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As seasons change it's always exciting to look back on previous years shots and locations and then look at the maps for inspiration.
I have been to The Brecons for Autumn shoots the past two or three years and decided it was a must to do again, but was also very keen to get out and explore pastures new.
Dartmoor has been high on my list of places to shoot for some time, but circumstances have never permitted, other than a shot half day drive around in the summer; which served to frustrate and entice me in equal measure. I decided to pack the car and head down to see whatI could find. In the way of Autumn colour and locations and compositions to give me a buzz.
I started off at the Tor which left me flummoxed and dishearteded on that summer trip. I lost my mojo at Combe Stone Tor on the first trip, it is fair to say. I left Dorset at 3am and drove in and out of showers all the way, wondering if I had picked a washout. I got to Combe Stone Tor at about 6am and sat in the dark with the heater on in the car and waited for first light. The rain cleared and the soft pre dawn light was incredible. I darted about framing up compositions and making the most of the light in case everything got too harsh when the sun broke the horizon. I had really struggled with the summer light and needed to reduce saturation substancially to make the images look vaguely believable and was concerned of a repeat performance. I need not have worried as I was treated to some spectacular pinks reflected in the clouds and managed to shoot for almost an hour after sunrise.
This image was taken after sunrise and with the low morning sun behind me. The gorse was a fabulous reddish colour, enhansed by the warm light. I had shot images of this tree on the summer trip and not got anything I had liked, so was shooting in a totally different way, with a different focal length. I really wanted to give the tree a sense of place and show the remote location to try and hold the viewers attention.
I spent the rest of the day exploring the Dart Valley, driving across the the western sde of the Moor, up to The North and around and about, shooting various bridges, streams, Tors and vistas. The Dartmoor bug has bitten me and I am looking forward to getting to know the Moor better and with luck, bringing home some great images and seeing the different seasons of Dartmoor.
I actally made two trips on sucessive weeks, the second time meeting up with a flickr contact Mark Lakeman, who kindly showed me some of the more hidden gems and whos local knowledge knew what was good at this time of year.
The Tree, a photo by Andy Farrer on Flickr.