Wandering Around in the Fog

I have been photographing Dartmoor for more than 15 years and during that time I have visited many of its most iconic tors and locations. Some of them I have photographed countless times, and for good reason. Others I have only photographed once or twice, also for good reason. While I have not photographed every significant tor on Dartmoor, there are more than 160 of them after all, I do feel that I have explored many of the best.

So imagine my surprise when, while out on a training walk for my Hill and Moorland Leader qualification, I came across a tor for the first time and it genuinely excited me.

I say came across because when I found Birch Tor it was hidden in thick fog.

I had been walking in the fog for a couple of hours, practising my map and navigation skills, when I decided to navigate to Birch Tor. I had never visited it before and the only reason I chose it was because it was somewhere unfamiliar that would test my navigation.

When I arrived, and I was quietly pleased that I had nailed the navigation, I could immediately see the potential of the location even in the mist. Birch Tor is not one of Dartmoor’s grandest tors, but it has a scattering of smaller rocky outcrops that I knew would photograph beautifully in the right conditions.

Birch Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 400.

Out of the Fog and Into the Sun

Excited by this unexpected discovery, I returned a few days later in clearer conditions to see what Birch Tor really had to offer.

What I found genuinely surprised me.

Of course the good conditions helped, but I quickly discovered several compositions that suited my style of landscape photography perfectly. Rocky outcrops catching the light, gentle shapes and lines in the land, undulating ground leading towards distant hills, and wide Dartmoor skies. It is also perfect for my favourite orientation, vertical.

I had to work quickly as the sun was setting behind a large bank of cloud. With time against me I left the tripod in the bag and photographed everything handheld. That meant faster shutter speeds, a higher ISO, and image stabilisation switched on, but nothing the Nikon Z8 could not handle.

I am really excited about this location and I can already see plenty of potential here, especially as the seasons change.

I am planning to produce a video about Birch Tor so you can see the location the way I experienced it.

And while I am mentioning videos, apologies for the lack of on location videos recently. Winter has thrown a few challenges my way which have made filming difficult, but I will be back out on the moor with the camera very soon.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these first photographs from Birch Tor.