Peak District Summer Mist and Heather
A landscape photography blog by Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire based landscape photographer Rob Thorley Photography.
It’s August and for a lot of landscape photographers the star of the show at this time of the year is the heather reaching its peak, bathing large parts of our moorland in a vibrant carpet of purple. So really it’d be rude not to go and have a look. There are many places in the Peak District National Park to go and see this spectacular display. Myself, I’d opted for The Roaches. Whilst anyone who follows along might think, “oh no, not The Roaches again” bare with . . .
The forecast on multiple apps was looking good for some decent sunrise light and possibly a cloud inversion. When I factored that in with an extra hour in bed it seemed like a no brainer. The only dilemma was which end to park. In the end I opted to go up from Roach End as I thought the best display of heather might be that side just past the trig point. I also hadn’t photographed that end before in it’s full summer glory.
I was up and ‘em, and on top of The Roaches by five AM. A good forty minutes before sunrise itself. The conditions were fantastic. I was on time. The stars had aligned. The ducks were in a row. What could go wrong? Well, somehow it did. At the time I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but on reflection I think I know where I went wrong. Let me try and explain . . .
I was up top well before sunrise. With the sun yet to cast its light over the landscape, or catch the clouds the logical thing to do was to photograph the cloud inversion. For myself, the main compositions to show off the cloud inversion were (sadly for me) at the other end of The Roaches. I set off along the ridge, already feeling like I was rushing. This was my first problem. I felt rushed, rather than enjoying what was an absolute cracker of a morning.
A short time later I was over past Doxey Pool, and lining up some shots to capture the cloud inversion. I then encountered my second problem, which totally ruined the morning.
As I’ve mentioned the conditions were fantastic, and they don’t get much better. The day before had seen plenty of rain, so the landscape was as vibrant as it gets. The heather looked fantastic. There was no wind and the cloud inversion was underway. A perfect recipe for . . . midges! Up to this point I’d been walking, so hadn’t noticed them. As soon as I stopped it was a different story. Within seconds I was covered. They were in my eyes, ears up my nose, my clothes, and bag were covered in them.
It’s not my first rodeo with midges, and this time of year I usually have my can of “Smidge” with me. This morning however when i reached into my bag and found nothing I reflected on the saying “failing to prepare, is preparing to fail”. My can of “Smidge” was sadly keeping my desk company at home as I’d forgotten to pack it. I’d put it out the night before. It was where my phone and keys had been but for some reason I hadn’t picked it up.
Already feeling rushed I was now “frantic”. I couldn’t stay still long enough to compose any of my shots how I would have liked to as without sounding too melodramatic I was being eaten alive!
After quickly snapping off a few images of the cloud inversion I now encountered my next problem. I was out of position, and the clock was ticking. Remember the “failing to prepare . . . “ saying. Yes, that was also applying to my plan. Possibly my lack of a plan, or more to the point not sticking to my plan. Whilst those that follow along know my plans are sometimes “fluid” on this occasion I think I should have been more disciplined. If I’m being honest with the conditions this morning they should have been savoured but instead I was like a pig at the trough and that was my last problem of the day.
I’d gone out this morning wanting it all. I went out wanting to capture stills, timelapses, motion lapses, camera and drone video footage of the sunrise, heather, and cloud inversion. I did actually achieve all of this, so in that respect the morning was a resounding success, but unfortunately I didn’t really enjoy it.
I think the main issue was the midges. This was definitely the biggest downer of the morning. You just couldn’t stand still up there without being swarmed and I was covered in bites by the time I left. Whether the “Smidge” would have changed that who knows, but it certainly wouldn’t have hurt. I also think trying to do too much spoiled the enjoyment of the morning. At one point I had the Z8 shooting a timelapse, the Osmo Pocket 3 shooting a motion lapse and the drone up in the air. All the while thinking I want to get some more stills!
I don’t mind rushing when I’m enjoying myself. That’s part and parcel of sunrise, and sunset landscape photography. That window of opportunity if finite. Rushing around when you’re not enjoying yourself, well that’s not quite the same.
Anyway I hope you’ve enjoyed these. I have added a few other images from today in my Peak District gallery of The Roaches if you want to check those out.
You can view more images from The Roaches, and my gallery of other Peak District locations.
