Any advice? Looking at a trip to Europe...

As mainly a wedding photographer I'm feeling a little bit burnt out. I love weddings but I feel I'm neglecting my creativity.

So, I'm planning to go into Europe for a week. But I'm out to cover specific areas.

I'd like to do so sweeping vistas, some cathedrals and some astrophotography if the skies are clear. I've the new 17 and 24mm TS-E's and they're begging to be used.

I thought of Switzerland, but the cathedrals aren't that great, Prague and Budapest have been mentioned but I'd like to hear from anyone whose done something similar.

TIA!

Split your time between larger cities and small villages (Paris & south of France)

Gel wrote in post #12441600
As mainly a wedding photographer I'm feeling a little bit burnt out. I love weddings but I feel I'm neglecting my creativity.

So, I'm planning to go into Europe for a week. But I'm out to cover specific areas.

I'd like to do so sweeping vistas, some cathedrals and some astrophotography if the skies are clear. I've the new 17 and 24mm TS-E's and they're begging to be used.

I thought of Switzerland, but the cathedrals aren't that great, Prague and Budapest have been mentioned but I'd like to hear from anyone whose done something similar.

TIA!

I have not been to Switzerland but I lived in Vienna (Austria) for a month! Lemme tell ya, they have a street called "Millionare's street" and there's a huge 1500's built Cathedral. It's absolutely stunning and gorgeous inside from outside. The cathedral is surrounded by park with benches and little boutique shops. I strongly sugges for you to go to Austria (Vienna).
Vienna is the capital of Austria and it's full of history, historic buildings/monuments and many many many Cathedrals. They range in size and shape and all are gorgeous.

Austrians are friendly and more than half of them speak decent English in case if you get lost. I advice to have an electronic dictionary/translator with you. Native language is German.

Vienna is one of the cleanest cities I've ever seen and on of the quietest. I loved to to watch the sunrise and how light was shining through art deco glass in Cathedrals.
When I was there, I was only 15-years-old with no money and back then I was not addicted to photography. So I don't have any images to show you but take my word for it, if you want to shoot Cathedrals, Austria (Vienna- the capital of Austria) is the place to visit.

Also you can hop on a train from Vienna and just take a few hours to go to Paris (France) or to Greece or to Rome (Italy). I love how in Europe just takes a few hours by train to go to another country. My friend traveled in one day from Greece to Egypt by train in less than 6 hours.

Well, best of luck to you on your photoshoot. Europe is beautiful every single country.

For cathedrals, the UK would be my first choice. If in doubt browse through that site for starters:

http://www.paradoxplac​e.com …DIEVAL_ENGLISH_​CATHEDRALS

Many in a pristine state or finely renovated. Wells, Peterborough and Bath Abbey rank as my favourites.

But then again you might wish to look at others abroad of course.

My only concern with this approach is the draconian 'no photos' policy here in the UK.

I was in France this week walking around Coutance Cathedral... I was the only person there and was snapping away happily.

I had not given any thought to these restrictive policies, thanks for mentioning them.

Allow me another suggestion. To enjoy more freedom, but there you'll have to get away from stone cathedrals, how about giving Norwegian stave churches a go? The Heddal church is a mighty building and the woodwork absolutely stunning. The wood carvings on the north portal at Urnes are quite unique too. I doubt anybody will prevent you from setting up your tripod there. Hopperstad, Lom, Ringebu, Røldal are worth an extended visit too. The spectacular natural setting in which some of the smaller stave churches are found, as well as the extended Summer daylight hours are a pleasure for any photographer. Plus very few of these sites can be described as crowded, even in the high season.

As to clear night skies, mountainous Norway is one of those great places. Nothing in the way for astrophotography either unless you hit a week with heavy rainfall of course.

There is nothing like Italy. A cathedral in every city - Rome, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Luca, Venice, Milan, you name it. Plus abbys and monasteries. You are going to have a blast there. In addition, there are small villages, so picturesque that you would not want to leave. It is a photographer's dream.

"Harry Lime: Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. So long Holly."

Quote from the film 'The Third Man'

France.

http://www.google.com …n&tab=wi&biw=12​80&bih=623

Siena in Italy is a good base, has some big architecture there, cathedrals etc, Pisa is not too far away with the leaning tower and massive cathedral, San Gimignano to the west is a must visit. Then you can move from Tuscany to Umbria where you'll find Assissi with a plethora of churches and one very famous one, Perugia is also a great town to visit.

nordlysBW wrote in post #12452286
I had not given any thought to these restrictive policies, thanks for mentioning them.

Allow me another suggestion. To enjoy more freedom, but there you'll have to get away from stone cathedrals, how about giving Norwegian stave churches a go? The Heddal church is a mighty building and the woodwork absolutely stunning. The wood carvings on the north portal at Urnes are quite unique too. I doubt anybody will prevent you from setting up your tripod there. Hopperstad, Lom, Ringebu, Røldal are worth an extended visit too. The spectacular natural setting in which some of the smaller stave churches are found, as well as the extended Summer daylight hours are a pleasure for any photographer. Plus very few of these sites can be described as crowded, even in the high season.

As to clear night skies, mountainous Norway is one of those great places. Nothing in the way for astrophotography either unless you hit a week with heavy rainfall of course.

id agree with the stave church as a subject matter, some truley beautiful old churches in incredible locations. the Trondheim catherdral is also a building that will stop you breathing when you walk in. Norway would offer much in the way of landscape as well, especially the west, although good fun can be had in the forests of the east.

My parents told me the Prague is the most beautiful city in Europe, followed by Venice.

I don't know why people don't like Belgium, which I believe that is most underrate country;
And Amsterdam is well overrate IMO.
Our family usual travel 2-3 countries in Europe for 3 weeks every year, we always go to different cities.
For relax and scenery, the German speaking countries are the best; Spain and Italy are the most exciting places.

im in europe now on vacation for 1 month and have so far went to london, paris, milan, and am going to flourance, rome

here are just a small amount of pictures that i have taken so far from this trip

http://jfricks.smugmug​.com/

Many nice shoots from Paris & London.
Need more shoots from Milan, please...