April: The Photographer’s Perfect Month

April. There’s something truly magical about this month, isn’t there?

After enduring several months of cold, dark days, April feels like a breath of fresh air. The days start to stretch out, and suddenly, there’s light in the evenings again. For those of us who love photography, this is a game-changer. It means we can finally head out after work, catch a sunset, and still be home at a reasonable hour. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s dive into why April is (arguably) the best month for photography in the UK.

Longer Days, More Opportunities

One of the biggest perks of April is the extended daylight. During the winter months, it can be a bit grim, with the sun rising late and setting early. But come April, the sun sets between 7 and 8 p.m. This is perfect for those of us with day jobs—you can finish work, grab a bite, and still have a couple of hours to capture that perfect golden hour.

Golden Hour Returns: Don’t miss the extended golden hour in April. Light is softer and warmer, so use it for landscapes, cityscapes, or portraits. Try setting your white balance to “Cloudy” or manually adjusting Kelvin for a warmer look.
Experiment with Filters: With the sun getting lower in the sky, it’s a great time to play with ND or graduated filters to control highlights and balance exposure in-camera. Polarising filters can also help cut glare on wet spring days.
After-Work Photo Sessions: April is your chance to start a “photo after work” habit—grab your camera bag and head for a sunset, even if it’s just the local park.

Nature’s Grand Awakening

April is when nature truly comes alive. Trees that were once bare start to sprout little buds, eventually bursting into life. You’ll find bluebells carpeting the woods and daffodils adding splashes of yellow to the landscape. For macro lovers, this month is gold dust.

Macro Season: With insects making their return, set up your macro lens (or extension tubes) near a patch of flowers and wait for the bees to arrive. A ring flash or LED panel can give you extra pop on overcast days.
Bokeh Play: Wide apertures (f/2.8 or wider) make those blooms and fresh leaves stand out—try shooting into the light for creative bokeh or soft backgrounds.
Wildlife Encounters: Birds and squirrels are out in force. Bring a telephoto lens (or bridge camera) and try your hand at fast AF-C tracking or eye-detect autofocus.
Pro tip: For geeks: enable focus peaking in live view to nail manual focus on those tricky close-ups.

Exploring the Countryside

If you’re a fan of landscape photography, April is your month. The countryside offers longer days, giving you ample time to explore without the rush to get home before dark. Popular spots like Malham can be crowded during the day, but by early evening, most people have left, leaving you with a serene landscape to capture.

Low Light Landscape Tricks: Don’t forget your tripod—the light fades fast after sunset. Try bracketed exposures or even HDR merges for balanced skies and foregrounds.
Waterfalls and Streams: Water is running high in spring. Drop your ISO and use a polariser or ND filter for silky water effects. Locations like Janet’s Foss or Scaleber Force are at their best now.
Drone Pilots: If you’ve got a drone, spring is less leafy than summer, so you get better texture and contrast in aerial shots.

Tip: If you’re at a busy location, hang back until golden hour—most dog walkers and day-trippers have gone, and you get peaceful landscapes (and cleaner compositions!).

Fields of Gold and Textured Landscapes

April also marks the beginning of the oilseed rape fields coming to life. These fields are a photographer’s dream, offering a stunning yellow backdrop for portraits and sweeping landscapes. If you have a drone, flying over these fields creates a breathtaking yellow carpet scene.

Patterns and Textures: Potato fields in April have dramatic furrows—look for “leading lines” to guide the viewer into your frame. Low sun creates long shadows and rich textures, perfect for wide-angle drama.
Portrait Hack: Place your subject a few metres into the yellow for standout environmental portraits. Try backlighting them at sunset for a glow around hair and shoulders.
Geeks’ Corner: Try using a polariser to deepen the blue sky above the yellow fields, but rotate it to avoid uneven patches if you’re on an ultra-wide lens. For drones, shoot in RAW (DNG) for best editing flexibility later.

Heads up: Be quick—by May, potato fields green up and oilseed rape flowers start to fade, so it’s a short but spectacular season!

A Time to Reconnect and Rev Up

April is also a great time to reconnect with your photography mates. With holidays typically happening later in the summer, most people are around and eager to get back into the swing of things. Why not organise a mini photo walk or share a location tip in your local Facebook group?

Photo Buddies: Meet up for a casual sunset shoot or challenge each other to themed assignments—macro one week, long exposures the next.
Community Spirit: Share your best April shots online or enter local competitions—feedback from fellow enthusiasts can really spur you on.
Learning Together: Try a gear swap (carefully!) or run a mini-editing session at a local café after your shoot—everyone picks up something new.

Wrapping Up

So, there you have it—my thoughts on why April is the best month for photography. From longer days and vibrant nature to serene landscapes and textured fields, April offers endless opportunities to capture stunning images, try new techniques, and even geek out over gear. I hope this blog has inspired you to grab your camera—whether it’s a DSLR, mirrorless, or even your phone—and make the most of this wonderful month.

What’s your favourite April subject or technical challenge? Share your tips and photos in the comments below!

Happy shooting!