Recently a fellow photographer asked for some advice. “I’m headed up to Vermont on a photo trip, what are the best spots to take pictures?”
The thing is, there are no “Kodak Moments spots” in Vermont. The essence of photographing in Vermont is getting out and about. Traveling down the back roads and exploring the beauty of the state. Waving to farmers on tractors, buying maple syrup from a local farm stand, stopping in to see how the cheese is made at a dairy or pointing to a covered bridge on the map and trying to find it.
Sure there are a few well worn out cliche spots in Vermont like Jenne Farm and Sleepy Hollow Farm. You can pick up any calendar or postcard and find those shots but a real photo adventure in Vermont is purposely getting lost and just rambling around the countryside.
Fill up the tank, pack some provisions, charge up the cell phone and bring a GPS and a map – and just go explore this beautiful state.
My suggestion for finding your own photo locations in Vermont is to get off the highways. Get away from the tourist attractions and busy roads. Find the small towns and villages. Look for the quiet areas.
Perhaps look for the designated scenic byways. Head for some local breweries tucked into an old barn on the family homestead. Point the car in a certain direction but be open to opportunities along the way. Stay off the highway so you can pull a u-turn or pull into a shoulder for a shot. Look for details and a sense of place rather than looking for some big drama you might expect say in Arches National Park. Celebrate Vermont for all of its natural beauty and it’s agricultural traditions.