As the season changes, London and the Southeast have plenty of stunning locations to get outside and discover beautiful blossom.
As official partners of The National Trust, Europe’s leading photo printing company, CEWE, is encouraging people to get outside and explore the best blossom and spring gardens in the region, helping families to enjoy a mindful and peaceful outdoor activity together.
To make the most of time spent in nature, CEWE has collaborated with expert photographers Martin Baynes and Karen Massey to curate a list of top tips for photographing outdoors, with expert advice including:
1. Clean Your Lens
“Before you take a photo, give the lens a gentle wipe with a clean cloth or even the corner of your clothing. It takes two seconds and instantly improves sharpness and clarity. If your images ever look slightly blurry, this is the first thing to check.”
2. Tap to Focus
“When photographing people, tap on the eyes. When capturing details, tap the key feature. Many phones also allow you to adjust brightness after tapping by sliding your finger up or down. A small adjustment can prevent faces from looking too dark or skies from appearing washed out.”
3. Frame Carefully
“Before pressing the shutter, pause and scan the edges of your screen. Look for distractions creeping into the frame, a lamppost appearing to grow out of someone’s head, cluttered backgrounds, or bright objects that pull attention away from your subject.”
4. Get Close
“Close photographs feel more engaging and intimate. They capture expression, texture and personality in a way that distant shots often cannot. If you cannot move closer, try stepping forward a little and cropping later rather than relying heavily on zoom.”
5. Use the Rule of Thirds
“Turning on your camera gridlines is one of the simplest ways to improve composition instantly. The grid divides your screen into nine equal sections. The rule of thirds is not a strict rule, but a helpful guide that encourages more dynamic, engaging images.”
From glorious historic gardens to parkland paths and orchards, visitors can discover a variety of stunning blossom in bloom using these top tips at the following National Trust properties in the Southeast, including:
Ham House
Nymans
Rainham Hall
Petra Felgen, Managing Director for CEWE UK, said: “This time of year is a fantastic opportunity to get outside and appreciate the changing of the season, and the abundance of blossom across London and the Southeast is a great way to do just that.”
“Whether you’re a budding photographer, a family looking for an outdoor activity to do together or simply seeking a chance to slow down with a mindful walk, we’re pleased to offer our free photo walk guides filled with expert photography tips, in partnership with the National Trust.”
“This spring, we’re encouraging people to head outside to experience this magnificent moment in nature and enjoy the best blossom London and the Southeast has to offer.”
Stacy Kangisser, Director of Fundraising & Partnerships at the National Trust, said: “We look forward to the arrival of blossom to our properties across the Southeast every year, and this year we’re thrilled to partner with CEWE to offer our visitors the opportunity to find a sense of calm and creativity, as we invite them to capture our stunning properties with a Blossom Photo Walk.”