Win Hill - Photography Week 11 (2017)

Win Hill in the Peak District has fantastic 360 degree views of the Dark Peak area. It can be accessed by crossing the dam wall at Ladybower Reservoir and taking the shorter but steeper route up Parkin Clough or the more gentle climb on the paths around Winhill Barn.

On the summit, there are many landscape opportunities, however, the sun's angle can be restrictive. At this time of year sun sets broadly in line with the Edale Valley which makes it hard to get shadows of the tripod legs (and the photographer) out of the camera's field of vision for many of the compositions, particularly when using a wide angle lens (1).

Narrowing the camera's field of vision with a longer lens (or focal length) is an obvious solution, switching from a landscape to portrait format is another, and the option I often employ; waiting for the sun to drop low enough in the sky to hide the tripod in the natural shadows that form at this time of day.

With plenty of time, clear skies, and little chance of losing the light early, I used a combination of those options. These were some of the wide angle compositions both landscape and portrait:

Whilst waiting for the sun to drop, I did switch to a longer lens picking out some of the landmarks around Win Hill including the Ladybower Viaduct and smoke from controlled moorland burning on the hill above. Zooming in it was possible to see the areas that have been burned as part of moorland management:

The following image shows Bamford Edge on the opposite side of the valley and a distant view of Stanage Edge and Higger Tor.

Two images zooming right in on Stanage Edge (not critically sharp) and across to Bamford Moor and High Neb (including more patches of burned moorland):

On top of Win Hill is a trig point with a view of Bamford and the Hope Valley:

Looking into the light is Lose Hill with Kinder Scout in the background:

In a northerly direction is Ladybower reservoir and the Derwent Aqueduct:

There is also a view of Crook Hill and the path up to the Wheel Stones on Derwent Edge (2) :

Completing the 360 is another view of the Ladybower Viaduct:

(1) With experience of the terrain it is possible to use tools like The Photographer's Ephemeris to plan the best time of year to visit locations like Win Hill. For example, the sunsets at approximately 268 degrees in mid-March and 313 degrees by the Summer solstice. I would guess that late May or June would be a better time to capture a side-lighting angle for many of the compositions in this post.

(2) Photographs from the path leading to the Wheel Stones and the Salt Cellar on Derwent Edge can be seen in a post from last year

Millstones - Photography Week 48 (2016)

Millstones on a bitterly cold December afternoon below Stanage Edge in the Peak District. With the sun struggled to clear the cloud on the horizon, there was only an occasional brightness over Hathersage in the distance and the odd moment of direct light on the foreground.

These are a selection of the results taken over a two hour period starting with the last shot of the day:

Variations as the light appeared and disappeared:

The sun as it struggled behind the cloud line:

First shot of the day and a cheery millstone in bright sun - conditions which didn't last for long:

High Neb - Photography Week 32 (2016)

High Neb is the highest point on Stanage Edge in the Peak District and, whilst very popular with climbers, it is more remote receiving fewer visitors than the southern end. It can be accessed from Dennis Knoll via a bridleway or there are some footpaths which cut across the moorland with a small climb to the Edge - although, as I discovered, some of the lesser used footpaths can be obscured by chest high bracken at this time of year.

The real attraction of High Neb is the view along Stanage Edge. The Edge curves nicely to a point above Hollin Bank with Higger Tor in the distance. The road below also plays a role in balancing the compositions:

An interesting feature of this part of the Stanage Edge is the grouse pools. I understand that these were designed to provide the grouse with fresh drinking water - as opposed to peaty pools - when Stanage Edge was privately owned an used for grouse shooting. The grooves cut into the rock presumably channel the rain water into the centre (1):

Losing the light in late afternoon is quite common in the Peak District. Without direct light the landscape becomes particularly dull and the area lives up to its name as the "Dark Peak" (2). In these conditions the compositional interest is forced skywards looking for light shafts or perhaps some afterglow colours:

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanage_Edge

(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Peak