Atrani

Atrani is one of the smallest and most photogenic villages on the Amalfi Coast, a tight cluster of whitewashed and pastel-colored buildings stacked against the cliffs directly above a small black-sand beach and the Mediterranean. The town's compact layout means you can capture the full sweep of the village in a single frame, and the best angle is from the beach itself or just out on the small breakwater, where a wide or standard zoom lens lets you compress the layers of houses, bell towers, and cliff face into a dramatic composition. Early morning gives you soft, even light before the crowds arrive and shadows fill the narrow alleyways, while golden hour warms the facades beautifully. The small piazza near the church of Santa Maria Maddalena is worth exploring for tighter architectural shots. Atrani sits just east of Amalfi town and is easily reached on foot along the coast road. (Atrani, Campania, Italy)