If you’ve followed my photography for a while or purchased my first book Capture Lakeland you’ll know I have had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 2013. This has been a serious hindrance to my Life Landscape Photography. Prior to ME/CFS Landscape Photography was a much longer activity than it has been in recent years. I’d often spend the whole weekend out riding my motorbike from one place to another across the Lake District, even Scotland and further afield while enjoying Landscape Photography from sunrise until sunset. 

Rather than give up on my passion for the Landscape here in the Lake District I had to adapt, by that I mean change my focus and attitude towards what Landscape Photography looks like for me going forward. Landscape Photography for me has always been my form of mindfulness, meditation if you will. While out with my camera and visually immersed in my surroundings I’m at complete peace. I believe we all as individuals need some form of activity or pastime to give us this, escape, relaxation. Whatever it maybe, it is, in my view an important part of being human, allowing yourself a break. 

I say that when in fact Landscape Photography for me has now become my job, so how do you have a break from your job, well for me if you do the thing you love, that you are passionate about, it’s not really work is it. I was a Landscape Photographer for many years before I made a single penny from it and if tomorrow I don’t make another penny for the rest of my days I’ll still be a Landscape Photographer. It is after all who I am. I can’t imagine a time in my life where I will look at the long shadows and warm glowing light at the end of the day and not wish I were stood behind my camera composing a scene. I also don’t think I’ll look at other photographers inspiring images and wish I’d have been there too. 

Anyway, back to today and the gist of what I’m saying here. I am trying my absolute best to make a real effort to expand my visual vocabulary so to speak, to visit new places, explore and be open-minded to new possibilities. One of the main factors that has held me and my Landscape Photography back in recent years is my lack of energy and also the threat of relapse and falling back into the early days of my condition where I struggled to walk around the block let alone up Englands highest mountain like in years gone by. This year, 2020 has made me realise just how finite our time is, how one minute you’re chatting to a friend and the next her husband replies saying she has passed away. I guess as we get older this is going to become more and more frequent and while I accept that, I don’t like it at all. Time, as they say, waits for no man ot indeed women.

One of my biggest concerns for the future is my physical ability to get to the places I want to go to. When I was in my mid to late 30’s I was in effect a 70 odd-year-old man energy-wise given ME, if nothing changes what will I be like in my 50’s and 60’s. No, the time is now. I need to make a concerted effort to really prioritise my physical fitness but more than that my attitude to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I love a good analogy, the one I use with ME/CFS is it’s like partying and drinking, the more you do today the more you suffer tomorrow. After a while, you work out that it’s not worth it because the recovery time outweighs the party time. Well imagine that but there is no party, just getting up and functioning on a utilitarian basis to get through the day is enough to wipe you out for days. You build yourself up, go again and bang a week laid up. Psychologically it’s hell, as is the thought that life is passing you by. 

So, I’m making little steps to bring more variety to my life and indeed to my photography. I want to see more places. Shoot more things and be at the right place at the right time of day. I’m still working on my ability to get out for sunrise shoots. 

Today then I set myself a goal, to explore Deepdale, a wonderful isolated valley in the Lake District in-between Borthers Water and Ullswater. I set out mid-morning and gave myself as much time as I needed to see how far I could get, I knew today wasn’t going to be one of those “Epic” light days, these shots weren’t going to be anything other than what they are, snaps in the middle of the day. However, what they are is an achievement in pushing boundaries and growing my confidence. Sounds silly perhaps but try living with a Chronic Condition of 7 years, it makes it pretty real.

I took several shots with my iPhone on the walk in and out of the valley where I eventually setup as this little spot on the stream looking up to Greenhow Crag. I did consider whether or not to even take my big camera out my bag but thought why not, I’ve carried it here, may as well use it. Going forward I now know where to go here, how long it will take and I can and am already pre-visualising how this place could look in different light. All in all an extremely positive experience.

Big Camera shots below.

You can see a collection of my Framed Landscape Photography Prints from around Brothers Water and Ullswater on these links to my gallery.