means reducing a huge space in one itinerary. So remember you will never have time to see it all in one trip. Think about what interests you, what you like doing and how much time you have, and tailor your trip accordingly. So make some research before sure you will figure out better your stops.

Anyway be realistic about how much you can fit in. Rather than trying to see the whole region, you may get more out of photography Brittany if you concentrate in few locations.

Locations Photography Brittany

If you are passionate about photography Brittany or want to go home with postcard memories, I select some of the best spots for you to capture the most suggestive panoramas of the region.

Saint Malo

The best location for start Photography Brittany is Saint-Malo. The heart of the city is Intra-Muros, the fortified citadel: you must get lost in the many narrow streets to discover the most suggestive views, where you can meet the luxurious merchants’ palaces, the cathedral and the imposing ramparts. To Photograph while walking along the ramparts is a truly unique experience, for the landscapes you can admire, for the smell of the salt and the view of the houses and the streets! Even at night it is particularly impressive!

Meneham, Bretagne, France
Meneham, Bretagne, France

The coast of the lighthouse

The Coast of the Lighthouses of Brittany, in the North-West of France, is undoubtedly one of the favorite places for photographers of marine and coastal landscape. In fact thanks to the splendid cliffs dominated by lighthouses of various shapes and sizes, from the most imposing and majestic to those smaller and more graceful. The Phare de l’Ile Vierge, the tallest stone specimen in the world with its 82 meters by 400 steps, is located in the north of the Finistère region: in this part of Brittany alone there are 48 lighthouses.

Photography Brittany
L’Ile de Vierge, Bretagne, France Rolleiflex Planar

The most fascinating Breton lighthouse is located in the village of Le Conquet, on the tip of Saint Mathieu. The feeling is that we have really reached the end of the world. After visiting the ruins of the village, you can climb to the top: if the sky is clear you can see the whole Finistère. From Le Conquet you can go on a trip to the sea, discovering other lighthouses. Then on the nearby island of Ouessant the le Creac’h lighthouse is hoisted. In Towards Brest, however, you can see the beautiful Petit Minou lighthouse. Maybe this one is the most Photogenic one, and deserve a good time to shooting.


Photography Brittany Tips

After i have talk about location, now let’s talk about broader aspects of photography in this part of Brittany. Even If you are a seasoned landscape photographer some of these things might sound rather obvious. Anyway, I want this photography guide to be as comprehensive as possible and it never hurts to brush up on the basics one more time.

Mind the Tide when Photography Brittany

Understanding the tide schedule is imperative to photograph in Brittany . Not only does it dictate where you can and cannot go, but it also drastically changes the landscape. Also knowing what to expect helps you prepare better.

Low tide is your chance to explore and seek less familiar compositions. The coastline may seem more cluttered, but you can venture to otherwise off-limits places. Therefore opens up a bunch of creative possibilities you might not even have thought about. It is easy to check the tide schedule online or use one of the many apps or website available.

Finally always put your safety first. The water level in Brittany can rise quickly, so always be aware of your surroundings and know exactly how long you have before the ocean returns.

Choose the best light when Photography Brittany

It is no secret that by far the best light for landscape photography is in a golden hour, during sunsets and sunrises. Also most of the photo spots around Brittany work as well in the morning as they do in the evening. In other words, use every available slot to go and take pictures. If your primary goal is landscape photography, Normandy is no place to sleep in or plan a relaxed dinner at dust

After photography Brittany

If you have more time to travel and photograph in Brittany, there are more locations. Even closer to this area is a wonderful region like Normandy. It is one of my favorite areas of France and Europe. There are many wonderful places to capture, which are worth a visit especially on the way back to Paris.

Getting to Brittany

Getting to Brittany to photograph, in northwestern France, is an easy train trip from Paris. Depending on where you go in the region—Rennes, Saint-Malo, or Brest—the scenic train routes from Paris Montparnasse station take between 2-4 hours. It’s also possible getting there driving, and the journey would be amazing. Anyway the faster way is flight there. The airports of Brest and Quimper cover the north and south of the region.


A video of my last photography workshop in Brittany and Normandy

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