The Impossible Shot?
Even without the perfect composition, a quiet evening at an unfamiliar waterfall sparked the beginning of a new creative project.
Sometimes the photographs you cannot take lead to the ideas that matter most.
The Start of a Mini Project
When cloud and rain roll in over Dartmoor, my creative options for photography often feel more limited. The tors come to life when light catches them, but under grey, overcast skies they lose a little of their magic.
I am currently in Scotland, where rain and cloud are even more frequent, but here that extra water opens up new opportunities. Waterfalls scattered across the landscape come into their own in these conditions. Even in winter, without foliage, there are still strong and interesting compositions to be found.
With that in mind, I set out one evening to visit a waterfall I had never seen before. I do not think I had even come across a photograph of it, but I had spotted it on the map and, with no other plans on a damp and overcast evening, it felt like the perfect excuse to explore.
On arrival, I was immediately drawn to the multiple streams cascading down the dark rock. It did not take long to realise that the surrounding landscape was adding nothing to the scene. This was going to be a tighter composition with a longer lens, and it was always going to be black and white. The contrast between the dark rock and the flowing white water felt like it would work beautifully.
There was just one problem. There was no clean shot.
The waterfall can only be viewed from a small, fenced viewpoint, which limits movement quite significantly. The fence is there for good reason, with a steep drop beyond it, so stepping over it was never really an option. Even if it had been, branches framed the scene in a way that would have crept into almost any composition.
It was one of those moments where a drone would have been ideal, allowing a clear view beyond the branches and a chance to capture the scene properly. From where I stood, though, that clean composition simply was not possible.
Despite that, the photographs I did take sparked an idea.
There are countless waterfalls in this area, and I found myself really enjoying the process of capturing these high contrast black and white images. It felt like the beginning of something, so I decided to turn it into a small project. Over the next couple of weeks, I plan to explore more of these locations and build a set of images around this theme.
The photograph I had in mind that evening may not have been possible, but the experience led to something just as valuable. No matter the conditions, it is always worth heading out with the camera. You never quite know where it might lead.
Inverlochy Waterfall, Argyll, Scotland - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 120mm, f/8, 1.3 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Bite-Size Blog Post #62 - Return to Kilchurn Castle
A walk to Kilchurn Castle turns into an unexpected battle with a bog, leaving me soaked, muddy, but still determined to get the shot.
Man vs Bog
Anyone who has photographed Kilchurn Castle will know that the most direct route from the layby down to the loch involves crossing a very boggy stretch of ground. It is a walk that really calls for welly boots, and I have often had a quiet chuckle watching tourists attempt it in bright white trainers.
The waterline on my trousers is how deep my legs went into the bog!
Despite my confidence and sense that I knew exactly what I was doing, I had a nasty surprise on the way down this morning. I knew the ground could feel unsteady in places, but what happened caught me completely off guard. Both legs suddenly sank deep into the bog, past my knees and nearly up to my waist. I stood there for a moment, stuck fast, wondering what on earth to do next.
Channeling my inner Bear Grylls, I resisted the urge to panic and came up with a plan. First, I carefully removed my camera backpack and set it aside. Then I leaned forward, stretched my arms out to find firmer ground, and with a fair bit of effort managed to drag myself free. By the time I escaped I was covered in mud, soaked through, and my boots were full of water. It probably should have been the moment to call it a day, but I still had photographs to take.
Round Two
As I mentioned in last week’s blog, I am staying near Loch Awe for a short while and I’m hoping to make regular visits to Kilchurn Castle. This was my second visit, and although I had not planned on battling a bog, it was good to be back.
With some recent snowfall, I thought there might be a chance to give the scene a slightly wintry feel, even if the calendar says otherwise. It did add something, and I opted for a slightly different composition this time, placing the horizon through the middle of the frame to make the most of the reflections. Even so, I feel like the image is still missing a touch of drama. Then again, perhaps I had already used up my share of that for the day.
While my photograph from the previous visit remains my favourite, I have no doubt there will be a round three.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 43mm, f/11, 1/8th at ISO 64.
Bite-Size Blog Post #61 - Birch Tor, Dartmoor National Park
A return to Birch Tor turned into a battle with the rain, hail and snow but it was strong winds that killed my video. But I was still left with a photograph that made it all worth the effort.
Just recently on this blog I wrote about photographing Birch Tor for the first time, and how despite all my years exploring Dartmoor I had somehow overlooked this gem of a location. Not only is it a fantastic place to photograph, it also felt like the perfect setting for a YouTube video to share how I approach working somewhere new on Dartmoor.
It has been a while since I last published a Dartmoor photography video, so Birch Tor felt like the right place to start again. One of the main reasons for the gap has been the weather, but this time I was determined to get out and film regardless of the forecast.
It was not the light that concerned me. The cloud cover looked promising. What I failed to pay proper attention to was the wind. Arriving at Birch Tor, I was quickly reminded that wind speed and direction matter just as much as the clouds overhead.
Rain, snow, and hail all swept through within fifteen minutes, which I could handle. The wind was another matter entirely. It was relentless, cutting straight through me and making filming far more difficult than expected. Still, I was determined to continue.
Filming in those conditions comes with its own challenges. Even with protection on the microphone, I suspected the audio would struggle. I told myself it would be something I could fix later.
It was not.
I am no audio expert, but no amount of editing, filtering, or enhancement could rescue it. In the end, the footage had to be set aside.
Even so, I came away with what mattered most, the photograph itself. It is not too different from the composition I shared in my previous post, but that is no bad thing. Returning to a similar idea can often lead to something more refined.
Birch Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/15th at ISO 64.
As for the video, the idea still feels right. When the conditions and timing come together, I will be back to try again.
Bite-Size Blog Post #60 - Kilchurn Castle, Scotland
A return to the west Highlands offers a familiar landscape, shifting light, and a reminder that the experience often matters more than the photograph.
1st Attempt of Many
It’s great to be back in the west Highlands of Scotland. My homeland. The place where I grew up.
I love it here as it holds so many memories. The places are familiar, and the unpredictable weather is strangely comforting. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to catch up with family. In fact, I’m writing this blog post on the train home from Glasgow after a lovely lunch with my sister, aunt and uncle.
Earlier in the day, though, I was up early, sneaking in a bit of photography at a place I’m very familiar with, Kilchurn Castle. It’s a castle I grew up with, as it’s only a few miles from the village where I was raised. I will actually pass it on the train home, but unfortunately it will be dark, so I won’t see it.
Not to worry though, as I spent a lovely hour there this morning, crossing fingers, saying prayers and doing strange Celtic dances in the hope I could will the morning light to break through the cloud.
I didn’t want the cloud to go completely. It was adding a great deal of atmosphere to the scene, but I needed just a little light to illuminate the hills or the castle so the photo had a bit more depth.
Alas, it wasn’t to be, but the experience of being there was amazing. Glassy reflections on the loch, cloud rolling over the nearby Munros, and the somewhat deafening sound of the geese with their morning song. It was one of those mornings where you leave feeling fulfilled, even though the photographs didn’t quite work out.
Not to worry though. I’m here for an extended period of time, and the castle is close by, so I’ll be sure to return again and again. And of course I have Glencoe just up the road. And what a place of photographic opportunity that is.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 28mm, f/8, ¼ sec at ISO 64.
Discovering Dartmoor - Birch Tor
A training walk in thick fog leads to an unexpected discovery on Dartmoor. Birch Tor may not be the grandest tor, but its quiet character and rocky outcrops reveal surprising photographic potential.
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.
Breathtaking Views from Yes Tor - Dartmoor National Park
A risky winter sunrise trip onto Dartmoor led me through thick cloud to the summit of Yes Tor, where brief, breathtaking glimpses above the cloud made the view unforgettable.
Top of the World
The weather here in the UK this winter has been miserable and has made my life as a landscape photographer a bit of a challenge! The longer the bad weather continued, the more risks I was willing to take on a weather forecast that would normally have me hitting the snooze button.
After what had seemed like weeks since I’d been out and captured a good photograph, I decided that the following morning’s weather forecast was worth a punt. Yes, there was lots of low-level cloud forecast, but the base of that cloud was very low (foggy) and there was no medium-level cloud forecast. Should I take a risk and see if I could get above it?
Getting above cloud on Dartmoor is tricky. Even its highest points are only around 600m above sea level, so the cloud level has to be very low and not too thick. Looking at my map, I decided to get up early and head to West Mill Tor. At 541m above sea level, it was a good balance between walking effort and the opportunity to get above the cloud.
Leaving Exeter, it was remarkably clear, but as I approached Okehampton, things got a little foggier. By the time I got to the parking area for West Mill Tor, I really didn’t hold out much hope.
As I stood on West Mill Tor questioning my life choices, I thought about whether it would be worth making the decision to continue my walk up to Yes Tor. At 619m it’s Dartmoor’s highest tor (if you don’t count High Willhays at 621m), so if there was any daylight to be found it would be there.
Was it worth the extra effort to get to Yes Tor? Well, yes and no. No in the sense that I never truly got out of the clouds and the photographs you see below are as clear as it got (but it was just enough to get a little light on the tor). But it wasn’t the photograph that made it worth the effort — it was the view. But Julian! You said it wasn’t clear? True, but there are times when even if you can’t make a great photograph, what you see can still take your breath away.
A Foggy Sunrise on Yes Tor #1, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 800.
The wind was blowing hard on the summit of Yes Tor, so the cloud was moving quickly. Every now and again you would get a tantalising glimpse of the surrounding view. Not only would I see the beautiful orange glow of the rising sun, but I would also see the top of the cloud bank that was covering the landscape. I couldn’t see any land, just cloud, and it looked spectacular. If only I had been a few metres higher, I probably would have had a constant view of the area.
It was like standing on top of a mountain looking down on a temperature inversion. It took my breath away. But the glimpses were brief and infrequent, so rather than desperately trying to make a photograph, I just stood there, freezing in the wind, waiting for a light break in the cloud. It was magical! I’d never seen anything like it on Dartmoor before and, given the set of circumstances where the base of the cloud is low enough but the height of the cloud is lower than Dartmoor’s highest point, I might never again.
It’s hard to convey what I was seeing and pictures don’t do it justice, but hopefully the small video clip will give you an impression of what it was like.
I’m glad I took the risk to go out, and then take a further risk to get myself up to Yes Tor, because sometimes the best things come to those who take a risk. Let me know in the comments below if you’ve had a similar experience.
A Foggy Sunrise on Yes Tor #2, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 1/160 sec at ISO 800.
Bite-Size Blog Post #59 - Greator Rocks and Hound Tor - Dartmoor National Park
Revisiting Greator Rocks reminded me that some locations take time to reveal their potential, before finishing the walk at Hound Tor, a striking Dartmoor landmark perfect for studying light, shape and contrast.
Greator Rocks
For me, Greator Rocks is an odd location. Visually it’s striking and it stands out from the landscape, but I find it difficult to photograph. However, sometimes I need to remind myself to be patient and not write locations off after just one or two visits. So when I was in the area last weekend, I decided to give it another try.
The more I photograph it, the more I believe it has potential, and that the judgement I made on the first few visits was a bit premature. The composition below is one that I want to work on when spring comes around. It’s not just the clear blue sky in this shot that doesn’t appeal to me, but also the ground, which is messy with winter bracken. In spring, and with some morning light, I believe this is a composition that has some potential. Roll on spring!! It can’t come soon enough… I’m more than ready for winter to be over now!
Greator Rocks, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/30 sec at ISO 800.
Hound Tor
One of the easiest routes to Greator Rocks is to walk via Hound Tor, one of Dartmoor’s most popular tors. So, while walking back from Greator Rocks, it was hard not to stop and get the camera out. The sun was well and truly up by the time I got there, so I was already thinking in black and white before I took the first photograph.
I find it a challenging location, despite its size and grandeur, but it provides lots of scope for training your compositional eye to look for shape, light, shadow and contrast.
Have you photographed Greator Rocks or Hound Tor before? Let me know what you think of these locations in the comments below.
A Foggy Sunrise on Yes Tor #1, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 32mm, f/13, 1/125 sec at ISO 800.
Bite-Size Blog Post #58 - Great Mis Tor - Dartmoor National Park
A spontaneous visit to Great Mis Tor gave me the chance to explore this location once again. Sometimes the best preparation comes when there is no pressure to capture the perfect shot.
Skilling Up on Dartmoor
I have spent a great deal of time walking across Dartmoor searching for its best locations and, more importantly, learning the right time to photograph them. This knowledge is vital for my one to one clients and workshop groups, who expect me to guide them to the right place at the right time.
They also expect me to do this safely. While many of the locations I use are not far from the road, some clients, particularly those on one to one sessions, want to venture further into the wilderness of Dartmoor. For that, I need to know exactly where I am and how to move confidently through the landscape. I am comfortable using a map, but that does not mean I should stop improving my navigation skills.
To build on my experience, I recently completed the National Navigation Award Scheme Silver Award course on Dartmoor. I loved every minute of it. Although I will rarely need some of the more advanced skills when working with clients, I firmly believe it is better to be over skilled than under prepared.
Putting New Skills Into Practice
At the end of the second and final day of training, I found myself on the western edge of Dartmoor with about ninety minutes to spare before sunset. As always, I had packed my camera gear in the car just in case an opportunity presented itself. The only question was where to go.
One location I had not photographed for a long time was Great Mis Tor. Despite walking nearly ten kilometres during the day’s navigation training, I picked up my bag and made the steady climb.
Great Mis Tor, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO 64.
Returning to Great Mis Tor
With blue skies overhead and hazy cloud sitting low on the horizon, conditions were far from dramatic. It was never going to produce a portfolio image, and that was perfectly fine. Without the pressure of chasing exceptional light, I was free to explore, study the formations, and consider stronger compositions for the future.
There will definitely be a next time. I am not sure why it has taken me so long to return to Great Mis Tor. It is a remarkable location with enormous photographic potential. I am already looking forward to going back, and I certainly will not wait for another navigation course as an excuse.
Great Mis Tor, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/4 sec at ISO 64.
Dartmoor Photography at Rippon Tor: Light, Landscape and Connection
A personal insight into why this iconic tor remains one of my favourite locations for Dartmoor landscape photography and workshops.
Being Connected
This year, 2026, I am committed to continuing to deepen my connection with Dartmoor. From discovering more about its history and geology, to photographing new places or returning to familiar ones in different conditions, my aim is simple. As I said in my Discovering Dartmoor series, learning about Dartmoor is not something to be completed, but a lifelong journey.
Exploration is one aspect of that journey, but just as important is familiarity and experience. This is especially important when I am leading workshops or guiding someone in one to one tuition.
Rippon Tor Sunrise #1, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 0.8 secs at ISO 64.
Why I Keep Returning to Rippon Tor
One of my favourite locations to take people is Rippon Tor. If you have been reading this blog for a while, you will know I photograph Rippon Tor regularly, but why?
There are a couple of reasons. Firstly, as a location it is a great place to teach people how to approach the photography of Dartmoor’s tors. With scattered rocks, interesting formations and panoramic views, there is a great deal to work with. Aside from being a strong teaching location, it is simply a wonderful place to photograph.
Located on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, with clear views down to the coast, there are few better places to watch the start of a new day. It is those clear views to the coast that make it a firm favourite for me, because if you are going to catch light from the rising sun anywhere, you are likely to catch it on Rippon Tor.
Rippon Tor Sunrise #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 23mm, f/13, 0.8 secs at ISO 64.
When the Light Transforms the Landscape
That light can transform the scene right in front of your eyes. One minute the tors look grey and flat. Then, as soon as the sun peeks its head over the horizon, or more likely over a bank of cloud, those solid lumps of granite are transformed into wondrous monuments of Dartmoor’s geological history.
I love watching the light move across the landscape, creating areas of brightness and shadow, contrast and colour. Sometimes it lasts only a few minutes, but in that time I feel completely connected to the landscape. My camera becomes an extension of me. I am not fiddling with settings or worrying about gear. I am simply watching the scene unfold and change around me, capturing photographs when I feel inspired.
It is a truly magical experience. Even if it only lasts two minutes and my hands are frozen from the constant wind that sweeps across Rippon Tor, I head home knowing I have experienced something that few other people ever will. And if you would like to experience mornings like this for yourself, I would be delighted to welcome you along on a future Dartmoor workshop.
Rippon Tor Sunrise #3, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 27mm, f/13, 0.8 secs at ISO 64.
Bite-Size Blog Post #57 - Pew Tor Sunset - Dartmoor National Park
Revisiting Pew Tor after several years, I found tricky conditions but valuable practice, proving that even when the magic is elusive, it’s still important to practice your craft.
Discovering Dartmoor
My first experience of Pew Tor was way back in 2015, but it was another seven years before I returned to film for Discovering Dartmoor. Near Pork Hill car park, it is a relatively easy walk, especially compared to the climb up to its more majestic neighbour, Great Staple Tor, which I wrote about recently. I was reminded of this little gem when I saw a beautifully crafted photograph of Pew Tor by a local photographer in Outdoor Photography magazine.
Inspired by that photograph, and with fond memories of filming there, I set off rather quickly last Saturday. I say quickly because I had miscounted the time and ended up leaving a bit later than I had originally planned. Experience of photographing Dartmoor has taught me that the best light is often thirty to sixty minutes before the expected sunset, so I needed to get there early.
Arriving at Pork Hill car park, it was unsurprisingly busy for a Sunday afternoon, but after only a short walk I soon found myself a little more alone. It did not last long though, as Pew Tor was proving to be a popular location that day. With easy access from several parking areas, great views, and rock formations perfect for climbing, it is a magnet for families heading out for a walk.
While the children seemed to find scrambling over the rocks easy, the photography was a little more challenging. It was one of those afternoons where you feel some magic is about to happen, but it ends up missing something. Either there was not enough cloud, or there was too much, or it was blocking the sun. These are the conditions that really challenge you as a photographer, so I had to work with the light that was there and look for less obvious compositions.
So while these photographs might not represent the most interesting views of Pew Tor, they are still pleasing images and reflect my experience of the place that day. It is good to work hard for your photography sometimes. It is good practice, both in terms of composition and technical craft. Keeping your skills sharp is important because you never know when the next big moment might arrive, and I want to be ready.
Pew Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/13, 1/60 at ISO 400.
Pew Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/60 at ISO 400.
Photographing Great Staple Tor - Dartmoor National Park
Remembering Alyn Wallace and chasing the light at Great Staple Tor.
Remembering Alyn Wallace
We’ve all heard the old phrase “doesn’t time fly” but the older I get the faster it goes because I can’t believe it’s been over two and half years since I last photographed Great Staple Tor. It only seems like yesterday I was wild camping there to try my hand at astrophotography. The fact that I tried it was thanks to the excellent book by Alyn Wallace (who is greatly missed). If you’re not aware of Alyn’s book then I strongly suggest you check out this blog post and see the real world video review I did.
Great Staple Tor is completely the opposite side of Dartmoor to where I live so I don’t make it there as much as I’d like to. However, I found myself with a little more time than normal one Saturday afternoon, so I jumped in the car to made the journey across the moor.
Chasing the Light
At first the weather was looking great. Showers, rainbows, lots of cloud and light dancing across the landscape. Soon though, I was in heavy rain and the likelihood of photographing anything was looking increasingly unlikely. I pulled over and considered turning around and chasing the better conditions I had just driven through. But I checked my weather app, and it assured me that the heavy showers would pass.
Arriving at the carpark for Great Staple Tor I was delighted to see that the forecast was indeed correct. It’s not often that happens but I wasn’t complaining. I was soon making the walk up past Little Staple Tor and onto Great Staple Tor. Things were looking very positive. Clouds in the sky, light across the landscape and the rock stacks (tors) were looking majestic.
Great Staple Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/6 at ISO 64.
I’ll Just Clone That Out
Dartmoor at the weekend can be a busy place. As the day goes on more people go out to enjoy the moor and good for them. It’s a wonderful place and I encourage everyone to get out there to discover Dartmoor!
At this time of year though, you’ll find less tourists but plenty of younger people out training for the Ten Tors event. There’s no way I would have done something like that at their age, so they have lots of respect from me. January on Dartmoor isn’t exactly forgiving.
Now, this might sound like a complaint, but I can assure it isn’t, but it was frustrating. With the conditions working in my favour for once I was happy. Happy creating dramatic images of Great Staple Tor. After a while three lads turn up and start chatting. No worries, they’ll move on soon and I’ll carry on shooting. But they didn’t. Instead they started to put up two tents right in the middle of my compositions. Just as the light was getting good!
Did I ask them to move? No, I did not! They have every right to be on Dartmoor. Just as much right as I did, and the fact that they very innocently planted a couple of tents where I wanted to photograph was just plain bad luck.
Great Staple Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 1/6 at ISO 64.
The good news was that they were relatively small in the frame, so for some of the photographs I just cloned them out. Or dare I say it, I used the AI remove tool in Lightroom! My approach to object removal is that if the offending object is temporary such as a branch, car, human, or even a tent, it is fair game for removal. If it’s something permanent like power cables, buildings, roads, it’s got to stay.
Besides, the arrival of the tents encouraged me to move onto Roos Tor where my interest was reignited for this unusual tor. A return visit there is on my list now! So, thanks lads!
I hope you enjoyed reading about my adventure and seeing the photographs I captured. What would you have done in my situation? Would you have asked the lads to camp a few more meters away? And if not, would you have removed the tent in post processing? Let me know in the comments below.
Bite-Size Blog Post #56 - Black Tor Sunrise - Dartmoor National Park
In this bite sized blog I make the long walk up to Black Tor to see if it’s not too late in the year to photograph it at sunrise.
It’s a Short Window
The walk from Meldon Reservoir car park to Black Tor is one I have taken on many occasions. There are magnificent views along the way and if you include High Willhays on your route you can also claim to be standing on the roof of Devon. For me, the photographic highlight though is Yes Tor, which is not far from High Willhays.
But Black Tor is not to be ignored if you are out with your camera. If you are looking to photograph it during the golden hours, things get a little more tricky though. There is only a small window during the summer when the sun sets in a direction that will illuminate the tor with the best light.
It’s even more challenging to photograph it at sunrise as the surrounding hills can block the light from the rising sun until well past the golden hour. So, for those few weeks either side of the winter solstice I try to make the challenging walk up from the reservoir car park to Black Tor and watch the sunrise.
Black Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 15mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO64.
My Only Attempt?
I missed out on photographing sunrise at Black Tor at the end of 2025 because I was delayed in my return from Scotland, and then there was Christmas. I don’t think I took any photos over Christmas!
Roll on 2026 and a late opportunity presented itself and I managed to capture the photographs you see in this blog. I do however think I was a little late in the window of opportunity as it took nearly 20 minutes for the sun to break over the hills, so the light was harsher than I hoped for.
Black Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO64.
One More Try?
I’ve reckon I’ll have one more go at it this weekend. I suspect I’m a bit late now for Black Tor sunrises, and a lot depends on the weather. Even if I do make the early morning walk and I don’t get the shot, it’s a fine way to start the day and I’ll make my walk a little more adventurous by walking up to the roof of Devon.
Bite-Size Blog Post #55 - Hound Tor - Dartmoor National Park
In this bite sized blog I head to Hound Tor for some daytime photograph!
Creativity After Sunrise
I love the light you get from a rising or setting sun. It’s warm and soft, and it can make the landscape glow. It can also test your commitment during the summer months when sunrise can be 5am and sunset as late as 9pm (at least on Dartmoor anyway). But if you thought these were the only times of day to take photographs you’d be mistaken.
While there’s no doubt that I prefer to shoot during the golden hours, by not taking photographs during the day, you’re missing out on hours and hours of creativity and fun. Admittedly, it can be a little more challenging as shadows are harsher and there more people about, but for those looking for a challenge the results can be rewarding.
A few weeks ago I had a few hours to kill so I took a wander up to Hound Tor. There was little cloud in the sky, the landscape was very contrasty, and I had to pick my out my compositions carefully. Aside from negotiating a busy location (Hound Tor is very popular with visitors), I had to look for compositions where strong areas of light and shadow would work.
When I found my composition, I knew it was going to be black and white, so I set my Nikon Z8 to Deep Tone Monochrome and got to work. This is the resulting image.
Houndtor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/100 sec at ISO 640.
I didn’t find much else to photograph that morning, but it did remind me of what an interesting location Hound Tor is to photograph. It’s a location that works well when I teach photographers about photographing Dartmoor.
I’m looking forward to going back. Not just at the golden hours, but during the day. As I looked about, I could see how the angle of the light would change during the day, opening up a new compositions. I can’t wait to see what I find.
Bite-Size Blog Post #54 - First Dawn of the Year at Dawlish Warren
In this bite sized blog I share with you the story behind my first photograph of 2026.
Starting the Year with an Old Friend
Setting an alarm call for 06:30 on the 1st of January isn’t something I would normally do. It’s not as if I normally stay up the night before celebrating the start of a new year, it’s just that it’s nice to stay in bed sometimes and the 1st of January always seem like the perfect day to do so.
On this occasion though, I’d already had few long mornings in bed over the festive period, and I was itching to get out with the camera and get 2026 off to a flying start! However, I wanted to share the morning sunrise with someone so heading off on a 90 minute walk to a remote tor for sunrise wasn’t an option.
A much more socially acceptable choice would be a lovely walk along a beach somewhere. But where to go? For me there was only one place. Dawlish Warren! It’s only a short drive from home, it’s good for watching sunrise, and it’s a pleasant beach to walk along. And given the number of times I have photographed the beach, I know it can yield good results.
Arriving at Dawlish Warren I could see that lots of other people also thought that a walk along the beach would be a good idea. It wasn’t overly busy, but even for sunrise it was busier than usual. There were even swimmers in the water.
What I tend to do in these situations is head up past groyne number 10 as dogs aren’t allowed past that point. It’s not only quieter, but at low tide you can still get interesting photographs like this one.
It’s not my favourite photograph of Dawlish Warren but it reminds me of what a lovely morning I had watching the sunrise on the 1st of January and if that’s not a good reason for taking a photograph, I don’t know what is.
Happy new year everyone!
A Glorious Morning at Great Links Tor - Dartmoor National Park
A photograph of Great Links Tor in the glorious morning light has eluded me for years but no longer thanks to this photograph. But why am I a tiny bit disappointed?
I Got the Shot, But I'm Slightly Disappointed!
Great Links Tor on Dartmoor is a hard location to photograph for a couple reasons. Firstly, it involves a strenuous walk with over 300 meters of ascent. I can make the walk in about 40 minutes, but with a heavy backpack of camera gear on my back, I can really feel it. Especially when it's a dawn shoot and I haven't quite left enough time to get to the summit with time to spare.
The other challenge is the weather. Great Links Tor sits at an altitude of 586 meters which makes predicting the weather a proper challenge. The weather at the start point of the walk can be very different than the weather at the top. I've often made the ascent in clear weather only to find Great Links Tor covered in cloud. You can check the weather forecast as much as you like, but sometimes you have to take a chance and go for it.
And go for it I do. Despite the 1.5 hr round trip in the car, and the 7 km walk, I still feel compelled to take a chance on the hope I will get a compelling photograph that will show how majestic Great Links Tor can be.
The risk has paid off though. Back in April 2023 I walked up to Great Links Tor for a sunset shot and while my patience was tested, it ultimately paid off with one of my favourite Dartmoor photographs. You can watch me capture that photograph in this blog post.
But with a great sunset photograph of Great Links Tor in my portfolio I craved a sunrise photograph to go with it. And so started my slight obsession with getting up early, and walking up to Great Links Tor in the dark. Prior to writing this blog post I had tried to capture a sunrise photograph of Great Links Tor that I am happy with several times. While each visit yielded a good photograph, I knew in different conditions I could capture something special.
Just to make things a little complicated, the photograph I wanted can only be captured during winter when the sunrises from a specific direction. This puts the pressure on!
As winter 2025 came round I was determined to try again and make what I expected to be multiple trips to Great Links Tor. I also thought this might make an interesting video story. How many ascents would I need to make? What would the conditions of each visit be? How frustrated would I get?
Well imagine my surprise when on my first winter 2025 ascent I get exactly the shot I was looking for. Setting off early in the morning, it was far from guaranteed that I would get the shot. The forecast was for clear blue skies which rarely makes for good landscape photographs. Arriving in the car park there were already a couple of vans parked up. This is often a sign that there are wild campers on the moor, and I have made the ascent to Great Links Tor before only to find a tent right in the middle of my favourite composition.
Sure enough, when I arrived there were wild campers there but fortunately well away from my composition. The camper was already awake when I arrived, and I enjoyed a very nice chat to him. But in the corner of my vision, I was keeping an eye on the conditions which were surprisingly looking very interesting. Despite much of the sky being clear there was some cloud above Great Links Tor and as soon as the sun rose above the horizon and lit the scene, I stopped chatting and got shooting!
This is the photograph I captured.
Sunrise at Great Links Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4S at 14mm, f/13, 0.5 sec at ISO 64.
So why am I disappointed? It has nothing to do with the photograph. I'm really happy with it. I'm disappointed as I won't be producing a video documenting my repeated visits to Great Links Tor in search of my photograph! I mustn't complain as I felt really happy as I descended from Great Links Tor. I know I had a good shot in the bag.
So, is that me done with Great Links Tor? Of course not. There is always a different and possibly better photograph to be captured. It's just that I won't spend the winter focusing on when I will next go to Great Links Tor. I'm free to explore and discover some of Dartmoor's other winter locations. So make sure you sign up to my newsletter to find out where I go and what I photograph next.
When Dartmoor Turns Purple - Photographing the Magic of Heather Season
For a few short weeks each year, Dartmoor transforms into a purple landscape as the heather blooms across the tors. This video follows my journey across the moor, through sunrise, sunset, changing weather, and shifting conditions to photograph the heather at its absolute best.
The Changing Seasons of Dartmoor
The UK is a special place for landscape photographers, and I feel fortunate to live here. Every season dramatically changes the feel of the landscape and provides photographers with both opportunities and challenges. Those seasonal changes can also be seen at a local level where areas of the UK celebrate special natural events such as bluebells in Dorset, the autumn colours of the New Forest, or snowdrops in north Yorkshire.
But for me, the local seasonal event that I get most excited about occurs in late summer when the heather blooms across Dartmoor. I’m slightly biased as Dartmoor is my local area, but the purple heather adds a splash of colour to an already dramatic landscape. The other thing I like about the heather season on Dartmoor is that it lasts. Peak bluebells on Dartmoor, or thrift on the Cornish coast might only last a couple of weeks, but the heather will stay strong for 6 to 8 weeks. The longer something is about, the more opportunities there is to photograph it.
With this knowledge, I decided that I would focus my efforts this summer on capturing a series of strong heather themed photographs. Even if the weather was poor for a week, or I was away, I'd still have plenty of opportunities to get up onto Dartmoor and photograph locations I know are good for heather, or perhaps even discover some new ones.
So how did I get on? Well, I didn't get out as much as I wanted (no surprise there!), but I did get out enough times to create a collection of Dartmoor heather photos. It was a decent season, lasting nearly 8 weeks and I'm happy with the results. I do however appreciate that heather season finished a couple of months ago, but I'm finally ready to share it with you, and the photographs I captured. Enjoy!
Do you have a favourite seasonal event to photograph? Let me know in the comments below.
My Dartmoor Heather Collection for 2025
Haytor Heather, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 1/50 sec at ISO 800
Bite-Size Blog Post #53 - First Snow of the Year on Dartmoor
A forecast of snow on Dartmoor was all I needed to read to get me to drop everything else and head out with my camera!
Let There Be Snow on Dartmoor!
For the last couple of months, I’ve had a bit of backlog of work. Not that I’m complaining, but it means I’ve been sacrificing the thing I love about photography, and that’s going out taking photographs! Sometimes when the weather forecast just doesn’t look good enough, I’ve opted to stay in the office editing, rather than taking a chance and heading out to take pictures.
However, when snow is forecast, I will drop everything and get myself out there! So, with light snow forecast on the western edge of Dartmoor I packed my bag, ready for an early morning start. Well, not that early. Sunrise is around 07:45, which as far as I’m concerned, that’s the middle of day (compared to spring!).
As I drove towards Okehampton, I did have a terrible thought. I hadn’t been to Dartmoor for such a long time that I’d got out of the habit of checking live firing times. I pulled over, and sure enough, the Okehampton range was live firing that day. Very annoying! Not to worry, I’d go to the one location that is accessible and might have snow on it, Belstone.
Arriving at the summit of Belstone it did indeed have snow on it, but only a light dusting. Enough to make it feel wintry. Not that I needed snow to feel that way. The freezing wind did a great job of that! The cold aside, it felt so good to be back up on Dartmoor, experiencing the wilderness and taking photographs.
I only captured one photograph which you can see below. The cloud cover was extensive as it was bringing in the snow, but the scene still makes for a good black and white photograph if you exclude most of the sky.
As I said, it was a great morning to be out on Dartmoor, and now that I’ve cleared most of my backlog of work, I’m really excited about spending a lot more time back out with the camera doing what I love.
Bite-Size Blog Post #52 - Loch Etive
The view down Loch Etive from the village where I grew up is something I will never bore of, especially when the light is great.
A View of My Homeland
Regular readers of this blog will know that I like to make regular trips back to my homeland in the highlands of Scotland. When I finished high school, I couldn't wait to leave and get to Glasgow, but now that I'm older (a fair bit older) and living in Exeter, I can't wait to get back!
It's not just that I have family who still live up there but it's also the draw of seeing that beautiful landscape again. Becoming a photographer has really opened my eyes to the beauty of the landscape and I appreciate it more than ever. Returning to Scotland is a joyful experience and seeing how it changes from season to season, and even from minute to minute is something I greatly value.
I recently took time off work and part of that holiday was taken in Scotland. I visited Edinburgh and of course Glen Coe, but I also made some time to visit my family in the village where I grew up. One our favourite things to do as a family is to go for a walk to the viewpoint that looks over Loch Etive and Ben Starav. Even when the weather is poor it's a stunning view. A view I will never bore off. Fortunately for me, on this visit the conditions were lovely and I was able to grab a quick shot. No time for tripods, filters and waiting about, so it was a quick handheld shot, but what a view!
Loch Etive, Scotland - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 120mm, f/11, 1/200 sec at ISO 1250.
Bite-Size Blog Post #51 - The Devil's Beef Tub
A scenic tourist drive between Moffat and Edinburgh reveals a location that forces me to pull over and admire the view.
Let's Save That One for Later
A few weeks ago, I took time off from work for a little holiday. Nothing extravagant, just a little vacation staying within the UK. I needed to take time to relax. My problem is that I can't seem to go on holiday without wanting to take all my camera gear with me. My idea of relaxing is to go on adventurous walks and take photographs!
This holiday, however, was not going to be that type of holiday. I would be going on adventurous walks, but the focus of those would be just to enjoy the experience of walking. And that's exactly what I did.
But clearly, I wouldn't be writing a blog post if I hadn't taken my camera gear with me! Of course I did, but I significantly cut down the amount of gear that I took. In fact, I really only took the camera with me so I could get nice photographs of my holiday.
It was fortunate that I did as during my drive from the Lake District to Edinburgh I drove past a location called The Devil's Beef Tub. A wonderful location with rolling hills and a dramatic hollow with a patchwork of colours and surface vegetation. Even in the middle of the day the scene stood out while driving along the road. So, I pulled over, grabbed the camera and captured this recce image. Sure, it's not going to win any awards, but it's given me a great reference shot for when I have time to plan a proper shoot there. And it's also a good reminder never to leave home without your camera!
The Devil’s Beeftub, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/11, 1/125 sec at ISO 400, handheld.
Bite-Size Blog Post #50 - Vixen Tor - Dartmoor
Despite Vixen Tor being very much out of bounds and on private land, there are still some wonderful viewpoints to photograph.
One is Not Welcome!
If you've watched my free watch video series Discovering Dartmoor, you'll know that in episode five I visited Vixen Tor. Well, I say visited, you can't actually visit Vixen Tor as it is on private land and access is prohibited. It's not even a tor you can go and sneakily access as it's surrounded by a stone wall and barbed wire!
However, that doesn't mean you can't photograph it. It just means you have to be a little further back and capture the tor as part of the wider landscape. That was exactly the approach I took when I filmed there for Discovering Dartmoor and as result of being forced to look beyond the tor, I discovered a wonderful panoramic view. Ever since that afternoon I've been eager to get back.
With me living east of Dartmoor and Vixen Tor being location the Western Edge, getting there always takes a little more effort but given that it's only a short walk from the road, I really should go there more often! However, for whatever reason I only recently returned to Vixen Tor to see if I could improve on the panoramic image that I captured during Discovering Dartmoor.
My hopes were high when I looked over to Vixen Tor one afternoon recently. It was near perfect conditions. The light was warm and soft, the trees were displaying their autumn colours, and the wind was light. Oh, and no sheep to spoil the composition! However, while there were great clouds in the sky, some of them looking very moody, there was an annoying gap between the horizon where the tor sat and dramatic clouds above. It was unfortunately a large gap somewhat making it difficult to create a balanced composition.
Vixen Tor Panorama, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-12-mm f/4 S at 54mm, f/8, 1/60 sect at ISO 200, 9 image stitched panoramic.
Not to be put off by a lack of clouds I tried to make the most of the scene by placing the tor and the surrounding landscape much lower in the frame so I could include a little of the moody sky. Has it worked? I'm not 100% convinced, but the more time I spend the more I grow to like the photographs, and they represent the wonderful the view I experienced that afternoon, and it has inspired me to return again very soon!
Vixen Tor, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-12-mm f/4 S at 69mm, f/13, 1/13 sect at ISO 64..