April photography got off to a slow start, my first jaunt out was to Buttermere on a cold but clear spring morning for some Lake District sunrise photography.
It was a bit of a punt as the weather gods were not lining up for anything special, still you need to be in it to win it, as they say.
Buttermere
This being one of the best photography locations in the Lake District, upon arrival, I was feeling quite confident that the weather conditions would develop and allow me to get some decent photographs.
Despite being the lone photographer here, I just stood and soaked up the atmosphere, a very slight breeze, which was swirling around, but leaving flat calm water in patches, clouds developing and the sun slowly lifting itself from the horizon.
Time to get busy with the camera as the light began to develop, but being very conscious of the ever-increasing dark clouds being blown across the lake from the southwest, Lake District photography at its best.
A short walk further along the lakes shore created some alternative compositions which were eagerly snapped up.
It was soon time to head home; the thought of a wholesome cooked breakfast was calling me home.
Catbells
My next adventure was off to Derwentwater with the sole aim of capturing some special photographs of Catbells, in what I was going to be calm and pleasant conditions, and is one of the best photography locations in the Lake District
I was very conscious of the ever earlier alarm call in the mornings to get out intime for sunrise, we are heading for that silly season form late May to July.
I arrived well before sunrise with the conditions not looking too good, but it was early.
The light was poor, but there was very little wind, and a superb lake surface which was reflecting the fells on the far side of the lake.
I was set up and waiting for the conditions, during which I had a good conversation with a couple of fellow photographers, one from the South of the country, and one from the North East .
Here is me complaining about having to get up at daft o’clock, but these two have travelled considerable distances to photograph the Lakes.
The light arrived along with a very nice umbrella of clouds, these creating very nice, dappled light across the fells opposite.
I made the decision not to move, stay put in the hope that the conditions would come to me, and boy was it the correct decision.
Here I was, in the same position and my fellow photographer was returning from his walk along the lake’s shores, he must have thought that I was daft.
Having captured some quaint wide-angle images, it was time to attach the longer lens to start picking out more intimate shots
After nearly 3 hours, it was time to pack-up head back to the car and look forward to editing the images that I had captured.
Hardknott Fell
Late last year I headed to Hardknott Fell for a sunrise shoot, only to be thwarted by a road closure which prevented me driving to the fell.
My plan for Hardknott had not left me, so as we were experiencing some unusual fine spring weather with late sunsets of 8.30 pm, I decided to drive down to Hardknott Fell to have a mooch about.
Has I was driving south along the main Workington to Barrow road (A595) I realised how much traffic is created at end of the day shift at Sellafield, the road north was gridlocked all the way, strange how you except these conditions when you are part of it for years and years.
I was soon at the bottom of Hardknott Pass, an intimidating view when looking up as the road meanders up the side of the fell.
Thankfully the roads were very quiet, so it was time to select a low gear and face the extreme steepness of the pass.
Once at the top it was time to find a parking place which did not contain a campervan, how these are so popular now.
I was soon stretching my calves as the path was straight up from the road level, I was walking into the unknown, but surly there would be ample photo opportunities once on the top of the fell?
There were views along Wrynose Bottom to the east, but the very harsh light was not complimenting the scene.
I then came across a small tarn which, after quite a while scouting about made my first image of the evening
I was soon off on my travels around the summit of the fell, Scaw Fell and Great Gable on view to the North, but again the harsh light made a photograph pointless.
Next, over to the western side of the fell summit, it was here that I found the Roman Fort ruins in the bottom of the scene, these being contrasted against the extremely green Eskdale Valley floor.
I also noticed that Devoke Water was in view sneaking around the corner of Harter Fell, in the far distance, so I set up a composition in landscape orientation including the Roman Fort in the bottom of the scene, but including the very small Devoke Water in the top lefthand of the image
The plan was to stay here until sunset in the hope of the sky becoming pink and orange, this was still over an hour away, so I set off on another trek looking to use the many strange and unique shaped rocks as foreground interest.
Unfortunately, the very harsh and extreme dynamic range (very dark, harsh shadow against brightly light areas) made this very difficult to capture, I took some over and under exposure images to blend together in post processing, but when on the computer, I was not happy with the results.
It was now that I realised my waiting was in vain, the sun dropped behind the fells which resulted in everything being silhouetted against the sky, I was wanting to use some of the wester-facing fells as interest, but this was not possible.
Time to head home for a well-deserved hot meal.
Grasmere
As it was Blue-Bell season, I wanted to visit a different location for the Bluebells to those that I had in the past, so it was time to head to Grasmere.
My research suggested that there are Bluebells within the woods along the banks of the River Rothay, and they are also on the side of Loughrigg Fell.
As me arrival time was 5.15 am for a 5.45 am sunrise, there were plenty of free car parking availability.
I was soon walking along the path on the banks of the River Rothay, Bluebells were visible, but these were not in full bloom, and were patchy, the sun had not risen at this time, so I decided to continue walking in the hope of finding a more interesting area of bluebells.
On the shore of Grasmere, having not seen any worthwhile Bluebell scene, I was conscious not to let the gate slam shut as there were two tents pitched right next to it, quietly, quietly it was.
The lake surface was very calm which was creating nice reflections of the surrounding fells and buildings, I stopped a couple of times to frame up a shot, but I was not happy with these, so I carried on around the lake towards Grasmere village.
Quite by accident I stumbled over a little headland which provided a very good viewpoint of the Daffodil Hotel, time to set up and get the shot.
The first photograph of the morning, and what a good one it was.
From here I moved left and right capturing slightly different images of the hotel.
Has I retraced my tracks towards Loughrigg Fell; I kept looking abut for other images of the surrounding scenes.
I then made the brave choice to hike up the fell to get on the Terrace path, this provides a great viewpoint over Grasmere towards the Pass of Dunmail, what I didn’t account for was the steepness of this route, boy was it bloody steep and hard work to get up it, shedding layers like a onion, I finally made it with my heart rate sky-high and me boiling hot.
After a cooling down, which took a while, and getting my heart rate back to normal, it was time to get cracking.
I found some Bluebells in a wood on the edge of the path which I had just hiked up, there were shadows and speckled light on these, so I tried to make a image from the scene. Not the best photo, but a start.
Whilst walking along the Terrace path, I came across some bluebells below the path, being careful not to treat on any of the flowers, I descended with the intention of getting some close-up photos of the flowers.
Back onto the path heading eastwards and has I crested a little ridge a sight to behold came in front of me, freshly leaved Silver Birch trees contrasting with a slope of solid Bluebells, this was the shot.
A little time to frame up the shop, and a slight wait for the light to develop, I got the shop.
This was the best photo from the morning, one that made the visit worthwhile.
Has I descended into woods along the river, I found another group of Bluebells, the light was nice, but I found it difficult to create a decent image, the photo that I took was not that good, but it is attached below for reference.
A slow and leisurely walk back to the car completed a satisfactory 3 hours walking around the area.
Thank you for finding the time to read this blog, until the next one, stay safe.
