10 days ago I returned from spending 6 days in the Dark Peak (northern) region of the Peak District where, since 2011, I have been leading both 2 and 1 day workshops shooting this wonderfully scenic part of the country. The weather was a little fickle (to say the least!) but that is what you have to kind of expect in the UK in Autumn! Venture out in your waterproofs and with an open mind and you’ll never be short of images to capture.
Both groups were absolutely fantastic! Lots of fun and always smiling - even in the most trying of conditions. Thank you for that!
I arrived a couple of days prior to the arrival of my first group to allow me to venture out alone and, perhaps, check out a new location or two.
It's a bit of a slog reaching the top of Derwent Edge but well worth it once you reach it! This was taken in, quite possibly, the windiest conditions I have ever worked in but the upside was that the light was changing by the second. As a result, I was having to push the tripod onto the ground to not only keep it steady enough to get a shot but to stop it from toppling over!
Shortly after, a bank of low, dark cloud moved in and so I began the descent upon where I noticed this small waterfall. The light was rapidly fading and I had just enough time to make this image before it started to rain.
With a clear morning forecast, I headed to Mam Tor. It wasn't long before I was joined by several other photographers who, all, headed in the same direction - following the path and down the other side, towards Hollins Cross. My instinctive reaction to this is always the same, to not follow suit and try and seek an alternative angle.
The morning was just too clear for my liking but it was nice to be there watching the sun rise nonetheless.
The following days, as mentioned at the beginning, were a mixture of conditions and my 2-day guests were lucky to experience both a wonderful sunrise and sunset. The image below, however, was taken on a heavily overcast dawn. Regardless of forecast, you're out at dawn on my workshops(!) as there are always images to be had in even the most unlikely of conditions.
At dawn, the following morning, we headed for Curbar Gap where we enjoyed the most glorious sunrise........
.....for, around, 20 minutes........
.......before fog closed in, reducing the visibility to just 20, or so, metres. Cue breakfast!
The following day I held a 1-day workshop. It was so windy, at times, that we had to abandon certain vantage points in favour of those that gave a little more shelter and, although the day was largely overcast, we did enjoy fleeting moments of sunshine - which is all you need - isn't it?!
I'll be leading the same workshops next year with the 2-day one being held from Wed 29th - Fri 31st October and the 1-day on Sat 1st November. For full details, please click here to take you to the workshops page.
