1. The first port of call for most locations is an online map service, such as Google Maps . The amount of detail available on the satellite view, along with the Street View facility, is invaluable for getting an insight into the basic features and landscape. 2. Photographer's Ephemeris 3. A zoom or telephoto lens often distorts at least part of the image, making a sequence harder to stitch together. 4. The latest digital SLR, and improved raw-processing software such as Light room 6, mean that you can often reclaim a lot of the highlight and shadow detail. 5. A strong water-proof plastic bag, cleaning cloths and microfiber towels. 6. It allows you to see all of the possible viewpoints, and using different elements in the foreground or background. But there are usually many viewpoints that you can use, taking shots that offer a fresh take on a familiar subject. 7 . T he key is to allow the subject to influence the compo...