Dartmoor: Learning to Read the Landscape
Understand the Landscape
Light is one of the most important elements in landscape photography. The quality of that light can make or break a photograph, and for me the very best conditions are often found during the hour around sunrise and sunset, commonly known as the golden hours.
During late spring and summer, photographing sunrise in the UK certainly isn't for the faint hearted. With the sun rising as early as 5am, the alarm often goes off around 3.30am, leaving just enough time to get ready, drive to the location and be in position before the first light appears above the horizon.
I have to admit though, I rather enjoy those early starts. There is something special about being on Dartmoor before the rest of the world has woken up. The anticipation builds as the eastern sky begins to glow, knowing that in a matter of minutes the landscape will be transformed by the first rays of sunlight.
Bowerman’s Nose, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/13, 1 sec at ISO 64.
That said, getting out of bed that early only feels worthwhile if I know the conditions are going to work. You might be treated to the most spectacular sunrise imaginable, but if the surrounding landscape prevents the light from reaching your composition, you've missed the very moment you came to photograph.
Bowerman's Nose is a perfect example of this.
The classic view of this distinctive tor only receives the soft light of sunrise for a relatively short period of the year. Although the hill behind it doesn't look particularly significant, it has a huge influence on how the morning light reaches the landscape. For much of the year, the sun rises behind that hill, meaning the light doesn't reach the tor until it is much higher in the sky and considerably harsher. During late spring and summer however, the angle of the sunrise changes just enough for the first light to illuminate the rocks beautifully.
Bowerman’s Nose, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 64.
Knowing when that happens isn't something you can learn from a map alone. I use planning tools to understand where the sun will rise, but they are only part of the process. Years spent exploring Dartmoor have taught me how the shape of the land influences the light, and that experience is just as valuable as any app.
In this video I capture Bowerman's Nose at sunrise while explaining the decisions behind the photograph. I'll show you why this composition only works at certain times of year, how the surrounding landscape affects the light, and why learning to read the landscape is one of the most valuable skills any landscape photographer can develop.
This video forms part of my Learning Landscape Photography on Dartmoor series, where I share the knowledge and experience I've gained from many years of photographing this remarkable landscape. If you'd like to continue learning, do take a look at the rest of the series. There is much more still to come.
