Bite-Size Blog Post #33 - Chinkwell Tor - Dartmoor National Park
My journey to photograph the heather on Dartmoor takes a big step forward with a visit to Chinkwell Tor!
In Search of Heather - Part 3
Unlike my trials and tribulations with capturing photographs of thrift, photographing heather should be easier. It's not that the art of photographing heather is easier than thrift, it's just that Dartmoor National Park is considerably closer than Cornwall (where the thrift is). The closeness of Dartmoor means I can go there more often, greatly increasing my chances of capturing a heather themed photograph.
A week on from my visit to Grimspound in my last blog post, I decide this time to visit Chinkwell Tor. Chinkwell Tor has a special place in my photography heart as it's the only other place where I've captured good photographs of heather.
Chinkwell Tor Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/22, 0.4 sec at ISO 64.
However, the saying "past performance does not guarantee future results" is true for a reason, but I arrived at Chinkwell Tor cautiously optimistic. I needn't have worried though. I soon discovered a few clumps of heather beautifully mixed in with the luscious yellow of the gorse bushes. But would I get the weather conditions? Would overcast or clear blue skies spoil the party?
Honeybag Heather #1, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1 sec at ISO 64.
As you can see from the photographs, the answer is no. It's not often everything comes together, but when it does, it's extremely satisfying. I'm not suggesting the photographs here are outstanding, but that's rarely the goal. The goal is always to spend some quality time on Dartmoor, experience the start of a new day, and if possible, capture some photographs that make me happy. And these photographs make me happy.
Saying that, I'll probably head out in a few days again. The heather was looking good, so no point in stopping now.
Honeybag Heather #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 29mm, f/13, 1 sec at ISO 64.
Photographing Dartmoor - Honeybag Tor - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
Grab yourself a cup of coffee because it's time for another 5 Minute Photo Adventure. In this episode I'm photographing Honeybag Tor (nr Haytor) on Dartmoor. Can I capture some landscape photographs to help inspire you to get out with your camera?
Honey, Honey!
The area around Haytor is the closet area of Dartmoor to my home. It’s an area that I will often visit if I’m short of time or I don’t want to travel too far on a dubious forecast. On this visit, I was both short of time and there was a dubious forecast!
Having shot Rippon Tor and Emsworthy Tor extensively, and it is the wrong time of year to shoot Bowerman’s Nose at dawn, I decided that I needed a different location to photograph in the Haytor area. My first thought was to photograph Honeybag Tor, but despite a couple of previous visits, I’ve never felt I was able to make the most of it.
For this most recent visit though, I decided on a change of tack. Perhaps if I shot Honeybag Tor from Chinkwell Tor it might yield better results. The wide wide-open view would suit my style of photography and given that a cloudless sky at dawn that was forecast, the light from the rising sun could illuminate the wide expanse of Honeybag Tor, and even the surrounding landscape.
Did I manage to capture the images for which I was hoping? Or did the forecasted cloud roll in and block the sun? Let us find out in my latest 5 Minute Photo Adventure.
Dartmoor Landscape Photographs
Honeybag Tor from Chinkwell Tor at Sunrise #2, Dartmoor - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 30mm, f/11, 2 sec at ISO 64.
Honeybag Tor from Chinkwell Tor at Sunrise #3, Dartmoor - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 17mm, f/11, 0.6 sec at ISO 64, crop 4:5.
Honeybag Tor from Chinkwell Tor at Sunrise #5, Dartmoor - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 21mm, f/11, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
When Things Don't Go to Plan
Landscape photography is full of challenges. Some challenges come from elements you can't control such as the weather, but then there are the mistakes you make yourself. In this video and blog post, I head out to Dartmoor National Park to capture some landscape photographs but end up making a few mistakes. Lessons were learnt!
A Bit Rusty
Last week I shared with you the experience of my first landscape photography shoot for over 3 months. While I didn’t capture any amazing photographs, the experience of being out with the camera again was fantastic. Eager to keep the momentum going I decided to head out Chinkwell Tor with my dog Monty to see what we could find.
However, as you’ll see in the video below, it appears that I’m still a bit rusty, both in terms of preparation and camera skills!
As I said in the video, I’m happy to share with you the successes and failures of my landscape photography adventures. After all, if I can learn something then I’m sure you can too. Let me know some of your photography faux pas in the comments below.
Landscape Photographs from Dartmoor
Here are the photographs I captured while out exploring Chinkwell Tor.
Honeybag Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 26mm, f/8, 1/60th sec at ISO 64, 3 image focus stack.
The Chink in Chinkwell, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 27mm, f/22, 1/5th sec at ISO 64.
Alone and Together
Landscape photography can be a solitary endeavour and while I truly do appreciate that alone time, it is in the sharing of those images that brings me the greatest satisfaction. Like many photographers, I share my images online, but after reading an article in Outdoor Photography magazine I was inspired to create a new image and print, then give it to someone in my audience. I wanted to create a moment of togetherness.
Landscape Photography on Dartmoor
I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with photographing Dartmoor. The conditions up on the moor can be miserable, sometimes even a little cruel for the landscape photographer. If it’s not clear blue skies it’s grey, overcast, and wet. It’s rare for that perfect mix of weather conditions to be present at the right time. Well, it doesn’t happen very often when I’m there.
All that said, when the conditions are magical it is a proper treat to be photographing Dartmoor. It’s exciting, demanding and most of all enjoyable. I don’t always have the video camera along with me when things do go well on Dartmoor but in a rare moment of luck, I had it with me when I got some great conditions up on Chinkwell Tor recently.
In the video below, I share with you the experience of capturing the photographs in this blog post and I select one of those images to create a print. I also tell you that I want to do something special with that print. Want to know what that is? Well, it is all to do with the theme of Alone and Together, but you’ll have to watch the video to find out more.
Chinkwell Tor Photographs
Here are the photographs you saw in the video in a bit more detail. Enjoy!
A Chink in the Sky, Chinkwell Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 15mm, f/13, 1.3 seconds at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad.
Chinkwell Tor Sunrise #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 26mm, f/11, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Chinkwell and Honeybag Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 20mm, f/11, 0.6 seconds at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Chinkwell and Honeybag Tor #3, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 16mm, f/13, 1/5th second at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Widecombe Rainbow #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm, f/13, 1/3rd second at ISO 64, Kase Filters ND grad and CPL.
Landscape Photography with the Nikkor Z 24-200mm
I’ve purchased the Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 for landscape photography and this blog post you can watch a video of me putting it to good use and see some sample images.
A Good Choice for Landscape Photography
I try not to create too many videos on gear. There are lots of channels out there that are dedicated to such things and they can often provide a much more comprehensive review and set of tests. I tend to only make videos about gear if it’s for an item that I have personally paid for and will be in my kit bag. Even then, my videos tend not to be reviews but more about sharing my experience with a bit of gear.
The latest bit of gear I’ve purchased is the Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 and in the video below I tell you why I purchased it and most importantly I go out on location to take some photographs with it. I then also return home to show you the images and to make some prints with them. So, it’s not so much a review but more a video on my personal experiences with the lens.
Even though I wouldn’t class this video as a review, I do help you found it useful if you are considering purchasing this lens. If you have any questions, please let me know in the comments below.
Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 Sample Images
Rising Sun over Rippon Tor #2, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 32mm, f/13, 1/5th sec at ISO 64. Kase Filters ND grad.
Rising Sun over Rippon Tor #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 24mm, f/13, 1/6th sec at ISO 64. Kase Filters ND grad.
Chinkwell Tor Sunrise #1, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 24mm, f/11, 1/100th sec at ISO 400. Kase Filters ND grad.
Widecombe Panorama, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 83mm, f/8, 1/40th sec at ISO 64, panoramic stitch with 6:17 crop.
Widecombe from Chinkwell Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 at 145mm, f/8, 1/20th sec at ISO 64. Kase Filters ND grad.