THE GIFT THAT HAS KEPT ON GIVING
I’m just back from a day in the Forest of Dean, one of many I’ve spent there over the last six weeks. What keeps drawing me back are the Autumn colours that have put on such a dazzling show this year.
This Autumn has been by the far the best I can recall in over thirty years of landscape photography. I first noticed bracken beginning to change colour right back at the beginning of October, and here we are in the dying embers of November with canopies and understoreys still ablaze with oranges, reds and yellows. I’m always fascinated by the varied rates of change in different species of trees. This year the beeches began to turn first, followed by birch and alder. This varied rate of change gives us the tremendous range of colours starting with yellow and orange through to deep golden hues. When the oaks and hazels joined in the tapestry was completed.
By any standard last year’s Autumn was a huge disappointment, arriving late and lasting just a couple of weeks. This year, though, has more than compensated at least in my part of the world. A wet summer, followed by a very warm September and October may be contributing factors but, whatever the reasons, our most beautiful season continues to delight. After three storms in quick succession I’m amazed that there are any leaves on the trees at all ! I’m guessing the next storm will finish things for this year. In the meantime, there’s a lot to be grateful for and I’ll be making the most of it (weather permitting).
I mentioned that my part of the world still looks fantastic and judging by social media it would appear to be a similar tale in the southern half of the UK. I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time photographing many of the forests in the South Wales valleys in recent weeks and they’re just starting to come to the end of the season but the added bonus here is that the leaf fall adds an extra dimension to both the forest floor and to the banks of waterfalls and mountain streams. I’m banking on another few weeks of images containing leaf litter !
Across the border into Gloucestershire, the colours in the Forest of Dean look to be less further on, hence the reason I’ve been spending so much time there. We just need another couple of weeks of calm weather and a sprinkling of sunshine to get maximum benefit from this late Autumn bonus. That said, I wouldn’t be disappointed with some misty conditions as well.
I’ve written previously of the benefits of the information I get from locals whenever I’m out photographing popular woodlands. Folks are so helpful in pointing me at a better view or brighter colours and I’m always grateful. My usual approach is to get to a woodland around sunrise so that I can get most benefit from early light but can also work in isolation before the first dog walkers arrive. Woodlands soon get busy on fine days, so some scenes are impossible to shoot but I’m more than happy to share these beautiful places. Most people will stop for a chat as they’re keen to see what I’ve been capturing, and this will generally lead to a “you need to go and photograph such and such” conversation. And that’s exactly what I’ve been doing this past week - exploring sections of woodland I’ve not visited before, storing up information for future projects. Some locations will look great in mist, others with a dusting of snow. They all get sorted away for next time or next year.
Surprisingly, I haven’t encountered one other photographer in any of the locations mentioned. I generally keep away from the “honeypot” locations at any time of year and I like to explore off the main woodland paths so there may be a reasonable explanation for this. I’m not complaining though as I’ve seen images of three or four popular spots posted hundreds of times recently. They must be barging each other out of the way at times !
So I’ll be out and about in perfect isolation most of the next week or so if the forecast good weather arrives. That said, I’ve had a few soakings lately so the rain isn’t always a showstopper. I’m hoping that I still have some time left to capture my favourite season, so forgive me if the social media Autumnal overload continues for a while.
