The OWPG and Storm Amy

If you saw my previous bite-size blog post, you’ll have read that I had returned to the Lake District after a three year gap. One of the reasons for this visit was to see my friend Chris Sale, and the other was to attend the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild (OWPG) Big Weekend.

I’ve been a proud member of the OWPG for over a year, but this was my first opportunity to attend their annual get together and awards dinner, which this year was being held in the Lake District. The Big Weekend is not only a chance to celebrate the achievements of its members (who range from writers, photographers, filmmakers editors and podcasters), but it was also an opportunity for me to meet my fellow guild members in person.

I already knew Josephine Collingwood (who was kind enough to appear in my video series Discovering Dartmoor) but most of the other members I only knew from our regular group zoom calls. Needless to say, that meeting such a diverse and passionate group of people was a highlight of the weekend.

Another highlight from the OWPG Big Weekend was the planned guided walk up Blencathra, a mountain I have been keen to ascend for a long time. However, Storm Amy had different ideas. With winds in excess of 80mph and very heavy rain, it would have been dangerous to try a walk up Blencathra.

However, OWPG members love the outdoors and while the mountains were out of action, there were plenty of other lowland walks to do. After some last minute planning by Josphine, we went on a lovely walk to Lodore Falls, Surprise View and Ashness Bridge. While the conditions were challenging for photography, I still got the camera out to capture a few photographs.

**Ladore Falls, Lake District** - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 120mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 320.

**Ashness Bridge, Lake District** - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 23mm, f/22, 1/15 sec at ISO 64.

I spent a great couple of days with my fellow OWPG members and chatted to some really interesting people, but my Lake District adventure didn’t end there. In my next blog post I head back out with Chris for another sunrise shoot. And as you’ll find out, it turns out to be a bit of a special one.