A sunrise visit seemed the perfect opportunity to change this - Nikon over the shoulder and breakfast while sitting in a sunlit glade. Not a bad way to begin the day!
When doing this kind of walk/photography, I almost always reach for the 105mm Micro. Focusing down to life size (1:1), it handles pretty much all close-up situations I'm likely to meet. I do sometimes wish, however, that it went down to 2:1 - it would make such a difference. So, instead, I add a close-up lens, which, although it looks like a filter, is in fact an optical attachment. With a good lens, for example, Nikon or Canon, you'd be hard pushed to see any loss in quality.
I recorded a podcast episode as I was making these. If you’d like to come along for the walk, you can listen here.
I must have spent a good hour just observing and making photos along a stretch of path no more than 200 metres. I see little point in barrelling along at pace when you're likely to miss opportunities and, simply, the morning air and ambience.
At this point, I walked a little way up a steep hill and found a nice, sunlit spot to have my breakfast. Nothing special - just some overnight oats - but when you’re feeling the warmth of the morning sun and surrounded by singing robin, blackcap and great tit, there really is nothing else I’d rather have or nowhere else I’d rather be.
Dew was still lingering in the shaded spots, and I was fortunate to come across this cuckoo flower, also known as lady's smock. This is why I so enjoy close-up photography, where, by getting in close, you're able to fully appreciate nature's beauty in all its forms.
