As the lockdown starts to ease each week, I find myself going slightly further afield whilst, in my mind staying within the spirit of the current rules. This weekend gone I had absolutely every intention of going back into the Peak District, and I guess I did. It’s fair to say though that I did go in search of some images to add to one of my projects, I love a good lighthouse. 

It was summer solstice and it had been a lovely day so I was hopeful of some good colour in the sky. I sat eating my fish and chips and my thoughts wandered to the sea, it was ages since I’d seen the sea. So off I went to kill two birds with one stone.

New Brighton Lighthouse

The drive to New Brighton is about 40 minutes from my house and its all motorway, so I didn’t think I’d be blocking any roads or generally being a nuisance to other road users, so my thought process went. I have been to New Brighton before with a friend and we walked past the lighthouse, but I couldn’t picture it in my minds eye, good old google helped me though. 

It was nearer the shops and entertainment places than I remembered but the parking was free on the sea front and with back pack on my back, off I went. I had to plot a route that took me away from the crowds of folk enjoying the seafront, and there was plenty of room. I could see the sky was clouding over and I was hopeful of the sun giving me some nice colours in the sky, but the clouds remained stubbornly, cloudy.

The problem with a beach is that people walk on them, and they tend to have dogs. As I set up for the first shot I didn’t quite see the dog in the shot as a pressed the shutter button. I like how it looks though, where is it going, who is its owner?

There is a huge breakwater that sweeps out into the sea just beside the lighthouse, and it’s a combination of rock, tarmac and strange concrete shapes. The good thing about the tarmac is that it was flatish and my tripod went on very easily, and I think the second image captures the sweeping nature of the breakwater. The third image gets down low against the breakwater to give you a sense of where it leads the eye off out into the distant wind farm that is offshore. This would look great with the tide coming in, a job for another day I think.

The clouds and tide surrounded the lighthouse and whilst they aren’t lit up with glorious oranges and reds, the moody blues and blacks look pretty good up close again the lighthouse standing big and tall.

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The Roaches

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but Youtube is a great resource, as well as being hugely entertaining. You could argue that I’m just following the paths that others have trodden, and you’d be right. To be fair I’m a beginner both in photography terms and in my exploration of the Peak District. My view is this is all about putting my own spin on these things. My real reason for using Youtube in this case was to scout locations. It’s a quick and easy way to find good places to go and where to go when you get there. 

The Sat Nav was largely accurate about location and my 8am arrival meant I could pretty much pick a spot on the layby’s that run parallel with the rock face. The smell of breakfast from the camper van nearby was very tempting but I strapped on my backpack and off I went up the path. There are so many places to take photographs here, so many leading lines, so many stunning views with great foreground etc. I have a feeling that this will be a location to return to lots of times. 

The Youtube research, plus a friends advice, told me that there was a path at the back that leads you up without having to scramble, and this was good advice. I headed up the path following the procession of gym mats, they headed onwards but I just looked in wonder at the scenes I looked at all around me. 

The first image is of Hen Cloud, and you can see the path that leads all the way to the top, and yes I walked all the way up. The views from there are just great and the image of the Roaches was taken from almost at the top of Hen Cloud. Surveying the countryside revealed a derelict building, and these are great in the foreground. Keeping my eyes open soon showed me the way to the derelict building and as I shot the third image I could see lots of people walking along what was clearly the path up the back of the Roaches. 

I did try, and valiantly failed to get all the way to the “trig point” but the number of people on the ridge in front of me and the rumbling in my stomach told me that a walk to the “trig” was for another day. You can’t help but see the reservoir that is off in the distance, and that is Titteswell Reservoir. It’s very lovely place to visit, but not when social distancing is required. The water authorities do a really good job with the English reservoirs and I take my hat to you guys, I’ll be back.

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Derwent Valley and Ladybower Reservoir

I’ve been to Ladybower Reservoir on a number of occasions but I’ve never gone past the hugely impressive dam at Derwent Reservoir. Today I ventured to the otherside and I have to say there are some fabulous views as you walk along the paths around the reservoir.

The dam wall itself is hugely imposing and its easy to get the wide angle lens out and take the big vista shot, and I did. I do like the small details that make images look different and I noticed a sign right up at the end of the fence that warmed people to not swim etc, by including this in the shot I think adds hugely to the image.

As you walk along the paths on the edge of the water, there are gaps in the trees and these reveal some lovely photo opportunities, and I took a few. The second image here is of the wide view out over the water and the countryside beyond. It really is a stunning place, and we are so lucky to be able to walk around such a great place.

It would be rude to not go and look at the bridges and overflows of Ladybower Reservoir and although the water levels are really low the overflows are worth looking at. I stood there and thought “I wonder what it would be like to climb down”, well that thought lasted a nano second and off I went in search of some leading lines. 50 yards along the wall and the steps down to the building that houses some of the workings of the reservoir came in front of the viewfinder. Making sure that everything is square and lined up is a major part of this picture and in camera I thought I’d got it spot on. Subsequent editing in Lightroom shows that I’m fractions out. It’s all a learning process.

I’ve not really noticed boats out on the water before but there where a good few out there today. There is also, I think, some form of fish farm out in the middle. There were a few guys out near the fish farm, but what caught my eye was the 3 boats all tethered together, who did they belong to, how do you get to them, what do they do? All questions that went through my mind. 

Another cracking weekend of photography.   

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