Being a Landscape Photographer makes it almost impossible to ignore interesting weather. Appreciate it for sure but it is impossible to ignore, especially when in such beautiful surroundings. Personally I have always admired the landscape, nature and being outdoors. I often think of escaping there on those times I’m indoors and none more so than when the conditions are interesting. There is something special about being outdoors surrounded by natural beauty. here are some thoughts on Landscape Photography and why I take photographs.
It’s hard for me to be here and see these things without the desire to photograph what I’m seeing. It’s not like I won’t see these places again or even if you do capture the scene are you going to spend hours looking at the results afterwards? That depends on what the scene means to you. I believe photographs have a method of connecting us to memories and emotions we store inside of each one of us. A place we love, visited, remember fondly whatever it is. Or is it simply an appreciation of what your seeing?
In a world literally full of photographs what is it that makes us attracted to one over another? Why do we choose one style over another, one scene over another. For me, I can see the beauty in many shots whether they are mine or not, I also appreciate the effort that goes into such creative endeavours. Like any art form it is all very subjective, but more so than other mediums of portraying the landscape a photograph has to some degree to be true to what was there, in that moment of time, pushed too far and people won’t believe, they won’t accept and will question the authenticity of what they see and your ability to present something meaningful. Whereas a painter has unlimited artist license to create whatever his or her mind sees. What luxury. Although there is something quite rewarding in producing something that was actually there, that you waited or composed something that everybody could see but you saw it your way.
My journey into Landscape Photography began as a child, where at the age of 11 I was given a Olympus compact film camera by my parents to take on my first school trip. Over the years I was always fascinated by landscapes and in my late teens I started to take more of an interest in the wider landscapes, namely panoramic images. In my early twenties after graduating university I moved away from the Lake District and worked in the middle of Liverpool City Centre and each weekend I would escape back to the Lake District and simply go for a drive into the Landscape my heart yearn for. I never really appreciated the beauty of the Lake District as a child, having grown up there I took it for granted, once I moved away and had a taste of City life and namely Liverpool in 1999 my eyes were well and truly opened to how lucky I was and just how beautiful the Lake District is and always will be. City life is great and has many positives but for me I yearned for open space.
By Wednesday I was excited at the thought of returning and by Sunday I was dreading leaving the Lake District. I’d come back and just go out and admire the place, most often with no plan, just to visit places I ended up. It was great. So tonight was a little bit of that, set off and see where I end up. A race against the light it wasn’t, it was just great to be here and be free to be out after what seems to have been a long winter indoors. It’s night like this i dream of in the cold and dark months.
Here’s what I saw.
Helm Crag above Grasmere through the trees. Everything is very green.
A small beach on the shore of Grasmere.
Up to Thirlmere next and the magnificent view up the reservoir. Such a beautiful stretch of water, especially seen from this perspective… That’s it for tonight I’m afraid, no more energy to go any further. Heading home.
A quick stop at Waterhead at the northern most point of Windermere is my last shot of the day. It was great to be out and about if all a bit brief.
You can see my current collection of Lake District Prints featuring Grasmere here, and Thirlmere Prints here and finally my Print collection featuring Windermere here.
