It took a while but winter is finally here. I am looking forward to winter this year as I missed ALL of last year’s snow. I was coming back from a clients wedding and I got out the car with my camera equipment and fell over onto my right wrist. Thankfully my camera equipment was fine but my wrist wasn’t. I couldn’t drive or take photos for about 3 months and I had complications. Hopefully this year we won’t have as much snow but just enough where the roads are clear and the landscape is full. The fact that sunrise is after eight o’clock is also a bonus (when it’s not freezing) plus sunset is earlier so you don’t have to spend all day out in the landscape. The pastel colours are a joy to witness.
Ideal conditions
As I haven’t done much landscape photography in the winter I can’t say which is my favourite conditions. I’d say that they wouldn’t be too far from what I normally do apart from the clears skies which I think look great at sunrise in winter as they remind me of the north or south poles. The early morning mist in the landscape gives photographer’s great opportunities to explore layered shots. I am very much looking forward to getting out there and capturing the landscape. I’m not looking forward to the cold temperatures.
As I haven’t done much I would just like to show you two of my better winter images. One was in Padley Gorge and the other was at Stanage Edge.
Here are two images from winter.
The Photos
I’ve wanted to photograph a wood in winter and I knew that Padley would be perfect. The drive over wasn’t as bad as I thought (thank god) but the snow was quite deep so getting to this location within Padley wasn’t easy. I wanted the stream running through the image which many trees also. I used a wide angle lens to capture this. I love the fact that the stream looks dark which matches the dark contrasts of the trees also adds to this image. The white covering the tree branches make the image for me as this shows how delicate snow can be. I’m might be planning to visit this again but to capture the wheel stone at the top of padley.
Canon 5D MkII – f/11 2 sec ISO100
Stanage Edge
As many people know stanage edge has some of the best views in the peak district. I have to admit this image wasn’t planned, more of a lucky accident. I was coming back from a Christmas market and had my camera in my boot which I never do. As I got here there was not low cloud so I was please when it came over the horizon. This image was taken about 30 yards from my car and I was only out for about ten minutes and I was bitterly cold so there was no chance of me going and further. I have captured this path before but didn’t have much snow on it so I was disappointed with the results. I think the gold tones of the landscape contrast well with the crisp white colour of the snow quite well. The path plays a main part in the image as it leads the viewer into the landscape and up into the clouds which I also like.
Canon 5D MkII - f/13 1/25secs ISO100
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog by Tom Anthony and I hope this has given you food for thought for your autumn photography.
