| Landscape Photography Blog

Rydal Water Sunrise Shoot

James — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 09:57:38 +0000

My first early morning shoot of the year and in all honesty I was a bit late. Such is the challenge of getting up early even in Autumn when sunrise is a more civilised time. I headed out this morning with no plan and ended up at Rydal purely because I could park right by this location. Ideally, there would be mist and fantastic light, bit not all mornings work out that way. So here are a few “Practice” shots form Rydal water.

Landscape Photography in the Borrowdale Valley

James — Sat, 15 Oct 2016 13:08:59 +0000

My strategy for this Autumn was to try and capture more of the beautiful Landscapes around the Borrowdale Valley. Borrowdale has largely been a location I’ve passed through on my way to Buttermere over the Honister Pass. However this Autumn I am determined to spend some quality time exploring Landscape Photography in the Borrowdale Valley.

I had every intention today and for the first time in a very long time I was ready and able to get out in time for Sunrise. Shame Sunrise didn’t have other ideas…

Just before Sunrise over Derwentwater with Skiddaw’s Summit in cloud.

Brandlehow Jetty on a rather Blue morning. No Colourful sunrise for me today…

Contrasting Colours over the Jetty and Derwentwater.

A Black and White conversion for this square crop.

A line of colour on the shore.

A tiny tint of pink in the clouds above the Jetty.

A quick wander up to Ashness Bridge. A famous location of Lake District Landscape Photographs, personally I don’t see the appeal, especially today. Maybe I chose the wrong angle today or the trees have grown a little too much closing in the view.

From Surprise View the River Derwent meanders through the Landscape.

Derwentwater from Surprise View.

A cluster of Islands, starting to turn…

You can see my collection of Lake District Landscape Prints from The Borrowdale Valley here in my gallery.

River Brathay at Elterwater Dawn Shoot

James — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 20:55:23 +0000

Almost a year ago I had a great afternoon shoot here on the River Brathay below Elterwater. On this occasion I was determined to visit for sunrise. To hopefully capture the early morning Mist and sunrise illuminating the surrounding landscape.

Here’s how I got on.

Elterwater Village and the Langdale Pikes from the Cattlegrid.

A very misty start to the day on the walk down to the River.

In to the Mist.

Thick fog covers this stretch of the River Brathay below Elterwater.

As the sun begins to rise the Mist glows as it evaporates from the area.

A nice moment as the sun hits the tress opposite. Herdwicks approaching to the left.

Shafts of Light in the mist through the tress.

As the mist begins to lift and the Landscape warms up the view up the river opens up before my eyes.

A wonderful morning in the Lake District. landscape Photography at its best with the Mist and early morning light. You can see my current collection of Landscape Photography Prints from Elterwater and langdale here.

Rydal Water Landscapes

James — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 08:00:57 +0000

With the day’s becoming shorter and sunrise at a much more manageable time the opportunity to visit some of my favourite Lake District Locations for Landscape Photography is upon me.

September and October can be great months to capture the beauty of the Lake District Landscape with warm days and cool nights mist quiet often forms over the valleys and various Lakes and Tarns. Also the colours in the Landscape change from bright green to beautiful yellows, browns and reds. Autumn is certainly my favourite time of year for Landscape Photography and with my new desire to capture the amazing morning scenes we have here in the Lake District I headed out to Rydal Water in search of completing my desire to photograph a certain scene at this time of year. Here’s how it went.

Approaching Rydal Water and the Mist is there and nobody else so things are looking great.

In position as the sun rose in the distance.

A fellow photographer getting close to the Tree…

I was really lucky to be able to photograph this scene with these conditions having tried and failed several times already.

My Canon 5DSR setup.

That will do for this morning, very pleased with the results. So much so this shoot featured on the front cover of my 2016 Lake District Calendar.

I’ve made some of these Landscape Photographs available as Framed Lake District prints here.

Sunrise over Keswick form Latrigg

James — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 11:43:42 +0000

For a long time now I’ve wanted to witness Sunrise from Latrigg above Keswick. I’ve tried and failed on a few occasions but today I was really determined to make it. I made it alright, but it was a disaster. It was actually the worst experience of my photographic journey so far. I won’t go into details other than to say I learned about my limits with having CFS. I learned to respect what my body was telling me and I hope never to experience anything like this ever again.

Photographically I was pleased with the shots I captured. It wasn’t the all out sunrise explosion I had hoped but I’m grateful I got there, witnessed it and now I’d like to forget it ever happened.

Just before Sunrise over the Vale of Keswick.

Keswick and Derwentwater shrouded in Mist.

A wide view over Derwentwater.

Mist clinging to the Trees.

The Bench on Latrigg.

A fine view this morning.

Looking into Borrowdale.

You can see more of my Landscape Photography Collection from Latrigg and around Keswick and Derwentwater here.

Blea Tarn morning shoot

James — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 13:04:44 +0000

I made it out for a morning shoot today. I’ve been hoping to make it to Blea Tarn for a Misty morning for years. I tried a few years back but the weather was awful. Luckily for me, on this rare occasion I was blessed with fantastic conditions.

I think Blea Tarn was the first Landscape image I noticed as a Child. My Father was given a water colour painting that featured the lone Tree on the side of the Tarn and I can recall looking at that painting admiring the scene. I didn’t think it was of a scene so close to my house. It almost look Canadian with the Pine Trees. Once I was able to drive I remember visiting Blea Tarn lots and ever since I have loves this place. Its beautiful and even better when you have the place to yourself.

Here’s how things developed.

I made this short video to accompany these images

Thick Mist in the Langdale Valley as the Sun rose.

The Langdale Pikes

The beautiful head of the Langdale Valley.

Looking over towards a misty Blea Tarn…

Spiders Webs cover the grassy floor.

The Mist maybe lifting as I walk closer.

A perfectly calm morning.

I love this composition of Blea Tarn.

Mist covering the Tarn as the sun rises above Lingmoor.

Happiness.

Zooming in on the Langdale Pikes. Pavey Ark with its head in the clouds.

Side Pike.

The Lone Tree that featured in my Fathers Paining form when I was a child.

Harrison Stickle.

The Classic Scene over Blea Tarn.

A Jet fighter plane enters the frame top left.

Time to go…

Looking back.

A Guards Red Porsche 993 Carrera. I would love one of these. This is one of three that must have been on a tour of the Lake District, the other two had German number plates.

Heading back down the single track road to the Head of the Langdale valley.

I never tire of this view. Beautiful.

Herdwick Tups in the Langdale Valley

A great opportunity to capture icons of the Lake District.

You an see my current collection of Landscape Photographs from the Langdale Valley and surrounding area here.