How to Find Hidden Photography Gems
Learn how to find locations to shoot at. I’ll cover how to discover hidden gems, and how to find the iconic spots.
Prefer to watch this tutorial in video format? 😏
In this tutorial, I'm going to discuss how to find locations to shoot at. This is probably one of my most frequently asked questions. But surprisingly, it’s actually really easy to find locations if you have a solid strategy and know which websites to use.
I’m going to break this tutorial into two sections. In the first half, I’ll show you how to find mainstream locations- AKA those iconic spots you see all over Instagram, Reddit, and the entire internet. You know, the same arches, the same mountains, the same viewpoints that everyone shoots at. These locations can sometimes be difficult to find, especially with the evolving culture of location gatekeeping. But you can find anything with a little determination.
Secondly, I’ll show you how to find secret locations- AKA the hidden gems. These are the places no one’s shooting, the amazing scenes that exist in the world but haven't quite gone viral. And spoiler alert, there’s much more of these than mainstream spots.
In this specific tutorial I’ll be focusing on online research strategies. In later tutorials I will be covering Social Engineering (AKA how to talk to people, gain access to private locations, and get insider tips from locals) as well as how to use Google Earth, an incredibly powerful (but complex) tool.
Let’s jump right into it, shall we?
This photo was taken at the Sandhills in Nevada, a natural phenomenon where grass is growing on sand dunes. If you research this spot, it’s almost completely unknown online.
Finding Mainstream Locations
Let’s start with the mainstream spots. Now, the fastest and most obvious way to find them is to simply Google em’. Type in whatever town, city, or neighborhood you're in and use phrases like:
“Best photography locations in [City Name]”
“Top photography spots in [City Name]”
“Top places for landscape photography in [City Name]”
“Best Instagram spots in [City Name]”
This photo was taken at Castle in the Clouds in New Hampshire. I found it by searching for popular destinations in New Hampshire.
Mix and match these phrases to see what results you get. If you’re in a big enough city, you’ll likely find a ton of blogs and articles detailing the most popular places to shoot. These are the locations everyone flocks to, and ironically they’re the same places everyone complains about being too crowded. But that’s because this strategy is quick and easy.
One thing to note is that these spots have usually been photographed from every angle possible. As a new photographer, it can be tough to get a more compelling image than what already exists. But don’t let that discourage you- these locations are fantastic for practice.
If you see a composition you love online, you can show up and try to replicate it. It’s an excellent way to learn how the camera works, how to compose a shot, and how your lenses work. Over time, you'll start developing your own style, but this is a great way to get going.
Another solid method to find mainstream locations is to use social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Reddit, and X. Instagram is particularly useful because many people geotag their photos.
This photo was taken at Mesa Arch in Utah, one of the most popular photography spots in the world. On any given day, there will be 10+ photographers standing here with tripods.
With that being said, there’s a growing movement of photographers deliberately not tagging locations to prevent over-tourism. Therefore, it can sometimes take a little detective work to figure it out.
One trick is to check the comments. If the photo comes from a popular influencer or photographer, scroll down, as someone has likely asked where the photo was taken. Occasionally, the answer is right there. If not, you can usually find clues that help you narrow it down. Perhaps someone mentions an arch or a lake, and then you can start Googling or hopping to different posts to figure it out.
Finding Hidden Gems
Now let’s get into the good stuff: how to find secret spots- those epic scenes no one’s shooting. Now the strategy I’m about to disclose is something I’ve refined over several years, and if you follow it, you’ll be able to take incredible photos in places that are completely off the radar.
First tip: start with the mainstream spots you found earlier. Then, zoom into the surrounding area using Google Maps. Look for trailheads, parks, or landmarks that aren’t on the main tourist route. Often, these areas have very similar landscapes, but without the crowds or the hype.
This photo was taken at Duncan Creek in Oregon, and it has less than 20 reviews on Google. It’s right across the street from Multnomah Falls, one of the most famous waterfalls in the world.
This leads me to one of your most powerful tools: Google Maps (not to be confused with Google Earth.) Here's how to properly use it:
Enter a keyword like “waterfalls” into the search bar for your area.
Look at the results and focus on the places with fewer reviews or amateur-looking photos, as those are often hidden gems. The more you do this, the more you’ll be able to determine which locations have the potential for greatness. It’s all about deciphering those low-quality iPhone photos.
Repeat the process with other keywords applicable to the area: i.e. “lakes,” “sand dunes,” “river beds,” “caves,” “viewpoints,” “overlooks,” etc.
Before you know it you’ll be uncovering amazing spots that no one is talking about online.
Another strategy is to search for State Parks, National Monuments, National Preserves, National Seashores, National Historic Sites, National Recreation Areas, and National Grasslands. Most people simply focus on the National Parks because they’re famous. But these areas are often just as stunning, and significantly less crowded. Use those exact keywords with your destination of choice online.
This photo was taken in the Bisti Badlands of New Mexico, a spot so off the grid the only way to find these hills is to use a GPS unit with coordinates.
Websites for Finding Secret Locations
Here are some websites I highly recommend for uncovering hidden gems:
Atlas Obscura: Great for discovering weird, abandoned, or unusual places. You’ll see graffiti-covered underpasses, local folk sites, caves, abandoned buildings, and more.
ShotHotspot.com: Excellent for finding abandoned places, old factories, sugar mills, plantations, etc. Also great for discovering low-key landscape scenes.
Reddit: Use both photography-related subreddits and local community subreddits (like r/Albuquerque for example.) Locals often share places they love that aren’t on the tourist radar. Use the comments to piece together clues about location.
Facebook Groups: While Facebook is great for mainstream spots, if you dive into niche or regional photography groups you can uncover amazing, lesser-known spots. You can also message people for advice or dig deep into the comment threads.
AllTrails: Not necessarily photography-focused, but a fantastic resource for discovering hikes that lead to beautiful, lesser-known nature spots like overlooks, waterfalls, canyons, and lakes.
Flickr: Hit or miss, but still valuable. Search by location and dig into photo tags, captions, or comments to find clues about obscure photo spots.
This photo was taken at Forbes Park, an abandoned print mill in Boston. I found out about this location browsing Urban Exploration Facebook groups.
Niche Apps to Explore
There are also several smaller, lesser-known photography apps that can often lead to great finds. Most of these apps are user-fed and local photographers tend to upload their favorite spots:
NoFilter
Explorist
Locationscout
PhotoPills
Really Good Photo Spots (RGPS)
The catch is that most of these apps usually focus on specific regions (often wherever the app founders live), but if you happen to be in those areas, you can strike gold. I use them as “Hail Mary’s” when I’ve exhausted all other options.
This photo was taken at Capitol Reef in Utah, a massive National Park largely overshadowed by it’s popular neighbors- Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon, and Zion.
Final Thoughts
The more you practice researching online, the better you’ll get at finding unique and breathtaking locations. You’ll also be surprised how many hidden gems there are on the outskirts of popular spots. If you’re feeling defeated, just keep digging- there’s always another trail, another comment, or another keyword that can lead to something amazing.
One final note: If you go to my website intricateexplorer.com/adventures, I maintain an adventure map that documents every single place I’ve photographed. If you see a photo you like and want to know where it was taken, check out the map.
In the next tutorial I’m going to talk about When to Shoot, or when the best light is for specific scenes!
