Lenspiration Scouting Guide
Whether you're a beginner or pro, online scouting and research can now be a whole lot easier and time-efficient! Glean, store, and share important field notes for locations in North America or across the world.
Are you a Lenspiration Member?
Members get access free!
About the Scouting Guide
Regardless of the genre, just about every photographer loves to explore! But successful on-location exploration comes only after careful online scouting and research.
What locations are worth visiting to photograph? Where are other's options on the best vantage points? How will the light lay at different times of day? What's the best time of day or year to visit? Will it be closed in winter? Will there be entrance or parking fees? What helpful things can I expect to encounter while exploring a new area with my camera for the first time?
Or how about this question: what field notes do you want to record about your favorite shooting locations?!
As you and other photographers in the Lenspiration community store field notes on the map, the Lenspiration Scouting Guide will make online scouting and research a whole lot easier and time-efficient for any photographer, beginner or pro! Glean, store and share important field notes for locations in North America or anywhere else in the world.
Glean from other photographers’ field notes.
First, determine the general area that you will be visiting or passing through and view the Scouting Guide for pins that lie close to your route.
Next, using the rating system, area descriptions, and your own personal preferences, determine which location(s) you will want to stop to explore. Use the GPS coordinates and Best Time of Day recommendations to include the stop in your travel itinerary.
Continue your research of the area by following hyperlinks to other websites, searching keywords in Google Images, or plugging the GPS coordinates into programs like Google Earth or SunCalc.net.
Store and share your own field notes
Submit new locations as you visit them! It doesn't necessarily have to be a drop-dead gorgeous spot, but include some photos from your time there and fill out our form to share your experience with other photographers.
Additionally, update existing locations. Add your photos and experience to build on the notes that others have made in the past!
Note: all submitted locations are reviewed by the Lenspiration Team to make sure it only includes relevant and helpful content.
Ready to explore?
Here's how to access the Scouting Guide!
One-time purchase
Get forever access to the Scouting Guide.- Enjoy unrestricted, forever access to the ever-expanding Lenspiration Scouting Guide. Add your own notes or glean from the field notes of other photographers.
- Lenspiration Members have a 50% discount when purchasing forever access to the Scouting Guide.
100% Off!
Enjoy free access as a Lenspiration Member- Enjoy unrestricted access to the ever-expanding Lenspiration Scouting Guide. Add your own notes or glean from the field notes of other photographers.
- Lenspiration Members have a 50% discount when purchasing forever access to the Scouting Guide.
- Lenspiration Members have free access for as long as their subscription is active.
Sample Scouting Guide
To see how it works, take a spin through the Sample Scouting Guide! With free access for everyone, here's a sample map for you to explore and see how things are set up in the complete guide.
Every pinned location is fine to stop at, even if it has a low rating. Here’s how the rating system works:
- Worth visiting, especially if it’s the right time of day, but probably not worth extra effort to get there
- It’s an interesting location with interesting subject(s) to shoot
- Prepare to spend some time here as opportunities abound
- Definitely worth the extra effort to shoot here; can’t leave without getting a great shot somewhere!
- Unbelievable, drop-dead, or iconic location you could spend days exploring and shooting