I have recently begun a new project on woodland photography. Born partially out of frustration of finding good local landscape projects and a realization that this part of my world has a number of small patches of woodlands that I have not explored sufficiently. I think there is an innate and useful challenge of finding beauty wherever you are even the proverbial backyard.
Coincident with this understanding were some references from other photographers who have been emphasizing woodland photography which has served to encourage me.
Finally I recently actually started to work on my woodland photography.
Recently I went to Holme Fen which is an area of the Fens preserved in some manner as it would have been before they were all drained. The ground is peaty and soft and moves when you walk on it.
Holme Fen caught my eye this last summer on a train journey from Leeds to Huntingdon. Peering out the window I saw a large birch forest. This was interesting as I had not seen such a number of birch trees in the UK. I noted it on the map and kept it in mind.
I ventured forth one morning on a cool foggy day. The fog was that thin hint of moisture one perceives over some distance. It was overcast so it looked to be flat light and getting there early had no real benefit in terms of light. Having only been there once before this was as much about exploring and getting the feel of the place as actually taking photographs. I walked out to a hide on the edge of some shallow lakes near the parking area.
These lakes were full of raucous waterfowl. I also discovered what I had missed on my previous visit; the trail actually goes around the lake. This shifted my plans as I chose this path. It turned out to be a nice day out; quiet and with little wind, in many ways ideal.
There was a great variety of geese swans and ducks. They were a noisy and busy lot with a chorus of squawking, taking off and landing, minor conflicts. It made wonderful background sound as they all seemed quite unaware or unconcerned with my presence. One consequence of all of this liveliness was the water was constantly rippling. The glassy calm of a lake was not to be a subject today!
I brought along my Intrepid 4x5 large format camera. The most troublesome of my cameras in many ways; it becomes a source of contemplative focus for me at its best. It can often take 20-30 minutes to set up and take one photo. When the day is right one is completely unaware of this passage of time. This day was just such a day for me.
My first photos were full 4x5 taken at the lakes edge. They turned out reasonably well in terms of composition and focus.
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Birch and Grass
Wandering further along the path I was captivated by a small peninsula with a grouping of birch trees at the end. The setting demanded a portrait orientation.
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I proceeded around the lake and exited the back of it to walk into the woods and clearings. I took the next three photos on the edge of a Birch forest and along a path.
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| Birch Forest and Ferns |
The above photo might be too crowded for my taste. In that sense it might have benefitted from a longer lens to isolate and crop the trees more. A large print my refute this view.
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| Down the Path 1 |
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| Down the Path 2 |
This is the better of the two ‘Down the Path’ images as the eye is more easily drawn along the path.
I wandered further on and found another small lake and made two images of a small island one in landscape the other in portrait. The portrait version is superior.
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| Island Shore, 6x12 Ilford Pan F+ f32 2/3 210mm lens |
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| Island Shore 2, 6x12 Ilford Pan F+ f32 2/3 210mm lens |
This was a surprisingly productive and useful outing that was mostly about exploring. I gained a new appreciation for venturing out in these less than promising conditions.
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