Landscape | alan frost photography

Posts tagged ‘Landscape’

Photographic workflow – Part 1 ….. Seeking inspiration

*Out and about on the Throop Loop walk close to my home.*
*More images from this walk feature in this post.*

This is the first post in a short series in which I aim to describe my photographic workflow from the very beginnings to the final print. In this post I will write about how to find inspiration. Future posts will cover image capture, my editing process and lastly making the print.

At the start of this year I made a pledge that I would put more effort into making new work and to immerse myself into this great creative hobby which I and so many people enjoy. However if you lack inspiration or enthusiasm this has to change.

I guess we all go through periods when our desire to be creative wanes, and when this happens we need to find fresh inspiration that encourages us to pick up a camera and seek out new subjects or different ways to make photographs. If you have been making images for many years this can prove problematic. It’s all too easy to fall into a rut and think; ‘I have photographed that scene before’ or ‘I simply can’t be bothered to make the effort to go out – the weather is against me and the light isn’t right.’ All valid reasons but I believe they can be overcome by a fresh dose of inspiration.

I can only speak for myself but I find I am inspired in a number of ways.

I will often begin by going to my collection of photo books, selecting a few from the shelf and from there I start thumbing through the pages with a decent cup of coffee for company. I read about the photographer, their approach, thought process, technique and perhaps most importantly studying their photographs. And when I say study I don’t mean flicking quickly from one page to the next, as we do when scrolling through images on Instagram, but actually taking time to really look into the image. I look at the choice of subject depicted; its composition; how line, texture, form and contrast have been used to enhance the image and how these elements assist the narrative or feel of the picture. In other words ‘what can I learn’ from images made by photographers whose work I admire and which gives me pleasure.

*The Recent Past by James Ravilious and A Life a biography by his wife*
*Robin Ravilious*

In the past few weeks I have been revisiting the books I have by James Ravilious, Chris Chapman, Chris Tancock, Fay Godwin and Don McCullin (his landscapes). These five photographers all work in monochrome and the first three could be all be described as rural documentary photographers. Their images typically capture a way of life in the countryside and this appeals to me greatly. Their work often includes people which are nearly always absent in my photographs but I like to think I am recording or documenting the countryside around where I live.

*Wild Goose and Riddon by Chris Chapman*

*Land and Our Forbidden Land both by Fay Godwin*

Alongside books I find inspiration from watching YouTube videos about these and other like minded photographers. There are of course very many excellent photographers who are making a good living being full time YouTubers, but all too often in my view their formulaic approach to their craft is more about gaining likes and subscribers to boost their channel. I can’t blame them but endless gear reviews, visits to honeypot locations and well worn ‘how to do this, and how to do that’, is fine upto a point but this type of video isn’t for me. I am more interested in films, talks or interviews with and about the photographers that inspire me. They are fewer in number but I find them very interesting and inspiring even when I have watched them before.

A selection of videos which you might find interesting.

A documentary presented by Chris Chapman regarding his friendship with James Ravilious made in 2022 – duration 24 minutes.

A documentary about Fay Godwin – duration 49 minutes

A film about Chris Tancock – duration 12 minutes

Don McCullin – The Stillness of Life – duration 8 minutes

I haven’t bought a photo magazine for years but I used to subscribe to Black and White Photography Magazine and still have a pile of them which I will occasionally pick up and read. Much of the imagery isn’t to my liking but some of the articles have a value and are worth re-visiting.

*A pile of Black and White Photography magazines*

I have yet to discover many podcasts which make me want to listen on a regular basis. I would however highly recommend Lenswork an online photography magazine by Brooks Jenson. Almost without exception every day he broadcasts ‘Here’s a thought’ – This example called ‘Take a Risk’ was published just a few days ago on the 22nd February. It lasts about 6 minutes and is well worth a listen.

Inspiration can also be found by being in the company of other photographers or artists. I haven’t been a member of a camera club for many years, and I rarely participate in workshops. Almost without exception the period following a workshop has kick started my desire to pick up a camera and start shooting. This was certainly the case when I attended a retreat towards the end of last year run by Paul Sanders, my first workshop for many years. Paul gave me new ideas, guidance and encouragement. A confidence booster which we all need from time to time. You can read more about my experience here.

I don’t like to mention it but it’s true to say that the purchase of new equipment will virtually guarantee and inspire us to take photographs. A new camera, lens, tripod, camera bag or simply a new accessory will get the shutter release button working again. New gear often isn’t necessary of course but if it inspires new work then what’s wrong with that? I have been guilty of treating myself to new equipment on more than one occasion, and I shall revisit the topic of equipment in Part 2 of this series – Image Capture.

There are other situations which help inspire the desire to make photographs. Being on holiday or travelling and exploring a location which you haven’t visited before is an obvious one. There are though limits on how far and how often. Time and finances are both limiting factors. As an outdoor photographer a favourable weather forecast for the next day might be all you the encouragement you need to pack the camera bag and head out. Mist or fog, the promise of snowfall, a stormy day down at the coast or simply the chance of good light and interesting cloud formations can all inspire.

There may be other situations which will inspire us to pick up a camera knowing it could help improve one’s mood. Certain ‘life or work events’ which cause stress and anxiety can prove to be all the inspiration necessary. Being outdoors and taking photographs is an excellent antidote for stress. It is well recognised that exercise whilst experiencing nature is beneficial to our health and general state of mind.

Lastly I believe that when we make new images which we like and enjoy, this very act will inspire us to try and repeat the exercise and make more pictures which we are happy with. Success breeds success you might say. These images don’t have to be liked or critically acclaimed by others; although positve feedback does help of course. It can be quite sufficient to make images which please the creator and the creator alone.

I liken this to when I used to be a regular golfer many years ago. I could have a dreadful round, spraying the ball all over the place, but if I struck one decent shot or holed a long putt then I would look forward to the next time I played. This analogy is no different to the small number of pleasing images on a memory card which is full of pictures just waiting in anticipation for the delete key to be pressed.

*The river Piddle looking towards the farm at Turners Puddle*

These are all forms of inspiration which I find helpful. Some are more tangible than others but they have all been of benefit to me recently or in the past.

It perhaps goes without saying that the photographers I have chosen to feature are my particular favourites and you will have own preferences but the principle remains the same. I also have no doubt that you will have your own ideas on where and how you find inspiration and any thoughts you may have would be welcomed in the comments section.

In the meantime I am inspired to make new work and I have been doing so recently.

I have included a small collection of recent images made on a walk which I call the Throop Loop. A regular circular walk which is quite close to my home. There are familiar sights aplenty but the eye soon learns to see and discover new compositions when inspired to do so.

*Seek and you will find – a finger post on the Throop Loop*

A countryside wander around Winterborne Kingston

Grey, cold, and damp….. a typical Winter’s day in the south of England. Despite these conditions I very much enjoy wandering around the countryside, and in particular photographing the various farm buildings I encounter. They hold a certain fascination and are often in a state of disrepair. It’s a subject I keep returning to, and I don’t imagine this ever changing. The combination of a walk in the Dorset landscape with a camera for company is always a pleasure irrespective of the weather; although warm, waterproof clothing and a good pair of walking boots are a requirement.

The walk began and ended at the church of St Nicholas in Winterborne Kingston. A fine display of snowdrops reminded me that Spring isn’t so very far away.

Eight years apart ….. different moments in time.

There is almost exactly eight years between these two images. The latest image (above) was captured on the 3rd January 2025 and the earlier image (below) on the 22nd December 2016. Clearly both photographs are of the same scene but they are very different. You may want to spend a few moments comparing the two images before reading my own thoughts and observations.

This scene of Chichester Harbour is one I know very well. It’s on a section of path on the eastern side of Fishbourne Creek, between the villages of Fishbourne and Dell Quay in West Sussex. The earlier photograph is one of a collection of images of Chichester Harbour which make up a body of work I titled ‘Still by the Water’. You can view the other images here.

Although the photograph captured just a few days ago is similar to the image of 8 years ago, there are a number of important differences and as a consequence the feel and narrative of the picture has changed.

Both are wintry scenes – one is a bright, cold, frosty but clear morning. The other a misty day with much softer light, which has given some tonal separation between the group of trees in the background and the main subject – the kissing gate.

The group of trees also appear further away than they did in the original image. There is a simple explanation. The earlier image was captured with a 50mm lens, whilst a 35mm lens was used for the image taken a few days ago. When I set out I had no intention of trying to recreate the older image and I only had the one lens/camera combination with me.

My position for the composition has changed out of necessity. Nature in the form of brambles now occupy the ground where I had stood 8 years ago. The footpath sign has been moved and now only has two fingers whereas it previously had three. Nature has again played its part. The sea has eroded sections of the sea wall so one branch of the footpath has been closed and further erosion is inevitable as each winter storm takes its toll.

As well as the light being very different there is an added element to the more recent composition – the prominent spire of Chichester Cathedral. It may be very small in the frame but its placement draws the eye and creates a new narrative, which in my view is made up of four elements.

Firstly the kissing gate which is beautifully illuminated by the early morning light. It encourages me (or the viewer) to walk through the gate, to continue along the path and the journey. There is a feeling of hope as the early morning sun rises at the start of a new day and the beginning of a new year.

Secondly the signpost offers a simple choice of direction along the pathway; which way to continue, left or right? We all face choices in life and we don’t always know the consequences of the decisions we make.

Thirdly the post could be viewed as a cross and the upright section of wood is pointing to the Cathedral Spire. A suggestion perhaps of another but altogether different journey?

Fourthly the unseen changes to the landscape; the eroding sea wall and nature taking back the land on which I once stood. These elements aren’t visible in the frame, but they are reminders that whilst a scene may on first glance be very similar, change is inevitable and given the passage of time nothing stays the same. From one day to the next the weather and lighting conditions will change. Even in the space of a few minutes the sun will move; the direction of light will alter and in this instance the frost will start to thaw.

In photography we are simply capturing a moment in time which is never to be repeated.

This is my first post of 2025, so I would like to thank all of you who follow this blog, particularly those of you who have ‘liked’ or made comments in the past 12 months. I always appreciate your feedback.

Wherever you may be, may I wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful New Year.

Dorset crops ….. not grain, but 1 x 2.

For many years I have been making images of my home county of Dorset with the intention of including my favourite pictures in a photobook; not necessarily for publication but simply for my own satisfaction and enjoyment. There are about 140 photographs which I have already short-listed and I have now reached the stage where I can begin making my final selection. Part of this process involves reviewing all the images, to ensure I am happy with how they have been edited and whether or not they could be improved in any way.

As I went through the portfolio there were two or three images which I thought would benefit from a ‘letterbox’ crop or to be more precise a 1×2 aspect ratio. As someone who likes to shoot 1×1 or 5×4, a 1×2 crop is well outside my comfort zone. However as I experimented I found more images which I thought were enhanced by selecting this particular crop.

In this post have included a few photographs which have undergone this treatment. As well a changing the overall feel of the image I like the fact they will add variety and interest to the book.

Some of these images were made some years ago and I think this exercise also demonstrates how a critical and constructive review of an edited photograph can bring dividends.

If you have enjoyed this post do please like or leave a comment and subscribe to my blog. Thank you.

The Jubilee Trail – Cranborne to Pentridge Hill … Walk Number Two

The days seem to go so quickly that I find to hard to believe that a month has passed since I took my first steps along the Jubilee Trail. You can read about Walk One here.

I decided for my second planned walk that I would effectively continue where I left off, albeit that I would be starting in Cranborne, walking out to Pentridge Hill and returning along the Hardy Way back to the village – a distance of 5.2 miles. I am fully aware that in walking terms this isn’t very far but as I mentioned in the first post I want to take time to absorb and appreciate the landscape as well as finding compositions and releasing the shutter to record what I see.

In many ways these posts, and there will be 32 in total, are as much a travelogue and as they are a photographic experience. Given I have only just completed the second walk it may well take me a year or more to finish the 90 mile trail!

I left the village of Cranborne at precisely 10 o’clock just as the church bells chimed on the hour, and for a short time they drowned out the bird song coming from the trees around me. The sun shone which was in stark contrast to the previous day which had been wet. After all the rain, the gravel path made for good walking but I anticipated there would be muddy sections somewhere along the route.

I soon reached Manor Farm and couldn’t help but notice the signage for The Boot and Bucket Cheese Company. I am a big fan of cheese and I had not come across this artisan food-maker before, so I made a mental note to go on their website when I returned home. I knew it wouldn’t be very long before one or two of their products would be on a plate with complementary biscuits and a glass of red wine.

I passed Manor Farm and the gravel track gave way to tarmac. A surprisingly well maintained road given it only served Cranborne Farm ahead. Two people appeared in front of me, grey hair, one stick and the ubiquitous black labrador. I soon overtook them, said good morning as I did so, and continued along the trail. Pasture land lay to my left, a post and wire fence preventing the curious cattle escaping, telegraph poles as far as my eye could see and a flock of maybe seven or eight white wagtails for company.

Heading north west the mid morning sun was directly behind me and my long shadow led the way. I turned to see if I was still being followed but the two dog walkers must have turned around, continued putting the world to rights, as they made there was back to Cranborne.

After 35 minutes and 1.3 miles, I turned right at Cranborne farm, still on the Jubilee Trail, and began a gentle ascent. I had chosen another beautiful, dry autumnal day and the temperature was rising. I had packed a waterproof jacket, but I was convinced it wouldn’t be required. In fact it wasn’t long before my gilet joined the waterproof in my backpack and I was down to a single layer. Neither saw the light of day until the end of the walk. I couldn’t have wished for better conditions.

Leaving the farm behind me, tarmac had been replaced by a typical farm track, with tractor ruts either side of a wet grass central reservation. Lined by hedges which are great for wildlife but they did mean my view of the surrounding countryside was inhibited. Although there were some muddy sections, the ground was surprisingly good given how wet it had been recently. I felt for all arable farmers who must have had a very difficult time bringing in the harvest and would now be struggling to plough and cultivate the land ready for seed drilling and next year’s crop.

Every so often, the sun would give advanced notice of a gap in the hedgerow and the hidden landscape would be revealed. At one point I could see Penbury Knoll, which I had visited in ‘Walk One’ although I wouldn’t be going quite that far today. This route would take me to the lower slopes of Pentridge Hill where I would turn round and head back to Cranborne. The path was nearly all uphill from now on. The good news is that it would be all downhill on the way back.

Although I had yet to see or hear any pheasants, it was evident that sections of the farmland would be used for game shooting. Strips of land had been left for cover and there were many pheasant feeders dotted around the fields. Game shooting divides opinion but for those in favour it does generate another income stream for landowners and gamekeepers.

I arrived at my next turning point. It was marked on the map as Jack’s Hedge Corner. I enjoyed a good view of the countryside and then realised from looking at the map that I was looking down on Toby‘s Bottom. ‘Oooh Matron’ I said to myself, which will only make sense to those of you who are familiar with Kenneth Williams and the ‘Carry On’ films of the 1960’s and 70’s. Joking aside these are names which are surely linked to people from the past, in particular Jack as there were hedges in all directions.

I stopped to take a few pictures and as I made my way up the hill I thought I could hear voices. My hearing isn’t perfect but the voices got louder and it wasn’t long before I knew that my ears hadn’t been deceiving me, as a group of retired ramblers came into view. A few moments earlier I had only been thinking how this had felt like a quiet place of solitude negating any need to go to places like Scotland and the mountains. I could escape people here in my home county. The ramblers had broken the silence of nature and place, and selfishly I hoped they would be continuing their walk along a different path. I pressed on to put some distance between me and them. I make no apology but I prefer to be on my own.

The slopes of Pentridge Hill lay ahead and a buzzard flew over Blackbush Down. As it turned, the underside of its wings were caught in sunlight, revealing the beautiful pattern of its feathers. The distinctive mewing and screeching on the wing echoes the sound of a cat like call. It circled out of view, its cry falling away in volume as it did so.

Apart from the bird of prey calling there were no more voices to be heard; I assumed they must have turned right at Jack’s Hedge Corner and I rambled off in the opposite direction.

After an hour and 35 minutes I had covered 2.9 miles, and had arrived at the point which I had left the Jubilee Trail a few weeks ago. It was time to turn round and retrace my steps taking in the view across Cranborne Chase. Before doing so I reached into my bag for a drink and half a sandwich, something to refresh me. It was only 11.40am so too early for lunch and I envisaged having the rest back in the village followed by a flat white and maybe a slice of cake at the Cranborne Garden Centre by way of a treat.

I soon arrived back at Jack’s Hedge Corner. By then the sun had moved round and was now illuminating the gate post which made for a much better composition.

This was also the junction to continue straight ahead and follow Hardy’s Way back to Cranborne. ‘Jack’ had without question been very active as the path was lined by tall hedges on both sides of the track and for long sections any view was completely obscured. However I was grateful the sun was still shining, but in some respects I was now looking forward to the end of the walk.

As I descended I had rather hoped there might be a view of the village, perhaps even the church tower but it was not be. Thinking the tall hedgerow would be a permanent fixture for the rest of the walk I was pleased when I came across a pair of double gates to my right and the countryside I had been missing for the past half a mile or so suddenly came into view. I stopped, rested my hiking stick against the gate and admired the scenery. I heard the buzzard again but this time it wasn’t visible, but there was no mistaking its call.

It was at this point that I gave some thought to the camera equipment I had in my bag. My Leica SL and 50mm Summilux lens was all I had used. I had three other prime lenses so why was I carrying all of them? I guess there will be times when I will resort to using them but for the majority of images 50mm is all I need. It is though something to consider for future walks.

The bridleway returned to tarmac once again so I knew the village and the end of the walk couldn’t be that far away. I reached a road and on the corner a finger post confirmed what I already knew; the car would be in sight very shortly and lunch would be my reward.

It’s just before 1 o’clock and I’m back where I started; 5.4 miles according to the App on my iPhone. Before heading to the cafe there was one more place to visit – the church of St Mary and St Bartholomew. There were only a few spaces to park outside the church and a ‘no parking’ cone immediately by the church gate reduced the number of options. A small pick up took up another space with its driver sitting behind the wheel.

I approached the church but unfortunately it was closed for the day. A notice on the door informed me that a funeral was due to take place. This made sense of the parking cone and I could only conclude the grave digger was waiting to complete his work after the service had finished.

As I drove to the cafe the vicar was walking to the church with a small black leather case in his hand. There were two mourners in traditional dark attire at the garden centre filling time over a drink and I suspect retelling tales of the dearly departed. A sombre end to the day but a reminder how grateful I am to be alive, to walk, to see and to hear the beauty of God’s creation which I had witnessed that morning.

I left the garden centre at 2pm and heard the church bells chime again.