Creativity Breeds Creativity

One of the side benefits of having a YouTube channel is that I find myself constantly thinking of new creative ideas for videos. These ideas often drive me to try different types of landscape photography or even different genres of photography. Most of all though it gets me to push the boundaries of my landscape photography.

I recently had an idea for a video that would challenge my photography and force me to think carefully about how I was composing my images. At a minimum, I was going to have come up with some new compositions from a location that I knew well.

I’m not going to reveal what this idea is at the moment but what I will do is share some of the images I captured while I was out developing the idea on Dartmoor (16th March).

Belstone Common

Anyone who has been reading this blog long enough will know that one of my favourite spots on Dartmoor to photograph is Belstone Common. With 360-degree views and lots of interesting rock formations, it offers a lot of choices when it comes to compositions. It should be the perfect place for my latest idea.

Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 16mm, f/13, 1.8 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL. — **Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 16mm, f/13, 1.8 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL.

When I looked back at my collection of images from Belstone one thing jumped out at me. Despite me knowing there are a wide variety of compositions to be had at Belstone, I’d only captured a few of them. I had unknowingly got myself into a creative rut. My latest idea would be the perfect opportunity to sort that out.

As I was going to head up to Dartmoor to do some exploring and to try out new compositions, I wasn’t that bothered about how the weather was looking. I would have gone up there even in grey overcast conditions but as it turned out the weather forecast was predicting average to favourable conditions. Not conclusive by any stretch but with a bit of luck I might get something that I could work with.

Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 15mm, f/8, 1/5th secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL. 4 Image focus stack. — **Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 15mm, f/8, 1/5th secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL. 4 Image focus stack.

Sunset on Dartmoor

Having shot Dartmoor mostly at dawn for the last 6 months the one thing I noticed straight away on my first sunset shoot there was that there were other people about! The locations I go to on Dartmoor rarely see other people first thing in the morning, so it was nice to go up there during the day and be greeted with smiles and hellos.

Belstone Tor #4, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 20mm, f/8, 0.5 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL. 4 Image focus stack. — **Belstone Tor #4, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 20mm, f/8, 0.5 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL. 4 Image focus stack.

Being up on Belstone Common without my mind focused on capturing one image I found myself more relaxed and open to exploration. I walked the entire length of the Belsone Tor ridge, once north to south, and then in reverse. I stopped several times to take photographs either finding new compositions or variations in compositions I had previously taken. It was a surprisingly creative time.

Belstone Tor #6, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 19mm, f/13, 1/6th sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL. — **Belstone Tor #6, Dartmoor, Devon** - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30 f/4 at 19mm, f/13, 1/6th sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL.

While I did get the old glimmer of nice light, I didn’t get anything too dramatic. That doesn’t bother me too much though. The main thing was that I discovered new compositions that will suit my new creative idea nicely. All I need now is a window of opportunity to return to Belstone Common so I can execute my idea! Stay tuned to my blog to find out what it is.