Leaf And Waterfall

 "Using natural movement in the landscape as a methody of abstraction during image making"

The Dartmoor Impressions collection is a departure from my traditional Black and White Landscape photography work. I. struggled to connect with colour photography until I stopped thinking about the subject, it’s structure, form textures and compositions. Leaving all of these restraints behind I am only focused on the colour and light. I have been using camera movement as a form of abstraction, but I have always been attracted to water in my compositions, enjoying the contrast between the static and moving elements in the landscape.

I have been looking for a subject that has its own movement, creating its own abstraction and impressionistic feeling. Walking along the Colly Brook recently I stopped too look at the waterfall, I eventually I settled on the Leaf and Waterfall study. The image was easy to take once it had been seen. With the camera locked steady on the tripod the only movement recorded was from the landscape itself. The water looked likely soft cotton wool. In the first exposure the contrast between the leaf and water was too great detracting from the soft light feel I was trying to create. Exposing for the highlights in the photograph allowed the image to take on a light airy feel. In Photoshop a little desaturation and glamour glow enhanced the effect.

 Workshop Report - Notes From The Field.

The darker longer shorter days, low sun and occasionally good weather often create the perfect opportunity for photography on Dartmoor. When these conditions coincide with a workshop for for 5 people, it’s something special. Logistics of getting 5 photographers altogether at the same time is often difficult, but with a lot of luck and flexibility of the group I took out we managed surprisingly well. There was no specific brief for this workshop other than they wanted see Dartmoor, hopefully some new locations, the locations had to be relatively easily accessible. I picked a few locations that could be easily reached by car and gave us access to Tors, woods, rivers, granite boulders and the unmistakeable barren Hawthorn and Rowan trees.

The group approached me after I visited them one Saturday morning at the South Somerset Monochrome group, after delivering my lecture, they were keen to experience these locations themselves. They came armed with a full a varied range of camera equipment experience and styles. The conditions were suited to Black and White photography, so it suited the group well.

Using the back of may car as a base camp, there was plenty of opportunity to warm up with hot drinks.

I have included a selection of the images they have allowed me to use. I just congratulate them all on their enthusiasm, effort, and images they produced. I certainly came away from the day on high feeling we had all achieved something.

I have plenty of opportunity to run groups workshops on Dartmoor for clubs and societies. Spreading the cost works out very reasonable so contact me if you are interested.