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Dorset is a county in southwest England. It’s well known for the Jurassic Coast which is made up of a long stretch of cliffs along the English Channel. It's home to two prominent natural landmarks, Durdle Door, an ancient stone arch, and the layered cliffs at nearby Lulworth Cove. There are a number of seaside towns such as Poole, Weymouth and Swanage, which are also popular for their sandy beaches, and there are also a choice of picturesque villages such as Abbotsbury, Christchurch, Dorchester, Shaftesbury and Milton Abbas.
There are many wonderful places to visit with your camera and the places we have listed below are by no means exhaustive however we do hope they will give you a idea of what's on offer in Dorset. As always, if you really want to take your photography to another level then you should consider a photography course and you can find a list of Dorset photography courses here.
So, let’s get cracking and in no particular order…
1. Kimmeridge Bay (about 12 miles west of Swanage)
The bay is dominated by Clavell’s Tower. It was originally a folly but is now a holiday let. The rocky formations, ledges and headlands also make for an interesting composition.
2. Corfe Castle (between Wareham and Swanage)
A castle ruin is always hard to resist and this one is particularly worth a visit at sunrise on a misty morning or as the sun is setting.
3. Durdle Door
Much photographed and yet still worthy of a visit is Durdle Door. The challenge will be to capture the scene in a different way than you would have commonly seen on the internet. If you can do this then your photo will be a prised shot and most likely go viral!
4. Shaftesbury town
Built by the Saxons and standing at over 750 feet above sea level Shaftesbury is one of the highest towns in England. St. Peter’s Church and the ruins of Shaftesbury Abbey are worthy of a visit if history is of particular interest to you.
5. Portland
The Isle of Portland, connected to the mainland by the shingle spit of Chesil Bank, is located just south of Weymouth. The lighthouse is an obvious shot however there are interesting rock formations in the area including Pulpit Rock, a natural arch created by quarrymen in the 1870s.
We hope you found this little taster of interest and as always a few tips before you set off…
Check the weather forecast
Consider the time of day and lighting conditions
Think about how busy it will be when you arrive, will this detract from your photos?
Check your equipment over. Have you charged your batteries & cleared your memory cards etc.?
Will you need a tripod or flash lights? Always be prepared!
And finally, wear comfy shoes, no one ever enjoyed a day's photography without comfy shoes!
Have fun and enjoy and please do share any photos with us 😊