How Early Would You Get Up to Capture a Landscape Photograph?
Early morning for sunrise or late evening for sunset? Which type of landscape photographer are you? In this video I explain why I’m happy to set my alarm for 03:30 so I can see the sunrise at Bowerman’s Nose on Dartmoor.
Why Such an Early Start Just to Capture a Photo
There’s early starts, and then there are EARLY starts. Here in the south west of the UK during late spring and early summer when we approach the longest day, sunrise is as early as 5am and sunset after 9:30pm. (It’s even earlier and later in Scotland!). With those times I expect most of you are thinking that if you had the choice of sunrise or sunset photography, you would almost certainly pick a sunset shoot.
It appears I am a wired a little differently. I actually like getting up early in the morning. But 03:30? That seems a little too much effort, and in most circumstances you’d be right. It would be much easier to give up on sunrise landscape photography until late summer or early autumn.
However, there are some photographs that can only be captured at certain times of year, and sunrise at Bowerman’s Nose is one such photograph. As it’s such an beautiful location in spring, and you get a very different angle at that time of year, it’s one location I will happily set my alarm for 03:30. But, as I discuss in this video, it’s not just landscape photography that inspires me to get up that early.
Landscape Photographs of Bowerman’s Nose on Dartmoor National Park
Bowerman’s Nose at Sunrise #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO 800.
Bowerman’s Nose at Sunrise #3, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO 800.
Bowerman’s Nose at Sunrise #4, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/8 sec at ISO 250.
Kelp by Mark Littlejohn and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S07E06
In this episode of On My Bookshelf I dive into Kelp by Mark Littlejohn to see if this photography book is a book for your bookshelf.
The Beauty of Seaweed?
On paper, a photography book all about seaweed doesn’t sound that appealing. However, if that seaweed is kelp, and the photographer behind the camera is Mark Littlejohn, then you have to look at the prospect of such a book with very different eyes.
In this episode of On My Bookshelf I’m taking a look at Mark’s book of kelp photographs. Is it too repetitive, or is each photograph a unique work of art that highlights the colours, contrast, complexity, and elegance of kelp? Let’s find out.
Purchase Kelp by Mark Littlejohn
🛒 You can purchase Kelp by Mark Littlejohn directly from Kozu Books at - https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/kelp-by-mark-littlejohn
More Episodes of On My Bookshelf
🎞️ See more titles from Kozu Books in this On My Bookshelf playlist.
🎞️ Watch any of the On My Bookshelf episodes here.
Photographing Row Tor on Dartmoor for the 1st Time - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
There are Still Places I Haven't Photographed on Dartmoor
Over the three years that I filmed my video series Discovering Dartmoor I greatly expanded my knowledge of Dartmoor and the locations worth photographing. That combined with my 10 years of experience in capturing of landscape photographs of Dartmoor, you might think that I've photographed most of Dartmoor. Nothing could be further from the truth though, and as Dartmoor covers over 365 square miles, there is plenty left for me to photograph.
One such location is Row Tor on the northern edge of Dartmoor. I'm familiar with Row Tor as I've parked close by numerous times on my way to photograph a neighbouring tor. And this is perhaps the reason why I've not photographed it before. With so many great tors nearby such as Belstone Tor, East Mill Tor, Yes Tor, Oke Tor and West Mill Tor, poor old Row Tor didn't hold much interest for me.
But have I been missing out? Just because Row Tor is small, doesn't mean it's not worth photographing. So, let's find out if it is in my latest 5 Minute Photo Adventure.
Row Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 at 24mm, f/13, 1/4 sec at ISO 64.
Land and Light by Adam Gibbs - Episode 50 of On My Bookshelf S07E05
In this special 50th episode of On My Bookshelf I take a look at Land and Light by Adam Gibbs. Is this career spanning collection of photographs and stories a book for your bookshelf?
50 Episodes of On My Bookshelf
I want to start this blog post by announcing that this is the 50th episode of On My Bookshelf! When I started producing episodes in 2017, I never thought for one moment that I would reach episode 50! The fact that I've got to this number of episodes is testament to my passion for photography books. It's also a reflection that you like watching the show! So, thank you for all your support, no matter if you have watched just 1 episode or you are about to watch your 50th!
Land and Light
For this special 50th edition of On My Bookshelf I'm going to look at Land and Light by Adam Gibbs. I was lucky enough to receive my copy of Light and Land from Adam in person at the Photography Show in London earlier this year and I've been looking forward to reading it ever since. Now I can finally share my thoughts on it in an episode of On My Bookshelf. Enjoy!
🛒 You can purchase a copy of Land & Light by Adam Gibbs here - https://adamgibbs.com/books/landlight
Newbiggin Crags Limestone Pavement - Cumbria - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
Have you ever wished you could just pull of the motorway, take some landscape photographs, and then carry on with your journey? Then Newbiggin Crags Limestone Pavement just of the M6 could be the location for you!
That Was a Long Way for a 5 Minute Photo Adventure!
As many of you will know I grew up in Scotland, but I now live in Devon in the southwest of England. Even though the journey back to my homeland in the Highlands is over 500 miles, it's still a drive that I make several times a year. I go there to see family and of course to take photographs. This is why in amongst all my Dartmoor related content you'll see me post photos and videos about Glencoe and Kilchurn Castle.
It may seem bonkers, but I often make than journey in one go. I join the M5, start playing a new audiobook and drive until I get to my destination (stopping for comfort breaks of course). It takes approximately 10 hours and is frankly a little dull. The only thing that keeps me sane is the audiobook that is playing!
However, as I get older, my ability and willingness to drive for 10 hours dwindles. If I'm not stopping in Glasgow to see friends (which is still a long way), I now like to stop off overnight somewhere. This tends not to be anything flash. Just a Travelodge at a motorway service station.
Every time I stop though the photographer inside me wants to find somewhere to photograph, but I also don't want to drive miles away from the motorway. I'm not keen on adding 2 hours to an already 10 hour journey, regardless of if it is taken over two days or not. What I need are some locations near the northern end of the M6 (where I'm most likely to stop).
Fortunately, thanks my friend and fellow photographer Amy Bateman, I have been introduced to Newbiggin Crags Limestone Pavement, which is a very convenient 10 minutes from the M6. So, when I made my regular trip back to the Highlands last month I stopped off to take some photographs of the limestone pavement and I made it just as the sun was setting.
I hope you enjoyed that 5 Minute Photo Adventure. If you know of any locations close to a motorway, please do share them in the comments below.
Newbiggin Crag Limestone Pavement Photographs
Newbiggins Crag Limestone Pavement #1, Cumbria - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 64.
Newbiggins Crag Limestone Pavement #2, Cumbria - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/11, 0.5 sec at ISO 64.
Photographing Dartmoor's Yar Tor - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
Yar Tor - A Dartmoor Gem Just off the Road
One of the things I love most about Dartmoor is the ability to wander away from the roads and venture into heart of the national park. It's in these remote locations you can find some of Dartmoor's finest tors and, in the right conditions, they can make for some truly wonderful landscape photography subjects.
But long walks and big climbs aren't for everyone, so fortunately there are plenty of Dartmoor locations worth photographing that are close to a road. One such location is Yar Tor which is just a 15 minute and relatively flat walk from the B3357. It might not be the biggest or the grandest of Dartmoor's tors, but for those photographers willing to work for their compositions there a few photographic gems to be had.
I wrote about Yar Tor for the first time last year, but I decided to return recently so that I could film one of my 5 Minute Photo Adventures which I am delighted to be able to share with you below!
PS - Yar Tor is definitely a location I will be returning to so that I can photograph it again so don't be surprised to see another video from this location in the future. Don't want to miss it? Subscribe to my YouTube channel and/or my newsletter.
Yar Tor - Landscape Photographs of Dartmoor
Yar Tor at Sunset #1, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30m f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Yar Tor at Sunset #2, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30m f/4 S at 22mm, f/13, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Yar Tor at Sunset #3, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30m f/4 S at 15mm, f/13, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Aqua by Hans Strand and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S07E04
Hans Strand is a world-renowned nature, environmental and landscape photographer from Sweden. In this episode of On My Bookshelf I look at his latest book from Kozu Books, titled Aqua, to see if it is a book for your bookshelf.
Beautiful Photographs, Beautifully Printed
I expect many of you will have seen the work of Swedish photographer Hans Strand. His nature, environmental and landscape photographs have a global reach, and he is recognised as a leading photographer in his field. He also loves to publish books, including Beyond Landscape, which I covered in a previous episode of On My Bookshelf.
In this episode of On My Bookshelf I’m going to take a look at his latest book, Aqua. Is Hans’ collection of photographs that documents the beauty and complexity of glaciers, wetlands, lakes and rivers, a book for your bookshelf?
Purchase Aqua by Hans Strand
🛒 You can purchase Aqua by Hans Strand directly from Kozu Books at https://www.kozubooks.com/books-new/aqua-by-hans-strand
I Shouldn't Have Been Surprised - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure from Rippon Tor on Dartmoor
With little chance of capturing a compelling landscape photograph and filming a video that will likely never get published, I was ready to go home. But never right off Dartmoor. Dramatic conditions can be just a moment away.
That Was Truly Unexpected
The best time to make decision on where to photograph sunrise on Dartmoor is the night before. I like to make my choice, go to sleep, get up the following morning, grab my bag and a coffee then just go for it. Trying to make location decisions at 5am will lead to procrastination or worse, talking myself out of it and going back to bed (which is very rare).
However, sometimes it's worth just a quick scan of the weather forecast when I wake up, and the morning of this adventure, I'm glad I did. My original location on the western edge of Dartmoor had clouded over earlier than expected and so I needed a quick change of plan. The cloud was coming in from the west, so there was a chance that I might get a break in the cloud cover if I headed to the eastern edge of Dartmoor. With no time to consider a list of a possible locations I opted for one where I knew I'd stand the best chance of benefiting from a break in the cloud, and that was Rippon Tor.
As I drove along the M5 I could see it was looking a lot clearer towards the coast and I did consider making a very last minute change and heading to Dawlish Warren beach, but decided against it and thought it was best to stick to Dartmoor.
As I walked up to the summit of Rippon Tor, I thought I had made a mistake. It was very cloudy and the chances of seeing the sun looked very slim. As I was there I though, I might as well get my camera out. While the photographs I was taken were compositionally sound, they lacked the contrast and depth that the morning light would give them. They all looked a bit grey and flat.
Despite the flat light, I decided to start filming a video for YouTube. I honestly thought the video would never see the light of day, but after a 6 month break from making videos, this would at least be good practice and help me get back into the flow. What happened next was a surprise. It shouldn't have been. This is Dartmoor after all.
Unexpected Light on Rippon Tor - Dartmoor
Here’s the photo you saw me capture in the video:
Unexepected Light on Rippon Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/14, 1/3 sec at ISO 64.
From Dawn to Dusk - Mastering the Light in Landscape Photography - On My Bookshelf S07E03
Mark Bauer and Ross Hoddinott are two of the UK's leading landscape photographers and in this episode of On My Bookshelf I look at their latest book 'From Dawn to Dusk - Mastering the Light in Landscape Photography'.
An Updated Edition by Ross and Mark
Over the last few years Ross and Mark have been publishing updated editions of their co-authored books on landscape photography technique. Now it’s the turn of ‘From Dawn to Dusk: Mastering the Light in Landscape Photography’ to get the updated edition treatment.
I’m not going to say too much more here as I cover all the book essentials in the episode of On My Bookshelf below, but needless to say, if you are looking to improve your landscape photography technique and capture photographs no matter what time of day, then this book from two of Britain’s leading landscape photographers is probably for you.
Enjoy the episode!
Purchase Ross and Mark’s Books
🛒 Purchase 'From Dawn to Dusk: Mastering the Light in Landscape Photography, by Ross Hoddinott and Mark Bauer' here - https://amzn.to/4jPF8Ib
🎞️ Watch my 2018 interview with Mark and Ross about the 1st edition of 'From Dawn to Dusk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9M-V_75604.
Check out these other great books by Mark and Ross
🛒 Purchase 'Landscape Photography Workshop (Updated Edition)' - https://amzn.to/3qBTHIW
🎞️ Watch On My Bookshelf S06E02 'The Landscape Photography Workshop by Mark Bauer and Ross Hoddinott' - https://youtu.be/TCoLXnzInxs
🛒 Purchase 'The Art of Landscape Photography (Updated Edition)' - https://amzn.to/45Z3WHn
🎞️ Watch On My Bookshelf S05E02 'The Art of Landscape Photography by Ross Hoddinott & Mark Bauer' - https://youtu.be/OMLKcikpoJw
Please note that these are affiliate links (but not paid links or ads). By buying through these links I may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price for you.
West Mill Tor on Dartmoor - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
In this 5 Minute Photo Adventure I head to West Mill Tor where I find one of the most interesting clouds I think I’ve ever seen in the skies above Dartmoor.
Clouds - Sometimes You Only Need One
For me, the inclusion of a tor in one of my Dartmoor landscape photographs is one of the most important elements I can include in my compositions. While the foreground is critically important, it doesn't mean I dismiss what the sky is adding to my photographs. However, more often than not it's clear blue or flat grey skies on Dartmoor. Occasionally, these types of sky can be used effectively in compositions, but I much prefer a sky of broken clouds. This allows light to break through to the ground as well as providing visual interest to the composition.
A forecast of clear blue skies will normally be enough to put me off getting up very early in the morning to capture sunrise, but everyone now and again I'm willing to risk it just so I have the pleasure of getting out with my camera to watch the start of a new day.
This is exactly the attitude that got me to West Mill Tor one morning. It was forecast for blue skies and high winds, but I just wanted to get out and sometimes the conditions can be surprising and lead to interesting photographs.
When I arrived at West Mill Tor it was indeed very windy and the skies clear. Well, the skies were almost clear. There was one cloud in the sky, and it was a belter. It was the type of cloud that I don't think I've ever seen over Dartmoor before, and I therefore had to try and include it in my photographs. It was in an awkward position in the sky which limited my compositions, but I wasn't going to miss photographing it.
Was it worth sacrificing a better composition just to photograph a cloud? Judge for yourself in the 5 Minute Photo Adventure I made that morning. Enjoy!
West Mill Tor - Dartmoor Landscape Photographs
Here are the photographs of West Mill Tor that you saw in the video.
Explore and Discover Liverpool - A fotoVUE Guidebook by Geoff Drake - On My Bookshelf S07E02
In this special on-location edition of On My Bookshelf I show you how I used the book Explore & Discover Liverpool in the real world to make the most of my short visit to photograph the city of Liverpool.
Using a fotoVUE Guidebook to Explore and Discover Liverpool
If you've been reading this blog or watching my YouTube channel for a while, you'll know that I'm a big fan of fotoVUE books. Over the years they have published a wide range of photography centric guidebooks for locations across the UK and beyond. These guidebooks have been an invaluable guide to me and my photography. They haven't replaced my desire to go out and find my own locations, but they are there when I’m going somewhere new and I need some essential information such as how to get there, where to park, and what I could shoot. They help me make the most of my time at a location.
I have also featured some of the fotoVUE titles on the On My Bookshelf series. You can watch those videos here and you can see how I have put the information in these books to good use in a real world scenario.
All of those videos though have one thing in common though. They were predominately about outdoor or landscape photography (which shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as I am a landscape photographer!) I do also own copies of Photographing London Volume 1 and Explore & Discover Liverpool but these have been sitting on my bookshelf unused I'm ashamed to say. That is until now!
I was planning a trip up to Scotland from Devon to see some family and I thought that rather than driving for 10 hours, I might take a break somewhere. I was scouring through my fotoVUE books looking for somewhere to stop to take some landscape photos when I spotted my copy of Explore & Discover Liverpool. Liverpool is only a small diversion from my route up M6, so it seemed like the perfect place to spend a few hours. And a few hours is all I had so a good guidebook was going to be essential to help me maximise my time in Liverpool capturing photographs.
If you'd like to know more about this book and how I used it to capture photographs of Liverpool I produced this special on location edition of On My Bookshelf. Enjoy!
Buy Explore & Discover Liverpool
*** Use the discount code JULIAN to get 20% off all books at fotovue.com ***
If you want to add Explore and Discover Liverpool to your bookshelf, you can purchase it directly from fotoVUE here - https://fotovue.com/shop/books/explore-discover-liverpool/
My Liverpool Gallery
Here are the photographs I captured while I wandered around The Waterfront in Liverpool
Possibly My Favourite Viewpoint for Landscape Photography in Glencoe
Join me on another 5 Minute Photo Adventure to see why the view from Beinn a' Chrùlaiste towards Buachaille Etive Mòr is probably my favourite viewpoint in Glencoe.
Glencoe - A Landscape Photographers Favourite
Ask any landscape photographer which areas in Scotland are on their must shoot list you'd be hard to find a photographer that doesn't have Glencoe on that list. You might argue that there are better areas in Scotland to photograph, or areas that have been photographed less, but Glencoe resolutely remains a go to location for those armed with anything from a mobile phone to a large format film camera.
It's close proximity to Glasgow makes it relatively easy to get to but what really attracts photographers are it's many stunning viewpoints, many of which are on or close to a road. You'll find plenty of rivers and lochans to photograph, but the main star of the show has to be the mountains which dominate the area. I don't how many times I driven up onto the plateau at Glencoe, but each and every time the view takes my breath away.
Favourite or Best Glencoe Viewpoint
I would of course never proclaim that any particular Glencoe viewpoint is the best. The term best is very subjective and will vary from photographer to photographer. Even if you ask just one photographer, the answer you will most likely get is "it depends". Time of day, time of year and weather all play role in selecting which viewpoint is best for that moment in time.
There is one viewpoint in Glencoe that I keep coming back to you. It's a viewpoint that I will make the effort to photograph on just about every visit I make to Glencoe. With the exception of a small window in the winter where the sun rises from an awkward angle, it is my go to viewpoint. The viewpoint I am referring to is the view of Buachaille Etive Mòr (Stob Dearg) from the side of Beinn a' Chrùlaiste.
Buachaille Etive Mòr Sunrise #1, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 28mm, f/8, 1/6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
It's not the easiest of viewpoints to reach. With a full camera backpack on, the all up hill walk takes me 45 minutes (on a good morning). The walk isn't particularly technical (unless its snowy or icy), but it is a bit of a lung buster (depending on your fitness). Despite the effort required, I have never stood on the side of that mountain, watching the light from the rising sun illuminate the peak of Stob Dearg regretted. Sure, I've been cold, wet and hungry sometimes, but it's never taken away from the enjoyment of that special moment.
Buachaille Etive Mòr Sunrise #2, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 41mm, f/8, 1/6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
A 5 Minute Photo Adventure in Glencoe
So it should come as no surprise that on my recent visit to Scotland and to Glencoe I did that very thing. I set the alarm (very early), drove to Glencoe, and marched myself up to what is possibly my favourite viewpoint in Glencoe. If you want to know why I did this, then grab yourself a cup of coffee and watch the 5 Minute Photo Adventure video I made that morning.
Bonus Location - Lochan na h-Achlaise
My route home that morning took past another one of Glencoe's finest locations, Lochan na h-Achlaise. Normally by this point hunger would have me driving straight home for breakfast, but when I saw the reflections on Lochan na h-Achlaise there was no way I couldn't stop to take a closer look. It was late in the morning (relatively speaking to sunrise) so I already knew I probably wouldn't get any great photographs, but I had to at least try.
Lochan na h-Achlaise Reflections #1, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 59mm, f/11, 1/60 sec at ISO 200, Kase Filters CPL.
The most interesting thing about stopping there wasn't the stunning reflections but the fact that as I was walking along the lochan I met another photographer from Exeter! I travel all that way and I bump into someone from Devon! It's a small world for sure.
Lochan na h-Achlaise Reflections #1, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 46mm, f/11, 1/60 sec at ISO 200, Kase Filters CPL.
I hope you enjoyed this short blog post and video. What are your favourite Glencoe locations and what you most like to shoot next you are there? What's the furthest you've travelled only to bump into someone from your local area? Let me know in the comments below.
Natural Landscape Photography Awards Competition Books - On My Bookshelf S07E01
On My Bookshelf is back for a 7th series, and this first episode I look at the Natural Landscape Photography Awards competition books. Are these fine art hardback books for your bookshelf?
On My Bookshelf is Back for a 7th Series!
Photography books have always been an important part of my photography life and over the years I’ve collected enough photography books to fill numerous bookshelves! However, even with my healthy photography book obsession did I think I would have produced over 40 episodes, over 6 series, of On My Bookshelf! But here I am with the 46th episode and the start of series 7.
I’m starting the series with a category of book that I wouldn’t normally cover on On My Bookshelf, and that’s the photography competition book. But as you’ll see in the video, there’s two good reasons why I’m talking about the Natural Landscape Photography Awards books. Enjoy!
🛒 Purchase the Natural Landscape books - https://naturallandscapeawards.com/product-category/fine-art-photography-books/hardback/
✔️ Enter the Natural Landscape Photography Awards - https://naturallandscapeawards.com/
The 400th Blog Post - I'm Back on YouTube - Oke Tor, Dartmoor
That's right, I'm back on YouTube and giving my channel a reboot! In this first video of a packed schedule of upcoming videos, I visit Oke Tor on Dartmoor to capture some landscape photographs. I also talk about where I've been and more importantly, what I've got coming in the channel over the next few months.
I’m Back on YouTube!
The last time I shared a video on YouTube was back in August 2024 when I published the last episode of Discovering Dartmoor. If you are a regular visitor to my website, you know that the lack of videos didn’t mean a lack of photography though. Far from it. The Exposed Blog has been kept well up to date with all my photography adventures. So much so that I’m extremely proud to announce that this is my 400th blog post! When I started the blog back in 2016, I never thought I’d get to 400 posts but one thing I am confident of now is that I will definitely get to 500!
In my first video back, I keep things fairly simple. I head out to Oke Tor on photograph sunset over Dartmoor, and I talk a little bit about where I’ve been and more importantly what I’ve coming up in the channel over the next few months. Enjoy!
Oke Tor, Dartmoor
Here are the landscape photographs you saw me capture in the video,
Oke Tor #1, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30 f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Oke Tor #2, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30 f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 1/5 sec at ISO 64.
Photographing and Exploring the Cornwall's South West Coast
To celebrate my recent birthday, I got together with some friends who also happened to be photographers celebrating birthdays and headed to the Land’s End for a weekend of photography.
A Birthday Weekend Away
I recently had what one might call a "significant" birthday and since a couple of my photography friends had their birthdays within a few weeks of mine, we all decided that we should celebrate being older, more mature, wiser, or something like that. Basically, our birthdays just became an excuse to go away for the weekend with our cameras, drink some wine or beer, and eat cake, pizzas and pasties.
The world was our oyster though so we got a globe out, started spinning it, and randomly stopping it with our finger to see where we might go. Back in the real world though we had to be a lot more practical. We only had a couple of days for photography so we wanted to minimise the amount of driving we would undertake. There was also the consideration of the time of year, and the direction of the rising and setting sun.
To cut a long story short we decided that we would go down to very ends of England and go to the south west tip of Cornwall. It's an area that none of use frequently visit so we knew that we'd all get something from it photographically speaking.
Just a few weeks after booking our accommodation we hit the road and started our drive to the end of the world! Well, the end of England anyway.
Porth Nanven, Cornwall
First stop was the stunning beach at Porth Nanven. It's a location I've only visited twice, once in 2015 and then again in 2017, so I was long overdue a return visit. As soon as I arrived, I was reminded of why I love this place so much. The beach is littered with large boulders embedded in the sand. As the tide comes in the sea laps up around the rocks creating channels in the sand. Finding a composition at first can look a bit daunting, but once you get your eye tuned in, it’s a treasure trove of creative possibilities.
Porth Nanven, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/11, 1 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
It was the middle of day when we arrived but there was plenty of cloud cover to help diffuse the light. I had a wonderful time finding different compositions and opting for black & white when I wanted to focus more on contrast and texture. It was a great way to start our photography holiday!
Botallack Mine, Cornwall
Botallack mine was made famous in the Poldark TV series, but for many photographers it was already iconic. Arriving at Botallack we did the most important thing first and head to the café for coffee and cake! Refuelled we headed down to look upon the crown engine houses which seem to precariously built of the edge of a cliff!
But it's the dramatic location of these buildings that make this such a great scene to photograph. Ideally you want some stormy conditions, so the waves crash against the rocky coastline, but we appear to have turned up on very calm day. However, in the right light, it's still well worth photographing. We had hope the light would continue right up to sunset but a heavy covering a cloud prevented any colour appearing in the sky. That wasn't a reason to leave early though, so we kept shooting right up until it got dark.
Botallack, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 37mm, f/11, 10 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Logan Rock, Cornwall
The heavy cloud we had been experiencing on the first day was replaced by blue skies the following morning. There was a little bit of cloud here and there, but not enough to add interest to the compositions we were making from the viewpoint towards Logan Rock.
I wasn't feeling inspired, so I decided to walk along the coast path to get closer to Logan Rock. This proved to be a positive step as photographing Logan Rock from a different angle brought in what little cloud there was into the frame. The downside was that from this different angle there wouldn't be much in the way of light hitting the land. It did however catch a couple of the rocky peaks on Logan Rok.
Logan Rock, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 35mm, f/11, 10 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Though not the greatest morning of photography, it was a real delight to be on the coast watching the sunrise somewhere new.
Logan Rock, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 4 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Walking and Return to Botallack
To fill the time between sunrise and sunset we decided to go on a long walk to look at some new viewpoints. It was a beautiful day. Not great for photography, but for a walk & talk with friends, it was perfect. We ended up back at Botallack for more coffee and cake, and to take a couple more photos of te crown engine houses..
Botallack, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 39mm, f/11, 2 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Land's End, Cornwall
To end the day there really was only one location we wanted to photograph and that was Land's End. With it's unique geology, high cliffs, and dramatic coastline it can be exciting place to photography. However, the clear skies and calm conditions from earlier that day had continued into the evening. With neither crashing waves or clouds to catch the light from the setting sun, I felt it left the photographs without much punch. As always though, despite the conditions not being what I might have wanted, just being there was a treat. There is something about being on the coast at sunset that can fill your heart with joy! And that's exactly how I felt as it got dark, and we headed home.
Land’s End, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
I would very much like to spend more time in this area, but it’s a 2.5 hr drive there so it's not exactly a drive you make on a whim to catch sunset. But it has made me appreciate what a spectacular part of the world I live in for photography. So of course I'll be back. Hopefully with friends again. Hopefully to capture even better photographs!
Land’s End, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Bite-Size Blog Post #44 - West Mill Tor - Dartmoor National Park
In the blog this week I head to West Mill Tor on #Dartmoor after I was told it was "it's much more interesting" than East Mill Tor. Find out if it is and see what I else I captured that morning.
East vs West
No, I'm not about start writing about the current political situation but rather East Mill Tor vs West Mill Tor. I recently shared a blog post featuring East Mill Tor and I received a comment on social media that said, "Might as well go to West Mill, it's a much more interesting tor". I'm not one to ignore some feedback, so I did just that and went to West Mill Tor.
It's not that I agree with the comment. East Mill Tor is in fact one of my favourite tors, but it did remind me that I haven't photography West Mill Tor in two years, and it was time to return. East Mill Tor and West Mill Tor, despite their closeness, are very different looking locations, but I wouldn't say that one is more interesting than the other.
All that east vs west stuff aside, West Mill Tor is worth photographing. As you can see from the photographs in this post, it was definitely worth shooting that morning.
When I arrived though, it wasn't obvious that it was going to be a good morning. There was a lot of cloud about, and because it was also cold, and windy enough that I felt I needed to hold onto my tripod, I wasn't exactly what you might call "feeling it". But there is one lesson I've learnt from the decade that I've been photographing Dartmoor and that's not to give up too soon. I have left a location too soon before and been very, very disappointed with my apparent lack of dedication to my art!
Waiting for the conditions to change doesn't mean one should just stand around scrolling Instagram. No, it's the perfect opportunity to explore a location. Even if I've found a composition that I'm reasonably happy with, I will use the time to move about my spot to see what else I can see. More often than not, even a small movement to the left or right can produce a very different composition. This should be demonstrated in the set of photographs below. All were taken within one or two paces of each other. It's one of the reasons why I like photographing Dartmoor. The foregrounds can be complicated/busy, but they provide you with a lot of compositional variety.
West Mill Tor #3, Dartmoor National Park - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/3 sec at ISO 64.
It can be a bit of a lottery with how the weather conditions will change on Dartmoor at dawn. Frequently they stay poor or get worse. But every now and again they clear up just enough to give you a little bit of light on the landscape. And sometimes all you need is a little bit of light. Some light to catch the tops of the grasses and to add contrast and depth to the tor.
It was a great morning up on West Mill Tor and I captured a series of photographs that I'm very happy with. I still wouldn't say that West Mill Tor is more interesting than East Mill Tor (or vice versa) but I am glad someone reminded me to go photograph it again.
My Favourite Landscape Photograph of 2024 - Bowerman's Nose, Dartmoor
This week's blog covers my favourite photo from 2024: Bowerman's Nose on Dartmoor. It might be one of my best shots of Dartmoor.
An Iconic Dartmoor Location
Looking at my Free Landscape Photography Locations Map, I can see that I have published photographs of Bowerman’s Nose on this blog 14 times. Even if you don’t include the visits where I haven’t created a video or blog post, it’s fair to say that I’ve spent a lot of time at Bowerman’s Nose.
But why would I keep returning to this location? For me at least, it’s one of Dartmoor’s most iconic locations. Dartmoor National Park is covered in beautiful tors, with each one having its own characteristics and geology. But Bowerman’s Nose is unique, in at least as far as I’m aware, it’s the only tor comprised of a single stack of rock over 6 m tall. It protrudes out of the land and stands out against the rest of the landscape.
Its unique shape isn’t it’s only draw. To the east of Bowerman’s Nose is a hill, but in all other directions the view opens and on a good day you can see for miles. The view to the west of Hamel Down and Easdon Down is particularly beautiful. It’s a location that contains almost everything you want from a Dartmoor scene.
However, after more than 14 visits you would have thought I’d have all the photographs I’d want of Bowerman’s Nose. While I have captured many nice photographs of Bowerman’s Nose, I’d always felt I could get a better composition, and with better light and more drama. Something that captured the essence of this iconic Dartmoor location.
What Makes this Photograph So Special?
Photography is hugely subjective. What I find appealing in a photograph could be the opposite of what you think. So, when I say this is photograph is special, it’s special to me. But hopefully you’ll like it too!
For me, the photograph in this blog post is not only the best photograph I have taken of Bowerman’s Nose, but it’s also my favourite photograph that I captured in 2024, and it’s one of the best photographs of Dartmoor National Park I think I’ve ever captured. Let me explain why.
An Autumnal Sunset at Bowerman's Nose, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 1/20 sec at ISO 800.
I’ll split the photo up into three layers, foreground, midground and background. All three layers add something to the photograph. In the foreground the striking rusty brown autumnal colours of the bracken create a slight V-shape at the bottom of the composition. This helps to frame the lower part of the image, stopping the eye from wandering out of the photograph. There is the tiniest bit of movement in some of the bracken, but it’s not a distraction and movement is very much a part of most the Dartmoor landscape!
Moving through from the foreground to the midground, the rocks and the undulating ground have caught the soft light from the setting sun off to the left. This not only adds warmth to the foreground, but it also adds contrast and depth. These qualities continue with Bowerman’s Nose itself. As dramatic as this tor is, it still looks like a lump of grey granite in flat light. The light hitting the left side brings to tor to life and you can more clearly see its lines, layers and shape.
Moving to the background, with the rolling hills of Dartmoor and a dramatic sky. While there isn’t any dappled light on the hills, this does help the tor that does have light on it, stand out further from the background. But the star of the show for the background is the sky. I’ve been craving for a sky like that in my previous Bowerman’s Nose photos. For me, the sky is perfect balance between colour and cloud. The heavier, darker clouds at the top create a frame for the top of composition and add a bit of drama. But there is also a small gap on the horizon where there is a small patch of blue sky and some of clouds are being lit by the setting sun. I find this balance very pleasing.
Putting all those three layers together delivers what I consider to be a classic Dartmoor landscape photograph. There’s light, colour, drama, texture, nature and an odd shaped bit of granite! No one element dominates the other.
Planning and Preparation
With all that I’ve said you would expect me to tell you that this photograph is one that came about because of planning and preparation. Well, this photograph was unplanned and my expectations that afternoon were low. I knew the sun was setting in a favourable direction, and the weather forecast was OK, but I’d never photographed Bowerman’s Nose in November, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.
When I arrived, I started photographing the compositions that I’d shot lots of times before, but they just weren’t exciting me. Neither was the weather. It all felt a bit repetitive and with no exciting light I thought about going home. But I decided that would be a waste of time and that I should use the time to explore and find new compositions.
You might now expect me to tell you that when I found this composition I was immediately taken with it. But I wasn’t. I don’t even remember being that excited about the picture when I took it. It wasn’t until I got home, and I saw the photograph on my screen that it stood out and I thought I really had something. After editing, the photograph came to life and the more I looked at it, the more I loved it. By the time I had made a print of it, I knew I had something very special.
I don’t often write about my photographs like this. This is because I don’t capture images like this all the time. Which makes it even more special when I do. I just hope I don’t have to wait too long to feel this way again.
A Landscape Photography Adventure in Glencoe
There can't be many better locations to start your 2025 with than Glencoe! In this blog post I share the stories and photographs of the few days I spent there in January. You may be surprised by what you see!
Just a Few Days to Photograph Glencoe
When I started planning my Christmas holiday to Scotland, I was excited about all the things I would enjoy over the festive period. Over the two weeks I would be spending there I'd have plenty of time eat, drink and be merry with my family. I would also have time for another indulgence, namely landscape photography. With Glencoe only being a 60-minute drive from my family home in Argyll it's an easily accessible location. Not only would I have access to some of Scotland's most stunning scenery, with sunrise just before 9am and sunset around 4pm, I would still have plenty of time each evening to socialise with family.
However, the weather gods had other ideas! From the moment I arrived there was a low bank of solid grey cloud covering the landscape. A completely flat, featureless, grey overcast sky. This went on for days. I don't think I saw blue sky or a mountain peak for a week! Not to worry though. It was Christmas so I just ate and drank my way through it!
Finally, after nearly two weeks of truly awful weather it did start to break and with the forecast finally predicting something that might result in reasonable conditions for photography, I was super eager to get up to Glencoe. I would have to work hard though. It was the last few days of my holiday, so I'd had a lot of photography to catch up on!
Here are some of the locations I photographed in Glencoe.
Rannoch Moor - Glencoe
As far as roadside locations go in Glencoe it's hard to beat the lochs around Rannoch Moor. It is a location that I've not had a lot of success at though. It has a lot of great elements to work with such as mountains and islands, but without reflections in the lochs it can leave the foreground looking a little empty.
Arriving near Lochan nah-Achlaise things weren't looking promising. Even though it didn't feel particularly windy, it was windy enough to remove all reflections from the loch which was a shame as the mountains were snowcapped and had taken on a beautiful pink tone from the rising sun.
Lochan nah-Achlaise, Glencoe Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/11, 10 seconds at ISO 64, 4 image panoramic crop (6:17).
As pleasing as the scene was, I needed to look for something a bit different. Fortunately, I was there with a friend and she gave me a heads up on spot that might be worth photographing as the water in the foreground was broken up by some land. At first, I wasn't that excited about it, but then I considered it might be a scene that would look better as a black and white photograph. I immediately switched my Nikon Z8 to the Deep Monochrome profile and I was instantly captivated by the photograph. The scene became less about the reflections and more about the dark and light of the landscape.
Lochan nah-Achlaise, Glencoe Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/13, 60 seconds at ISO 64.
I am creating more black and white photographs but I’m not sure if it works. What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.
River Coupall and Buachaille Etive Mòr
I visited the stretch of the River Coupal that sits beneath the mighty Buachaille Etive Mòr twice during my time at Glencoe. It's an interesting stretch of river with plenty of sections with fast flowing water but balancing the composition wasn’t easy, and for most of my time there I only had cloud on the left side of the mountain!
This first image, taken close to sunset, was originally taken as colour, but I later edited as black and white as I found the different colour palettes between the mountain, the foreground and the relatively clear sky distracting.
River Coupall and Buachaille Etive Mòr, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 0.4 secs at ISO 64.
Returning a couple of days later presented a different set of challenges. For much of the morning Buachaille Etive Mòr was covered in cloud and when it did finally clear and you could see the peak, there was a distracting band of fog around the base of the mountain. This fog "disconnected" the mountain from the rest of the landscape. However, landscape photography is often a game of patience, and it eventually did clear.
River Coupall and Buachaille Etive Mòr, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/13, 0.5 secs at ISO 320.
The light remained flat that morning so for me it's the black and white photograph I like the most as it helps bring out the shades and textures of the scene.
River Coupall and Buachaille Etive Mòr, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/13, 0.5 secs at ISO 320.
River Etive, Glencoe
One spot that I'd never photographed in Glencoe was the River Etive, so when the sky became overcast and the light flat, I thought it would be a good opportunity to photograph some waterfalls. The River Etive flows from the A82 near Buachaille Etive Mòr all the way down to the top of Loch Etive. The drive of 12 miles, which follows the river to the loch is beautiful. But it's single track and full of twists and turns, and it's one way in and one way out. So, give yourself plenty of time if want to drive it.
Fortunately for me the waterfalls I had marked out were near the A82 end of the Glen Etive road, so despite the temptation to drive that road again to Loch Etive, I didn't have far to go before getting my camera out.
There are three waterfalls in short succession, but it was the first waterfall that stood out for me the most. With the mountains in the background, the frost/ice covered rocks and a good flow of water, I thought it made for an interesting composition. There were challenges though, many of which were the rocks which were very icy and therefore slippy. With the potential to slip, break my camera equipment or fall in the icy water, a great deal of caution was used, limiting how I positioned the camera. But despite the challenges, and the flat light, it's a photograph I am happy with.
River Etive, Glen Etive (Glencoe), Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f4 at 17mm, f/13, 0.5 secs at ISO 800.
When I took the photograph, I already had the camera in a black and white profile, so that was my original intention for the image. But I did also process one of the frames as colour. I'm not sure if colour version works as well but I've included it here as a comparison to see what you think.
River Etive, Glen Etive (Glencoe), Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f4 at 17mm, f/13, 0.5 secs at ISO 800.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe
OK, Kilchurn Castle isn't technically in Glencoe, but I have included it as it's near to my family home and was part of my festive landscape photography adventure. Despite its obvious popularity with landscape photographers, it's a location that I will always visit when I'm in the area. But because of its popularity it is also hard to find an original composition and to take a truly unique photograph.
For me though, this isn't a reason not to photograph it. I principally take photographs for my own enjoyment and Kilchurn Castle is a location I love to photograph. A ruined castle on the banks of Loch Awe with mountains in the background is a big draw for me as a photographer. I just needed a morning with the conditions I was looking for. Glassy reflections, mist, and mountains with clouds above them. Not too much to ask is it!
The morning I visited Kilchurn Castle I knew I wouldn't get those conditions, but if I could get a pleasing photograph I would be happy. I decided to opt for a slightly different composition than I normally go for. The mountains in the background were capped with snow so I decided to position myself further along the bank so the castle would be below them.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 44mm, f/11, 30 seconds at ISO 64.
As the light from the rising sun started to appear it added a beautiful pink glow to snowcapped mountains. When the wind was calm the scene was reflected in the calm waters of the loch. It did however take some time for the light to reach the castle and by the time it did the light on the mountains was a bit too harsh. It was a shame that I didn't get the reflections, the pink mountains and a bit of light on the castle all at the same time, but despite that I still got some photographs I was happy with.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 42mm, f/11, 1/30th seconds at ISO 64.
The main thing, as always, is that I very much enjoyed my time there. It's a classic scene and just being there to watch the start of a new day is a delightful thing.
Buachaille Etive Beag, Glencoe
Buachaille Etive Beag, affectionally known as The Little Buachaille, isn't a mountain to be ignored. OK, it's big brother Buachaille Etive Mòr is more iconic, but it's hard to drive by The Little Buachaille without being just as impressed. It towers above Lochan na Fola and for a roadside location, it's location that should be on any landscape photographs Glencoe itinerary.
My first photo of Buachaille Etive Beag was taken just before sunset. I was a little late arriving as photographing this location was a bit of a last-minute decision. I may have missed better light, but as you can see, in the right conditions the reflections can be wonderful. I've photographed this view before, and I prefer my previous compositions that have been wider. Still, for a grab shot at the end of day, I'm pleased with the result.
Buachaille Etive Beag, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 1.3 sec at ISO 64.
Returning a few days later the conditions were quite different. A fresh coating of snow had changed the look and feel of the location, and with no reflections on the lochan I decided to look for something different. Wandering around the edge of the lochan I soon came across an area where some rocks in the water that had a layer of snow on them. They looked like little white islands, and I thought they would make for a good foreground in my composition. Positioning the closest rock was tricky as it was close to the bank of the loch. I had little choice but to place it near the edge of frame, and while I would like the rock to have had more space, the composition still works.
Buachaille Etive Beag, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 1/4 sec at ISO 64.
A bit further along you find one of the burns that feeds into the lochan. For me, this scene immediately screamed black and white as it was already almost completely void of colour anyway. It took a while to position the burn in the frame so that I could make the most of that beautiful s-shape, but my biggest choice was how much polarisation to use.
In this photograph I have some polarisation, allowing some of the water to reflect light.
Buachaille Etive Beag, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 64.
In this next version though, I have almost completely polarised the water turning it jet black, which in my opinion is a great contrast to the white of snow, making the s-bend of the burn a more prominent feature. However, I'm not totally convinced either way. What do you think?
Buachaille Etive Beag, Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 22mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 64.
Returning to Glencoe
That’s all from this adventure and I hope you enjoyed all the photographs I captured. I have to admit, I was suprirsed by how black and white photos I captured. But it’s a pleasant surprise and it’s a sign of how my photography is developing.
I will be returning to Glencoe in the near future, so stay tuned to the blog!
Bite-Size Blog Post #43 - Belstone Common - Dartmoor National Park
In this blog post I share with you some of the photographs I captured from the recent snowfall on Dartmoor, and I discuss some of the compositional challenges when there is "too much snow".
A Reminder of the Dangers of Driving in the Snow
I recently wrote in blog about how I photographed Dartmoor in the snow over a period of three days. We are lucky to get one day of snow on Dartmoor before it clears, so I felt fortunate to get out with my camera three times over three days. Aside from a tricky exit from one car park, driving around Dartmoor in the snowy conditions wasn't too bad and it gave me a bit of confidence to try it again should there be another snowfall.
As if luck was on my side, it was early on in January when Dartmoor experienced another dumping of snow. Eager to get out there and add to my library of snowy Dartmoor pictures I ventured out in the car to photograph the area around Row Tor in the Okehampton military zone. The driving conditions on the main roads weren't too bad, but as always, a little extra caution was called for.
All was going well until I started heading up Station Road in Okehampton where there is less traffic and steeper roads. There was clearly ice and snow on the road, but I was feeling bold, and I was eager to capture some photos, so I kept going. Station Road soon turned into Tors Road, and this is where things got tricky. Tors Road is particularly steep in places, and with very little traffic on that road (and certainly no gritting trucks), I found my car sliding on the ice.
I thought I might be able to make it to the boundary of the military camp, but even if I did, coming back down would be horrible. With the likelihood of the car sliding even under gentle braking, I really didn't fancy descending Tors Road and then sliding into something and damaging my car or someone else's property. So, I made a very careful three point turn and slowly descended back into Okehampton. It was a sensible decision.
However, I didn't want to just give up on my desire to capture photographs that morning. With sunrise getting ever closer there was only one place that I thought I could get a car close enough to and that was Belstone.
I had to drive carefully up the country lane to Belstone, but it was passable. I did the sensible thing and parked in the main car park and started the walk up to Belstone Common. It was a beautiful morning and Belstone village looked like a winter picture post card. Up on the moor the walking was hard going as the snow was deep. I was glad I was wearing my Muck Boot Artic Sport wellies!
Too Much Snow for Belstone?
A Snowy Belstone Tor #1, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/13, 1/15 sec at ISO64
I was surprised to see a few folk up on Belstone at that time of morning, especially with so much snow. My first concern was that they might have already walked through the snow and left foot prints but fortunately for me this wasn’t the case.
Belstone is a place I have photographed numerous times of the years, and I have compositions I know work well. However, as pretty as the snow was, there was more there that I'd ever experienced on Dartmoor and its presence considerably change the look of the location. Compositions featuring my favourite rock formations lost a lot of their definition under a blanket of snow. Don't get me wrong, the snow looked beautiful and some of the patterns that the wind had shaped the snow into looked amazing. But it was hard work finding compositions.
A Snowy Belstone Tor #2, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 1/30 sec at ISO64
Another challenge was the mostly clear blue sky. With a very white foreground and a blue sky, I felt the scene lacked interest or drama. It was certainly wonderful to look at, but that doesn't always make for a compelling photograph.
While I am often critical of my photographs because I either should have composed them better or the conditions weren't right, the one thing I always do is enjoy my time while I'm out with the camera and I most certainly enjoyed my morning on Belstone Common. Watching the sunrise over the rolling hills of a snowy Dartmoor was a joyous experience and one that I would happily do again.
A SNowy Irishman’s Wall, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 26mm, f/13, 1/20 sec at ISO64
Bite-Size Blog Post #42 - East Mill Tor - Dartmoor National Park
In my blog this week I head to one of my favourite Dartmoor locations, East Mill Tor.
East Mill Tor - A Gem in Northern Dartmoor
To me East Mill Tor is one of Dartmoor's more unique locations to photograph. It's not that the rock stack at the northern edge of the tor is particularly special or that the surrounding landscape has any distinctive features. The stand out element are the small pools of water that are dotted about. It's not the only location on Dartmoor where a tor is near water, but I can't think of any other Dartmoor location where the water is close enough to the tor so that they can both be effectively placed in a composition.
It's not an easy location to photograph effectively either. Direction of light is critically important and obviously there needs to have been sufficient rainfall to fill the pools with water. (With no other source of water they are just muddy holes in the ground without rain). The most challenging bit is setting up the composition.
There are some elements of the composition I can't control, namely the weather. Cloud cover is critically important. Blue skies can be boring, while too much cloud blocks the light from the rising sun. A little wind is OK, and I find some movement in grasses rather pleasing as it adds a dynamic element to the composition.
The bit of the composition that keeps me coming back though is the placement of the pool and the tor in the frame and what their relationship is. A wide angle lens makes the pool appear more dominate in the frame but then makes the tor look further away. Polarisation of the pool is also a fine balancing act. Too much and the water can look black, and too little polarisation and pool has too much reflected light on it.
The final part of the jigsaw for me is where to place the tor and water. Stepping left and right, or panning the camera left and right will change the position of the tor in relation to the pool. Where this objects are placed can significantly change the balance of the composition. Despite several visits to this location, and ignoring all the other aspects of shooting here, I don't think I've created a composition where the balance feels perfect.
East Mill Tor, Dartmoor National Park, Devon - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 3 secs at ISO 64.
In the photo for this blog post I have the pool centrally placed and the tor off to the left hand side. Does it work? Yes. Could it be better? Possibly. I'll just have to come back and try again. But that's no bad thing.