We truly have had some good weather this last week or so. Long may it continue I hear you say. So I decided on Friday that I’d look to carry on my 12 significant images project by going back to Location 1 again and capture my second image from that location. That location is Werneth Low, which is near Hyde. Sunset was timed to be 9.30pm, so I set off about 7.30pm to give my self plenty of time. I was going to take the “summer image” from this location but I also felt like I should look for alternative compositions. That’s exactly what I did.
The usual spot
This first shot is more or less the same composition as I’d taken previously, but in a summer almost sunset timed image. I like this composition a lot. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that there were lots of folk around, this is a country park after all. There were lots of folk around, most people just walking their dog, or taking a stroll. I’m not sure why but these days there seems to be a desire from some sections of our society who want to treat the wide open spaces as if it was there own back garden. Do what you like in your own garden but please don’t ruin the countryside for those of us who appreciate it.
My first image from this location was in very different conditions, it was bitterly cold and whilst the skies were clear enough, the tree didn’t have anything by way of leaves or anything of that nature. There was a certain symmetry in my mind around the (what I thought) was a dead tree pointing at the monument commemorating soldiers who died fighting in WW1. As you can see from the image above the tree is very much alive and has sprouted some leaves and some flowers. Despite this I still think the image works. I’d taken my full kit with me as the car park is only a short hike from the location, so I was able to use the Lee Filter system that I have if needs be. As it turned out the Polariser was all that I used but still handy to have the other filters should I have needed them.
Immediately to the right of where I set up my tripod was a gang of lads who where having a BBQ, they weren’t drinking (well not that I could see) but they were very loud. I think mist and fog add hugely to landscape images but smoke from a BBQ does not. So I patiently waited until the smoke was blown in the other direction, and the world and his wife who walked past the scene were not in the way. I took a good few images from this (or very near to) spot, experimenting with focal lengths and shutter speeds.
The views over Hyde
To try to get some alternative angles on this location (as well as get away from the smoke and the noise) I walked around the Cenotaph and looked for some other good angles. The sun was on its way down in the distance and was starting to cast some nice light onto the scene. Whilst this image is of the Cenotaph without the tree, it gives you a feel for the wider location and the views you get down into the valley. The clouds in the sky also add to the scene and the sunset is adding a tinge to some of the distant clouds. I took images from various places on all sides but this one was the best of the group of images I took.
Rather than pack up and go home, annoyed at the noise from the BBQ boys I decided to have another go at finding an alternative composition with the Cenotaph and the tree. The light was getting really quite nice and lighting up the whole scene.
Alternative Composition
I started to look at another way of composing this scene. Not being worried about the tree pointing at the monument, in fact looking at positioning them both in different positions entirely. This third image is the results of that experiment. I knew if I waited long enough id get some nice light into the scene and sure enough I got just what I was looking for. As I waited I heard several shouts of “hey mister” When I looked up one of the lads had a hotdog in one hand and a hamburger in the other and he was headed my way. Now it would be churlish to complain about them having a bbq and then accept something. I declined gracefully. He wasn’t for giving up this chap and had several more goes at trying to persuade me to eat the said hotdog and hamburger (for the avid alternative country music fans will get the reference to a John Mellancamp song here, which can be found on his Lonesome Jubilee album, its definitely worth a list.).
Having reflected on this composition and having had some feedback from Chris Sale on Instagram I think this composition adds a little bit more depth to the image, which I like. I still think my original concept holds up though and they will both feature in my write up of the Project, if not the final calendar. You can see from this image that I did indeed get some nice light across the scene. The picky amongst you will have spotted that there is a boy stood immediately behind the tree, and I will have a go at photoshopping him out. I do have several other versions of this but I like the light on this image and hence its choice for inclusion in this write up.