I often struggle to decide where to go for the golden hour at the end of the day in the lake District. I’m drawn to the quality of the light at the end of the day as i find it more warming and pleasing than that at the start of the day. Maybe that’s because I really struggle to get up early since becoming unwell with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I plan most of my shoots around the last hour or so of the day.
Typically I enjoy the Landscape with the warming sun casting long shadows and highlighting the texture and contours of the land. Its probably best to shoot away from the sun to capture the best of the light and its effect on the Landscape. Shooting directly into the Sun isn’t always advisable.
On this particular occasion I was hoping to catch some dramatic side lighting on Nab Scar over Rydal. The short walk to this view point gives a good elevation. I didnt really know what to expect but I was here and will make the most of it.
As it turns out I was probably too late. The walk took me a lot longer than I used to do it in due to forcing myself up the hill. I took these initial shots and could feel myself getting frustrated. Frustrated that I couldn’t have got here quicker, that the sun wasn’t in the right place. Could I have done some research to find out exactly what i needed to know. I was packing up to go home as I was shattered.
I thought to myself, just sit and wait, you have nothing to lose. If anything its better than Saturday night TV. I had a rest for a bit and as I looked over the Landscape I saw an opportunity I didn’t imagine before I arrived.
A gap in the cloud revealed the very last rays of the sun to shine through and add some much needed energy to the scene.
Variations on an original.
It just serves as a poignant reminder that you can’t always predict whats going happen, you can’t control the elements and you have to really stop and look in order to make a good Landscape image. What I produced here I am immensely proud of, not only the images but also the not giving in, pushing on and simply believing something good will come of it.
As an added bonus I saw this little beauty on the way back to the car. I stood and watched her for about ten minutes.
If you’d like to see more of my Lake District Landscape Prints from Rydal have a look here.
