Looking forward to Autumn in Lakeland

As some of you may well know, last Autumn was the first I’d experienced as a ‘proper-ish’ photographer. [by the way, feel free to skip the words and just look at the pics if you'd rather ] Of course like most people I’ve snapped the beautiful rust coloured scenes on walks around the lakes with the family; but it wasn’t until February 2010, when I spent what seemed at the time like a ridiculous amount of money on my Canon 7D, that I figured I’d actually have to put some effort in so that I cold justify the expense of the purchase. And so I started to go out with the camera on my own whilst we were staying up in the Lake District  - what better place eh! My time for landscape photography has generally been very early in the mornings since this is when the two main factors coincide; firstly my family and dogs are all still in bed  giving me time opportunity. Secondly there can be some rather nice light (and lack of people) around to take advantage of. I’ve enjoyed the learning process and by the end of the year I think was turning out some half decent efforts, or at least I could see a lot of improvement. I’d heard talk, from many better and more experienced folks, of the ‘quality’ of light, something that sounded rather theoretical to me at the time. As Autumn passed though I’d come to appreciate what this meant.

Here are some of my favourite images from that ‘first’ photographic autumn, just click on an image to see it larger.

The first is from Ullswater in late September, early autumn, still plenty of green around and those beautiful lakeside grasses. Occasionally I’ve used a technique sometimes known as a ‘vertorama’ or vertical panorama where I’ve ‘stitched’ two exposures top and bottom to make a single image. This was such an occasion as I wanted perfect focus and some colour on the foreground grasses and the same in the outline of Hallin Fell and the fellside lit by the rays.

I few weeks later I journeyed out intending to reach Derwent in time for the sunrise. In doing so I had to drive past Grasmere about half an hour or so prior to first light. As I did so I witnessed one of those magical scenes of ever changing low lying mist patterns over the lake.

There’s nothing special about the light in these shots since there was only ambient light from pre-sunrise, however the atmosphere was superb and I hope I got just a smidgeon of that through the lens in these somewhat uncomplicated compositions.

I abandoned that trip to Keswick as, having stopped to take those Grasmere shots, I wouldn’t have made it for sunrise. I tried again the following week and this time managed to resist the charms of Rydal and Grasmere on my way past. I was not to be disappointed either. The fellside ferns had long since faded and rusted from their green summer vibrancy and their primary colour change was superbly demonstrated bathed in those first rays. The dawn mist had yet to dissipate and I was able to capture this image (a portion of a wider stitched panoramic) as the light clipped the top of the Derwent fells and the mist danced its way across the still lake.

One of the features of a landscape photographer’s efforts that I’ve discovered is ‘the lost cause’. Its 5AM and a peek out of the window doesn’t really perk the body into any kind of positive reaction. However the year was pressing on and I knew that I wouldn’t have too many more chances to get out with the camera. So I haul myself out into the cold and drive to Bassenthwaite in what is clearly  disappointing and overcast conditions. The proverbial ‘lost cause’ in terms of chasing interesting light. I’d done this many times and usually I resort to long exposures or some such other creative way to make something interesting or just enjoy the peace and quiet that early mornings bring. Once in a while though the heavens smile and throw in a few minutes of stunning and unexpected light; this was one such occasion with the beautiful rays silhouetting Latrigg (and my favourite tree on its side) and extending the shadows from the hillside trees to reach seemingly all the way down to Keswick itself. I was a fair way away from the action and this is using the longer end of a 200mm zoom lens.

I said above that I was a long way from the action, well a few moments after taking the above shot the sun hit my face with such golden force that I literally was taken aback for a moment. Now I was ‘in the light’ in the same way as those distant trees were in that last image. I turned the camera round and hastily arranged this shot of the golden grasses and autumn foliage wonderfully lit for the moment and contrasting with the dark and overcast sky beyond. Just a few seconds, but enough to evaporate the lost cause, for this time anyway.

Finally my last autumn outing was at Blea Tarn in Little Langdale and I was determined to find something original, some new take on the area that was at least a little fresh.

This was taken looking at the tarn opposing the usual breathtaking reflections of the Langdale Pikes and Side Pike that we’ve all enjoyed before. The rocks and small pool provided some strong foreground detail but the key thing for me was experiencing the saturation of the scene. The sun had risen but had not yet hit my feet with direct light, yet the grass beneath and the clouds above were bathed in a beautiful and breathtaking quality of light.

This time I was ready though with a composition I’d planned to show the fells in their best light. This a 6 shot panorama showing a crisp and clear autumnal morning in everybody’s favourite Langdale. In retrospect I’d have loved a little bit more space to the right of that fence post but although the light and scene were perfect I’m clearly still learning. I’ve included a larger version of this than normal, do click on it and look.

I’m very much looking forward to autumn this year. I’m sure it will be full of lost causes but I’ll settle for a few moments more of autumn just like these to make it worth while.

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