In Search of Stone Circles – That Didn’t Materialise

Having started the 2022 Project last week I was suitably energised by it to go out again this past weekend. Rather than just turn up and take my chances I decided that the best thing to do was to do a little research. The Youtube recommendation is clearly in my head as up popped a recommendation about Long Lens Photography from a chap called Mike Browne. It was a few years old now but he was on location taking portrait images of a model but set in a field with tall stones. This set me thinking, a stone circle would be a good subject to include in the 2022 project. A quick search brought up lots of YouTubers who had made clips about the best and most popular stone circles in the Peak District.

I took to the OS Map website, whilst I wanted a stone circle, I didn’t want it to be the ones that everyone else shoots. So I scoured the map in search of stone circles that weren’t mentioned on YouTube. The one I decided upon was near the Surprise View car park, in the fields between the car park and Padley Gorge at the bottom. For various reasons to numerous to mention I haven’t slept well this past few days, and I awoke early on Friday morning and decided this was the morning to try to find the stone circle. There was cloud cover but I didn’t care as this would be a reconnaisance visit. So at 5am I set off, and by 5.45am I was walking through the fields towards the spot marked on the OS map. Whilst the morning did go to plan up to that point the rest of it didn’t quite. As you can see from this first image.

As you can see this first image is not of a stone circle. If there were stones in that location marked on the map, I couldn’t find them. Undeterred I decided to make the best of it and see what else I could find. As turned around and looked across the scene rather than just at the ground, I spotted these two trees set apart. I thought that this would be a good test for the compression effect of the 70 to 180mm f2.8 Tamron lens that was on the camera. The Alpha A7IV was set to 1 by 1 Aspect ratio, as I find this helps me when looking for compositions. There was a little bit of colour in the sky and whilst not the most earth shattering image its was a decent start to the mornings shoot.

rather than pack up and go off to another location I decided to explore this area a little further. I headed across the field towards what the OS map said was Bolehill Quarry, a quick google search told me that it isn’t used any more and that it was now overgrown with trees etc. Worth a quick mooch I thought. I approached the scene in this second image from behind. I could see something in the distance but I wasn’t sure what it was. having photographed it I’m still not sure what it is, but I think it was worth an image. I again was looking to try to use the compression effect of the Tamron 70 to 180mm f2.8 lens, and decided to go for a blurred background and focus on the stone “thing” at f2.8, this would give some blurred background. The foreground is a little messy but I do like the wall and the “thing” along with the blurred view of Owler Tor and Owler Bar in the background. Some angry skies also add to this image. Can you see the weird looking eyes on the “thing”?

There is lots to explore in Bolehill Quarry, and I spend a good couple of hours wandering around exploring and looking for compositions. The image above I’m really pleased with, my intention was to use the lens effects to blur out parts of the image. Again at f2.8, but this time focused on the rocks in the mid ground, blurs the foreground, and adds a feeling of depth to the image. The slightly blurred background also gives some depth but you can see the gaps between the trees, all of which add to the sense of depth. The next time I visit this location it will be in in hope of some nice mist that may hang around the Silver Birch trees in the background.I really do like this image.

For those who have read my blogs over time will know that I have a fascination with the Millstones that can be found dotted all over the Peak District. Not surprisingly there are lots dotted around this disused quarry, where most of these stones would have come from in the first place. I was trying to get a more intimate image with this shot and the lens is at its longest focal length of 180mm for this image. I focused on the first of the upturned stones and again used f2.8 to get some background blur. I think that really helps to focus the eye on the millstones and not get distracted by being able to tell what is behind them. To be honest without the blurred background the image would not work half as well as your eye would be drawn into the background. There’s nothing special to see in the background, so the shallow depth of field really does help this image a lot.