Sunrise – Tony Tomlinson Photography

We have been experiencing exceptionally warm weather in Cumbria over the last couple of days, I decided to head to Wasdale for a sunrise session, not realising that the day was the summer solstice.

Upon approaching Wast Water, I could not believe my eyes, every parking place was taken with cars of campervans, I drove some considerable distance along the lake, but nothing changed, car, after car, so I turned round and retraced my route to find a parking spot.

I was soon pulled up on a grass verge, well off the road so that traffic could pass safely., I then headed down towards the lakes edge to look for a decent composition to capture the impending sunrise, not a chance, there were tents at all the locations which I could use.

So, plan “B”, I headed up from the shore to try and use the road as a leading line into the scene. As I was heading up for the lake shore, I bumped into a group of wild swimmers who were coming out of the water, a very friendly bunch of people they were, fancy going for a swim at 5.45 am !!

I found a reasonable place on a small mound to set up, and began the waiting for the sun to rise above Great Gable and Kirk Fell to the east.

The sunrise was short, not much time for pre-sunrise colours, which soon became hard light. It can be frustrating having to get up a daft o clock in the night to get to a location, then what seems like a blink of an eye, its over.

Cumbria, great-gable, Kirk-fell, lake-district, Landscape, scawfell, Summer, sunrise, tony-tomlinson-photography, UK, wasdale, Wast-Water, Yewbarrow — The Road to the Sunrise

Whilst I was waiting for the sun to rise, I got to thinking, was the fact that it was the Summer Solstice that there were so many people camping or visiting Wasdale on this morning, or was t the fact that we were having a exceptionally warm spell of weather which had enticed all these people to be out at such a time?

By the way, I am not grumbling about people being out in the countryside, they have as much right as anyone else (including me) to be enjoying the experience, I found it a little confusing to understand that’s all.

I took the scenic route home, heading south before turning north on the A595, as I was pottering along the road, I seen four Roe Dear in a field, managing to catch a photo on one, they certainly do not hang around once a human is close by.

Cumbria, lake-district, Landscape, Summer, sunrise, tony-tomlinson-photography, UK, wasdale — Roe Dear

I also came across a Buzzard perched on a farmers gate post, no doubt eyeing up its breakfast. I didn’t have chance to grab the camera, but it was pleasing to watch such a beautiful bird out in the wild, it was soon off looking for a meal though.

I stopped off at Egremont to grab a coffee, surprised to note that it was still only 6.15am.

One home, time to edit the photos an plan where too tomorrow!!

Until next time, stay safe and take care.

I have an image in my head which I would love to capture at Tewet Tarn, to achieve this I need some early morning light, and a clear view of Lonscale Fell and Blencathra.

First Visit

I first visited Tewet tarn on the 23^rd December, when the forecast was promising, and on arriving at the location, there were signs that there would be some good sunrise light on show, and for a short, very short period of time it looked like it was going to kick off, sadly the lovely red coloured sky only lasted a very short period of time, and did not reach the direction in which I was looking.

tony-tomlinson-photography, sunrise, red-sky — I was hoping for this light to arrive on the scene

Blencathra, tewet-tarn, tony-tomlinson-photography — All I got was flat light with a hint of colour in the sky

I was a little disappointed as I packed up and began making plans for the next weather window.

Second Visit

My next visit to this location was on the 3^rd January, again the forecast was looking good, but despite arriving well before sunrise, the conditions did not materialize, no light on show at all, just boring flat light.

I took a couple of photos to record the occasion, but these were not portfolio standard. Still, I was out, and about which is my aim for 2025.

Tewet-Tarn, Blencathra, lone-tree, tony-tomlinson-photography — More flat light, this being a long exposure

Third Visit

My third visit to Tewet Tarn was a week later on the 11^th January, when the snow gods had delivered a rare dousing of snow in the lake district, along with a block of very cold and frosty nights which had helped the snow to lay and last for a few days.

The forecast was looking good, so I arrived at the tarn well before sunrise to ensure I was I set up and in position for any sunrise light that made an appearance.

Off I trudged up the fell through the snow and ice, wrapped up against the biting cold.

I was a little surprised that there were no other photographers present, but this allowed me free range for my photos.

Looking east the sky was beginning to light up with crimson colours, and here was me trying my best to dig my boots into the slope of the fell to stop me sliding off down the slope.

The colours in the sky were now above my head, all I wanted was for them to reach the distant fells of Lonscale and Blencathra, when my wishes would be answered, please, please, as close as the coloured sky was, it wasn’t just far enough, I was taking photos, but I knew in my heart that they were not what I was looking for.

After waiting for 30 minutes or so for the red sky to travel over the valley, I admitted defeat, again I had been beaten by mother nature, so again, I was packing up with a unfulfilled morning.

lone-tree, Tewet-Tarn, sunrise, Blencathra, tony-tomlinson-photography — The best of the mornings light

As a trudged down the fell towards the Tarn, the sun suddenly broke through the cloud cover casting lovely light onto the snow covered fells of Blencathra and Lonscale Fell, so I stopped, got shot of the bag on my back and frantically raided the bag to get my camera.

The sun really brought the scene to life, we now had contrast, shadows, highlights and depth to the scene.

I headed to the shore of the Tarn to find some ice as foreground interest with me looking towards the sun kissed Lonscale Fell.

Tewet-Tarn, Lonscale-Fell, tony-tomlinson-photography — Ice and Light

I then noticed a lovely fluffy cloud hanging over the summit of Skiddaw to the north, so I grabbed the shot, a close crop of the summit with this fluffy cloud hanging over it. Only when I processed the image on my computer did I see the people making their way up the fell towards the summit, can you see them?

Skiddaw-Summit, winter, tony-tomlinson-photography — Skiddaw summit, can you find the people climbing up the mountain?

From this shot I panned round to the west where the sun had risen sufficiently to create some lovey highlights and shadows on the Cumbrian Fells, Grasmoor and Grisdale Pike being the prominent fells in this scene.

the-Cambrian-mountains, winter, snow, tony-tomlinson-photography — The Cumbrian Mountains

For a change, on my third visit to the tarn I was walking down the fell content, and pleased with the photos that I had taken. The snow had defiantly added another dimension to the views, and even the rising sun had made a slight impact on some of my photos.

To cap the morning off, I was sitting in the car enjoying a warm cup of coffee and a sandwich when I heard a tap, tap on the window, I looked round to see a female chaffinch pecking at the rear window of the car, I managed to grab a phone shot of the bird, but as I went for some food scraps of food it flew away. Quite a cure interaction this was.

Tag: Sunrise

Summer Solstice Sunrise

A recent obsession with Tewet Tarn

First Visit

Second Visit

Third Visit