We're into photography and will have several days in the Lake District next May. Can you recommend a good base hotel (we have already been to Lake Maggiore, so probably won't want to repeat there this time) as well as locations for good photos?

Thank you.

The Belvedere Hotel in Bellagio on Lake Como. And you won't even have to leave your room to have you first photo ops....Just look out the window of your room!
As for other photo ops, take the ferry from there to Varenna and you'll have a wealth of opportunities, include shots from the ferry itself. In Varenna, walk to Villa Monastero, which offers many additional shots, as do other sides along the lake.

I'm not a professional photographer, not even a skilled amateur...but I do have a pretty good eye...and the photos we got from Lenno (center of Lake Como -- stayed at & loved Albergo Lenno) are pretty darned pretty! To be honest with you, the only way not to get good photos is if you don't bring your camera.

Question is, where isn't there a picturesque view? Combination of the cliffs and slopes, the lake, nearby mountain tops, those tops with snow...

Also depends on the time of year which will define the backdrops as well as the detail, to such things as foilage and flowers, or those snow topped mountains.

I would highly recommend taking one of the boats from Como all the way to the northern end of the lake, forget the name of the town up there. Take the slower boat allowing you to get closer to the towns and shoreline, don't take the express unless your taking it for a quick trip. Each town has it's unique charm, and others not so much.

To get some stunning photos of the fork of Lake Como; from Bellagio, take the tour of Villa Serbolloni. This gives you access to the fork of the lake, lake splits right there, plus views across the lake toward Varenna.
Como is shaped liked a inverted Y, north to south.

If flowers are blooming at the time of year you are visting, select any of the villas that are open to the public. Great photo ops of the gardens, design, statuary, ... DO NOT miss Villa Balbianello in Leno. Possibly the most visually beautiful of the villas on the lake. Villa sticks out into the lake giving you lake views on 3 sides set against the backdrop of the villa which is on the point of the little pennisula that comprises the villa.

The lake approach to Varenna offers views as well as Varenna itself. Castello Vezio, perched high above Varenna, good views, smallest castle I have ever seen.

If you tend to hike , there a various trails around Mennagio that you could walk to see various views, settings, little towns. Information can be found in many walking guides of the lakes as well as to tourist office in Mennagio (and other lake towns), or on line web sites. If your interested I could expound more on the trails.

Most people like to watch the sunset from the eastern shore, with the high hills blocking much of the sunsets, sometimes sunsets are just okay. Watch some of the sunsets from the western shore and see the color hue changes occur on the eastern shore, especially the snow topped mountains and the towns.

Can't recommend a hotel, rented a apartment. This had it's own photo ops as the apartment was in a residential neighborhood above Mennagio. From the 3rd story window I photographed the locals, tending to their gardens, socializing, and many other things.
Film camera- take plenty of rolls.
Digital- plenty of storage/batteries.

The various gardens around Como are good places for shots, but my best shots are at Lago Orta--have you been there?

If you're taking a large-format camera, or an SLR with multiple lenses, you're in for a treat! I took a couple of hundred photo's around Lake Como, most of the town settings, but I climbed above the castello in Varenna and was rewarded with some awe-inspiring shots. My Elph has a photo-stitch mode that the Canon software joins very nicely for panorama shots. My only complaint was that Lake Como was a little, um... smoky?, during our May '06 visit. I was wondering if other fodorites knew how common it was there and at the other lakes.

There are so many. If you want to try something a little different, go to Lecco and take the cable car up the hill (see http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/travel/lecco.htm for footage and photos).

Take the "slow boat" from Bellagio to Lecco or vice-versa. That branch of the lake is very steep and craggy and fjord-like - very different views than other parts of the lake! Photos of that on http://www.beginningwithi.com/italy/...atleccobl.html

Best, Deirdre'