MOUNTAINS
Mystical, magical, the wildest environment hostile to humans, yet one which draws you and entices you to explore. As the air is forced over the tops, the weather changes with a unique microclimate, and a vista that changes with every minute. To sit and watch it all play out in the mountains, is to find peace in the world.
Stob Dearg at Sunrise
A classic Scottish landscape which needs little introduction, I have wanted to capture a winter sunrise here for some time, but the weather never plays ball when I am there, and it is a long way from Dorset! This morning turned out grey, so I started to seek reflections, when a magical band of orange light burst through the clouds, before disappearing seconds later.
Stob Dearg and the White Croft
Rainbows, Holme Fell
A lone Erratic, Souther Scales
A lone erratic on the limestone pavement at Souther Scales, under the flanks of a brooding Ingleborough. This was my first visit back here since I was a child, and I will certainly return.
Cotton Fields and Tryfan
A bank of cotton grass drifting in the wind, with Tryfan and the Glyders in the background. I love this angle fo try, as it seems sharper from this angle than any other.
The Road II, Little Langdale
I spotted this composition one morning when making the brutal ascent of Great Intake for Sunrise, and knew I had to come back. I love this little farm at Bridge End, and the old Tilberthwaite Road curves and around it, off into the distance. I wanted shadows on the fields, but light on the farm, and it took many hours of waiting for the light to do what I wanted.
Autumn Light, The Langdales
One of those days where light dance on the land, and the shadow of Pike O'Stickle falls onto Mickleden.
Autumn Light II, The Langdales
One of those days where light dance on the land, and the shadow of Pike O'Stickle falls onto Mickleden.
A lone Erratic, Souther Scales
A lone erratic on the limestone pavement at Souther Scales, under the flanks of a brooding Ingleborough. This was my first visit back here since I was a child, and I will certainly return.
Birch Tree IV, Holme Fell
A favourite tree of mine, this time viewed looking east at dawn, towards Middle Dodd.
Sunrise Over the Langdale Pikes From Blea Tarn III
This view needs no introduction, for it is one of the most photographed out there. I often have this debate (mostly with myself) as to whether I should visit iconic viewpoints, photographed many time before. But I strongly believe you should. Not only to create your own interpretation, but also simply to enjoy. Conditions are never the same twice, and one of the key points of landscape photography is to experience, and appreciate. I could happily go here again and again, and just sit in awe, soaking up one of my favourite views. And then, why not take a few pictures while you are there?
Queen of the Fells
The Herdwick is the hardiest sheep there is, and the only breed able to cope with the harsh mountain environment. They can often seem camouflaged, but also like to observe from rocky promontories, to survey the land. I love these sheep so much that we keep a small flock of them here in Dorset, to remind me of the Lakes.
Lingmoor from Great Intake
Storm Clouds, Wensleydale
Glencoe
Skiddaw and Derwentwater in Winter
Autumn Greens by the Eltermere Inn II
Brathay Panorama
Storm Sky, Holme Fell
Blea Tarn
I wouldn't normally photograph this sort of location during the middle of the day, but I was here nevertheless, and I love this composition, and the dance of the light, It reminds me of the great Lakeland painter William Heaton Cooper, and in some ways it is very similar to his painting of the same view, with subtle brush stroke tones.
Sunrise Over the Langdale Pikes From Blea Tarn I
This view needs no introduction, for it is one of the most photographed out there. I often have this debate (mostly with myself) as to whether I should visit iconic viewpoints, photographed many time before. But I strongly believe you should. Not only to create your own interpretation, but also simply to enjoy. Conditions are never the same twice, and one of the key points of landscape photography is to experience, and appreciate. I could happily go here again and again, and just sit in awe, soaking up one of my favourite views. And then, why not take a few pictures while you are there?
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Last Light, Little Langdale
In autumn, the sun never hist this part of the valley, and it is always in shadow. Mist lingered, and created these beautiful rays which spotlight the beautiful Larches by the tarn.
Cadair Idris in Winter II
With snow on the mountain, and fair weather, a trip up the mountain just had to be be made and what a day it turned out to be. Hazy sunshine all day with a soft glow, bitterly cold with powdery snow, just magical, and one of those days that stays with you forever. One happy photographer, and an equally happy spaniel for company.
Autumn Greens by the Eltermere Inn
Stob Core Nam Beith
Gold in Glencoe, while snow capped Stob Core Nam Beith towers above.
Rays over Great Intake
Wetherlam and the Oak
The oak stands proud on a mound in Little Langdale , and on this occasion the mist just provided enough separation to showcase it beautifully underneath Wetherlam.
Queen of the Fells
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With snow on the mountain, and fair weather, a trip up the mountain just had to be be made and what a day it turned out to be. Hazy sunshine all day with a soft glow, bitterly cold with powdery snow, just magical, and one of those days that stays with you forever. One happy photographer, and an equally happy spaniel for company.
Cregennan Lake, Frozen
Lingmoor over Elterwater
A misty autumn afternoon, beautiful to watch as the mist poured down from the fells, and out through the river on to Elterwater below.
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Cadair Idris in Winter III
With snow on the mountain, and fair weather, a trip up the mountain just had to be be made and what a day it turned out to be. Hazy sunshine all day with a soft glow, bitterly cold with powdery snow, just magical, and one of those days that stays with you forever. One happy photographer, and an equally happy spaniel for company.
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Cadair Idris in Winter IV
With snow on the mountain, and fair weather, a trip up the mountain just had to be be made and what a day it turned out to be. Hazy sunshine all day with a soft glow, bitterly cold with powdery snow, just magical, and one of those days that stays with you forever. One happy photographer, and an equally happy spaniel for company.
Dawn over Uig Bay, Isle of Lewis
We stopped in the magnificent Big bay on Lewis for a few days, a huge bay filled with white sands, turquoise seas, and brooding mountains. This was dawn captured from the north side, with subtle pink hues.
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The Cuillins from Elgol
The Cuillins from Sligachan, Isle Of Skye
The Quiraing, Isle of Skye
Old Man of Storr
Bridge End Farm, Little Langdale I
Snow on Cadair Idris from Broadwater
In 2010, I was lucky to live in arose just tot he left of this image, and never tired of this view, this was my daily dog walk. What a place.