Outdoor Photography

a giant glasswing (Methona confusa), not a Yet you don’t have to leave Europe to see Top Blue morpho, Panama highlands.
spectacular rarity and in fact common all truly exotic butterflies. In June, I travelled to Above Great Mormon (Papilio memnon),
over South America, but I had never seen the Portuguese Atlantic island of Madeira, Kuang Si Falls, Laos.
anything like it before. expertly timing our trip so it brought with it
the maximum amount of Covid restrictions. them. Silhouetted against a deep blue sky,
But the prize for butterfly iridescence In the garden high on the hillside above the or nectaring on pretty verbena flowers, they
must surely go the stunning blue morpho capital Funchal, an unexpected pleasure represented the best of the butterfly world.
(Morpho menelaus), a family of 29 species, plus awaited us: a colony of monarch butterflies
another 147 subspecies, found all the way (Danaus plexippus) that had somehow Frank Gardner is the BBC’s Security
from Mexico down into South America. My crossed the Atlantic from America. These Correspondent, president of the British Trust
daughter and I were in Panama not long ago, may be among the world’s most numerous for Ornithology (BTO) and author of the
enjoying the delights of an eco-resort up in butterflies but what a joy it was to watch bestselling novel Outbreak.
the temperate hills away from the humidity
of the coast. A stream ran right past the lodge
where hummingbirds flitted and hovered.
And there, like a flash of electric blue light,
was a pair of blue morphos, their giant 7in
wings illuminating the jungle foliage as
they alighted on a tree stump to feed off
fermented bananas. Just breathtaking.

On the other side of the Pacific, I found
the landlocked nation of Laos to have many
charms, but it’s frankly dreadful when it
comes to birds: people there have a habit of
catching them and putting them in cages.
But Laos is great for butterflies and the old
royal capital of Luang Prabang is a marvel.
Low rise, unhurried and largely unspoilt, this
city on the banks of the Mekong is one of the
jewels of south-east Asia. In the garden beside
the hotel swimming pool, a painted Jezebel
butterfly (Delias hyparete) – a red, orange
and white creature that resembled a sort of
airborne Italian ice cream – flew from tree to
tree. Down the road, in the well-kept hedges
and gardens of the old Royal Palace, with its
majestic curled-up roofs, enormous black,
red and white butterflies flitted among the
flowers: common Mormons (Papilio polytes),
a distant relative of Europe’s swallowtail.

So beguiling was Luang Prabang, with
its riverside vegetable market, handicraft
markets and superb street food, that it was
several days before I ventured into the hills to
visit the magnificent Kuang Si Falls. It was a
good hour’s drive away through a landscape
of paddy fields, bamboo thickets and smoky,
wooden-roofed hamlets. A scenery so
peaceful, in fact, that it was hard to think this
country had millions of tons of US bombs
dropped on it during the Vietnam War in
the 60s and 70s, giving it the unfortunate
distinction of being possibly the most heavily
bombed neutral country in history.

The Kuang Si Falls are a tropical feast for
the eyes: a succession of cascades tumbling
down a cliff face into limpid green pools
where children splashed and played in dappled
jungle sunlight. There were so many different
butterfly species here, I lost track of them:
plain tigers (Danaus chrysippus), white tigers
(Danaus melanippus), glassy tigers (Parantica
aglea) and more of those enormous Mormons.

Outdoor Photography 49

ON LOCATION

Photographing Kent

Not only is the Garden of England one of the UK’s prime birdwatching hotspots, it also boasts a unique array of
spectacular landmarks, habitats and beaches, including a few hidden gems. Stewart McKeown is your tour guide

Located in the far south-east of the UK, sandy beaches which together with the easily towns of Margate and Ramsgate and is a
the county of Kent is historically known as accessible countryside are what makes Kent so renowned holiday destination due in part to
the Garden of England for its abundance of special for the visiting photographer. the numerous sandy beaches – there are 16
orchards and hop gardens. Despite also being beaches on Thanet and seven in Broadstairs.
the fifth most populous county in England, Where to shoot
a third of Kent is registered as an Area of The options are ample, but I would
Outstanding Natural Beauty, including the Broadstairs recommend Botany Bay and Kingsgate as
Kent Downs, a series of chalk ridges stretching ideal locations to explore first. These adjacent
from the Surrey borders in the west to the white Broadstairs is a coastal town situated on the bays both have cliffs with which to frame
cliffs of Dover in the east. As well as being home Isle of Thanet, a peninsula at the most easterly compositions and are easily accessed from
to this iconic landmark, the Kent coastline also point in Kent that was once separated by the nearby car parks. Being on the east coast, both
comprises unique marshlands, tidal pools and Wantsum Channel, but which has long since these beaches lend themselves to a sunrise
silted up. The area is home to the popular shoot, although the cliff stacks on Botany Bay
are also perfect to shoot during a summer
sunset. The nearby sea arch at Kingsgate Bay
looks at its best when side lit just after sunrise
in spring and autumn and there are options at
both locations regardless of the tide height.

Botany Bay Reculver
Kingsgate
On the north Kent coast near the town of Herne
Bay lies the small village and seaside resort
of Reculver. The imposing twin towers of the
Anglo-Saxon church built in the 12th century
remain on the site of one of the earliest Roman
forts, Regulbium. Due to coastal erosion,
the ruins are now situated very close to the
coast, enabling fantastic views which make
Reculver an ideal location at any time of the
day and year. The most dynamic opportunities
for photos of the front of the towers require
walking down on to the soft wet sand at low
tide, so make sure to pack wellies. Images from
behind the towers can be timed to include the
setting sun from April to September.

Folkestone Warren

The Warren Country Park is a nature reserve
and Site of Special Scientific Interest in
Folkestone, which has been formed by
centuries of landslides from the surrounding
cliffs. In its Edwardian heyday, the Warren
was a very popular destination, with its own
railway station, café and playgrounds, but after
a substantial cliff fall in 1915, which buried the
Dover to Folkestone railway line, the Warren
seems destined to remain something of a
hidden gem on the Kent coast.

The sandy beach at the base of the cliffs is
full of interest for seascapes, with its unique
railway sea defences and bold concrete
aprons, which were built in the 1950s to help
prevent further erosion. The bay faces south-
east, which is ideal for sunrises, especially
during the winter months, and although any
tide height here will work, the disused railway
line groynes will mostly be invisible at high tide.

50 Outdoor Photography

King’s Wood

King’s Wood is one of Kent’s largest ancient
woodlands. The 1,500-acre forest located in
the Kent Downs AONB has a mix of broad-
leafed and coniferous trees and can be
explored via an array of well-maintained paths
and trails. Historically, King’s Wood was a royal
hunting ground frequented by Henry VIII and
herds of fallow deer still roam here today.

One of the main attractions of these woods
is the beautiful bluebell display in the spring.
There are plenty of areas on the outskirts of the
woods where the bluebells thrive in between
the rows of beech trees, which can make for
dramatic images at either end of the day.

Fairfield Church Reculver

Fairfield Church, also known as St Thomas à
Beckett Church, is an iconic isolated building
on Romney Marsh in the south of Kent. Little
remains of the village it was first built to serve
in the 13th century. Fairfield, along with many
other villages on the marshes, vanished as the
population fell, notably due to malaria which
was prevalent in the area into the 1800s.

The medieval church now sits alone among
the fields of grazing sheep, intersecting with
various watercourses and drainage ditches
which offer fantastic opportunities to frame
and reflect the church in all directions. The
location is particularly suited to sunrise shoots
when frequently occurring low-lying mist can
enhance the atmosphere.

Through the seasons King’s Wood
Fairfield Church
Kent is a great location throughout the
year. On the coast, the summer months
are particularly fruitful, with swathes of
colourful wildflowers appearing on the
shingle beaches of Whitstable and Deal
and atop the cliffs in Thanet. The bays in
Thanet do get much busier around this
time, but the sunsets are often worth it.

Wildlife

Kent is one of the best counties for bird
watching in the UK, best known for its
breeding birds, winter visitors and passage
migrants. See RSPB Dungeness and
Elmley National Nature Reserve on the Isle
of Sheppey in particular.

In addition to the wild deer in King’s
Wood, there is a large herd in the grounds
of Knole Park near Sevenoaks, and during
autumn the rut can be observed.

Tips and advice

It always pays to know the tides when
photographing the Kent coast, primarily
for safety reasons, but certain locations
are highly dependent on particular tide
positions to work.

Outdoor Photography 51

The Cairngorms, Scotland

5th- 12th November 2022
7 nights, £2250

Join our Retreat based at the famous Ballintean
Mountain Lodge in the heart of the Cairngorms
National Park for a week of photography, review,
discussion–and great food.

Guided by Niall Benvie and hosted by Charlotte Benvie,
we set a timetable to suit your photography, whether
we’re working on red squirrels or reindeer, misty pine
woods or still, dark lochans. And we don’t neglect your
comfort nor forget that you’re on holiday. You have your
own comfortable en-suite room and spacious public
areas in which to process, read or just enjoy our own
brand of aprés-photo… Time to head to the wilds again.

www.foodandphotographyretreats.com

[email protected] | +33 7 52 62 06 00

TM

Food and
Photography

= Retreats =

with the Benvies
a Scottish private company limited by guarantee: SC596219

LOCATIONS

GUIDE

5

We want to see your best shots
from around the UK and Ireland.
Each month the winner will
receive £200! For submission
details, turn to page 72

1 Whiteford Point
Swansea

2 Porthcurno beach
Cornwall

3 St Michael’s Church
Ceredigion

4 Shingle Street
Suffolk

5 Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir
Highland

3 4
1

These are based around an ‘averagely fit’ person. 2
Below are loose guidelines to what the ratings mean
(N.B. they are assigned by the author and not verified by
OP. Walk distances are one-way only):

1/5 Easy access. You 3/5 Medium length 5/5 The most difficult
can pretty much get straight out of your car and walk of up to about two miles, over quite easy access. Long hike over challenging terrain (e.g.
quickly be at the viewpoint via good quality paths. terrain. mountains/summits/steep coastal terrain); or
involves travelling over particularly extreme ground
2/5 Gentle walking is 4/5 Longer length hike (e.g. scrambling on rocks/exposed coastal paths or
involved, which may be on mixed quality paths. up to about four miles over mixed terrain, possibly mountain ridges) over any distance.
with some quite steep gradients.

VIEWPOINTS

WINNER
Roly Barth

Whiteford Point,
Swansea

S ituated off Whiteford Point on
the Gower peninsula, with views
towards Pembrey Forest, the
61ft-high cast-iron Whiteford
Lighthouse was built in 1865 to warn ships
of the dangerous area of sandbanks and
rocks on the approach to Burry Port
and Llanelli. Now a rusting relic of that
bygone era, the lighthouse offers good
compositions throughout the year. You
can approach it via the broad, sandy beach
or through Whiteford Burrows, a system
of sand dunes and pine forest which is
home to a good population of wildlife.

How to get there: Head west on the A4067
from Swansea for two miles, turn right on
Brynmill Terrace then left on the A4118/
Gower Road. Follow the B4271 for six miles
until Oldwalls. At the T-junction, turn left
on to the B4295/New Road. After three
miles, turn right by the church and follow
signs to Cwm Ivy car park. The lighthouse
is a three-mile walk from the car park.
What to shoot: The old lighthouse,
beach, seascapes and a good selection
of wildlife, especially waders.
Other times of year: All year
round, although you can only reach
the lighthouse at low tide.
Nearby locations: Weobley Castle
(4 miles); Worm’s Head (9 miles).

Congratulations

Roly Barth wins £200 for
his wonderful photograph.

13 miles from Gorseinon • 17 miles from Swansea ACCESS RATING

54 Outdoor Photography

Outdoor Photography 55

Andrew Ray

andrewrayphotography.com

Porthcurno beach, Cornwall

P orthcurno is well known for its How to get there: From Penzance, follow
history as an international cable the A30 west for three miles and turn left
communication centre, and as the on to the B3283, which becomes the B3315
home of the spectacularly located open-air after three miles. Continue for two miles,
Minack Theatre. For landscape photographers, then turn left on to a road signed Porthcurno.
however, the main draw is the wonderful view Park in the beach car park on the left after
of Treryn Dinas, a headland to the east of the one mile, then follow the footpath south to
cove, which has an 80-ton granite rocking Porthcurno beach (1/4 mile).
stone (Logan Rock) perched near one of its What to shoot: Landscape images
summits. The golden sand beach is a great featuring Treryn Dinas and Logan Rock.
place to capture sunrise images featuring Other times of year: Winter, especially
Treryn Dinas, especially in the weeks around if the sea is rough, which it is prone to be.
the spring and autumn equinoxes when the Nearby locations: Land’s End (4 miles);
sun comes up behind the rocky headland. Boscawen Cliff (6 miles).

8 miles from Penzance • 15 miles from St Ives ACCESS RATING

56 Outdoor Photography

10 miles from Cardigan • 24 miles from Carmarthen ACCESS RATING

Chris Bestall groes (signposted Tresaith). Follow the lane
for a couple of miles then turn right towards
chrisbestall.co.uk Penbryn, past Ty Hen Farm. After another
couple of miles, you’ll see the church on
St Michael’s Church, the left, with a car park on the opposite side
Ceredigion of the lane. This image was taken from the
Penbryn car park just around the corner.
A lso known as St Michael’s on the What to shoot: The church, the valleys,
Hill, this beautiful little church dates the cliffs and beaches. Penbryn is
back to the 12th century, although it’s perfect for sunsets.
believed there has been a place of worship Other times of year: Winter is the best
here for many centuries before that. It’s time of year for this view, but the sea
situated on a hilltop overlooking Cardigan views are superb any time of year.
Bay, a short walk from Penbryn beach. Nearby locations: Cilgerran Castle
The graveyard of St Michael’s is circular, (12 miles); Ffynone waterfall (15 miles).
reputedly for a reason: no dark corners for
the devil to hide in! My picture was taken
early one morning, during a brief interlude
between showers.

How to get there: From Cardigan, turn left
off the A487 coast road just after Tan-y-

Outdoor Photography 57

Justin Minns

justinminns.co.uk

Shingle Street, Suffolk

S hingle Street is little more than a row Woodbridge. At the roundabout, take the
of cottages in an isolated spot on the second exit and then turn left on to Heath
Suffolk coast. The beach here is an Road towards Hollesley. After 4.5 miles,
expanse of shingle, shaped over the years go straight on at the crossroads and follow
by the sea into a lunar landscape of ridges the narrow lane to Shingle Street. There is
and valleys; the shoreline moulded into a small car park on the beach just before
ever-shifting lagoons and small islands. The the row of cottages.
stark curves of the shoreline are surprisingly What to shoot: Shapes and curves of the
photogenic, as are the gleaming white shoreline, remote cottages, big skies, long
cottages on the beach which provide a much- exposures, sunrise and sunset.
needed focal point. It is their unexpected Other times of year: Moody weather is
presence in such a remote setting that gives preferred, but in summer, wildflowers add
Shingle Street its brooding charm. a splash of colour to the beach.
Nearby locations: Boyton and Hollesley
How to get there: Take the A1152 east from Marshes (5 miles); Kyson Hill (11 miles).

8 miles from Felixstowe (via ferry) • 17 miles from Ipswich ACCESS RATING

58 Outdoor Photography

12 miles from Ullapool • 41 miles from Lairg ACCESS RATING

Brian Pollock north on the A835. Turn left just before
Drumrunie, eventually passing Stac Pollaidh.
brianpollockphotography.com Follow the road until a T-junction before
Achnahaird. Turn left and follow the road
Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir, Highland south-east past Achiltibuie and park just
before the road dips down to Culnacraig.
T he classic view from Sgùrr an Fhìdhleir What to shoot: To the north, the grand
has to be seen to be believed. As the view from the summit overlooking the
most southerly of the hills of Coigach hills of Coigach and Assynt.
and Assynt, it overlooks the full range Other times of year: Excellent views
including Stac Pollaidh, Cùl Mòr and Suilven. all year round. Extra care should be
What these hills lack in stature, they more taken in winter.
than make up for in character, and Sgùrr an Nearby locations: Rhue Lighthouse
Fhìdhleir is no exception. The approach is (10 miles); Achnahaird beach (25 miles).
straightforward over moorland and a good
track. Alternatively, it can be combined with
a loop around the sandstone ridge line of Ben
Mór Coigach for a more adventurous day out.

How to get there: From Ullapool, drive

Outdoor Photography 59

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INSIDE TRACK

Snapping the broken greenwood tree

Taking the view that it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good, Nick Smith decided
to make the best of Storm Eunice with a storm-chasing photography session
in the ancient forests of Kent. The results were mixed, to say the least

As my train headed south-east from London to High waxed jacket and a leather stockman’s hat turned
Weald, Kent, the ranting and raving of Storm Eunice shiny with wear, I set out through the woods with
was throwing trees around like straw in the wind. that feeling of foreboding you only get when you
Looking back, I was fortunate to even get out of the realise you’ve completely failed to think something
metropolis, given there were so many obstructions through properly. All the while I’d been sitting on the
on the various lines that pick their way to the English train, my thoughts had concentrated only on how
Channel. But with a little local knowledge and a lot stunning my images of these broken greenwood trees
of waiting around on windswept platforms, I pieced would be. Not once had I reined in my imagination
together a rail journey taking me to the ancient sufficiently to work out how I was to get the
forests where there would inevitably be dozens of photographs I could see in my mind.
trees felled by the tempest.
Once inside the forest, several problems made
Although I’m hardly one of those storm chasing themselves evident, first of which was that it was
photographers that traverse America’s great plains in very dark, with the overhanging branches seeming
search of their dramatic tornado imagery, the thought to cancel out more of the sky than usual. What few
had crossed my mind there might be a decent shot or gaps in the canopy that could be found to let in a
two to be had among the great oaks of Kent that were little light were that sort of wall-to-wall dull metallic
being buffeted in the heady gusts of Eunice. grey that would under normal circumstances have
me scurrying for the nearest café, book in hand.
As train number three inched along glacially, a Everything was soggy and it was a thoroughly
song popped into my head, a lovely little canticle miserable day to be an outdoor photographer.
from Shakespeare’s As You Like It that is known to
aficionados of the Elizabethan stage by its first line: And I wasn’t the only person to think so either,
‘Under the greenwood tree’. The ditty is so beloved for the forest was packed to the gunwales with
by the generations of writers to follow the Bard photographers all, I assumed, motivated by similar
that the great 19th-century novelist Thomas Hardy creative thoughts to my own. I’m not going to say
pinched its opening four words for the title of the that I hadn’t seen so many gunslingers since I was
first of his Wessex novels. three lines deep in the snappers’ pit for the legendary
Rolling Stones gig at the Brixton Academy on 19
As the aging Hardy’s writing became more doom- July 1995, but it was – for a storm-bruised area of
laden, he might have plundered the last line of the outstanding natural beauty – a fairly close-run thing.
same verse of the same song too, in which the Swan I can without fear of contradiction report that the
of Avon writes of ‘winter and rough weather’. I knew only time I’ve seen more camouflage lens covers was
there was a reason for the song cropping up: as I when last in a camera shop on Tottenham Court
glanced at my camera backpack and then out of the Road that was having a half-price stock clearance
window, I could see we were in for plenty of both. sale of the offending items.

One of my favourite spots to photograph trees is Apart from wondering what these photographers
the woodland to the south of Bidborough Ridge. This might think they were achieving by thus disguising
is where you will find not only the magnificent oaks their cameras, my reaction was to wonder if I’d
that are home to what’s believed to be the last wild made an error of judgement. When asked by eager
herd of deer in this part of the world, but also wide newcomers if I have words of advice that I can pass
valleys where you can spot barn owls in the evening on to them, I usually tend to improvise on the theme
sun, slowly flying low like old Lancaster bombers of ‘think for yourself, think outside the box’. And
over the barley fields in search of voles. here I was thinking the same thought as everyone
else that day.
In this valley I’ve also found what looks like a
medieval carp fishery, and I’ve photographed just It was no surprise to discover that my photographs
about every bird of prey it’s possible to see this side of were awful, and so rather than mess about trying to
London, from sparrowhawks to honey buzzards, red rescue the best of a bad bunch, on the train back to
kites to golden eagles. But today, I was here to see if I London I defiantly deleted the whole lot. From the
could make pictorial sense of the natural destruction window, I could see countless splintered trees left
visited upon the forest by nature’s elements. ‘Blow, in the wake of Storm Eunice and decided that my
winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!’, wrote Will next trip to Kent’s greenwood would definitely not
of Stratford on the subject, only this time in King Lear. be in winter and rough weather.

Warmly wrapped up against the wind in a battered

61 Outdoor Photography

READER GALLERY

Each issue we publish the best images from those submitted to our Reader Gallery.
Turn to page 72 to find out how to enter your work. Here is this month’s winner...

Winner Gill Moon flowers, foliage and trees to be the focus of my Above Taken at sunrise on a misty June morning.
images. I care deeply about the environment. For me, this image encapsulates the essence
My love of photography goes back to my Over the last two years I have been focused of the Suffolk coast. I love the cow parsley
childhood when I was given a small Kodak on exploring and photographing a local patch that fringes the river wall and the flat expanse
camera which I took out with me most of ancient oak woodland. This has been of marshland on either side and just the
weekends. Although I was hooked from a fascinating project and I have learned so hint of sea beyond.
an early age, it wasn’t until my forties, when much about the oaks and the wildlife that
I moved to Suffolk, that I really took up full- inhabit the wood. In 2010 I turned my hobby Opposite Taken on a blustery summer’s day,
time photography. Photography for me is not into a profession and now spend my time I used a three-second exposure to blur the
about capturing iconic locations, but much running photography workshops in some foreground grasses and flowers to give a
more forging a connection with the landscape of the wilder parts of the Suffolk coast. painterly feel to the composition. I then waited
I am working in. I have learnt that the more for the sun to light up the windmill and give
time spent in an environment, observing Hometown Woodbridge, Suffolk me the contrast with the moody sky behind.
what is around, the more successful I am Occupation Landscape photographer
at capturing the essence of that landscape. and author
Photographic experience 15 years
Although I am a landscape photographer Website gillmoon.com
my images are very much centred around
nature. I love photographing the natural
elements of a landscape and will seek out

62 Outdoor Photography

Outdoor Photography 63

Above The beach at Shingle Street is one of the
best examples of vegetated shingle in Suffolk.
I took this image at sunrise on a June morning
and wanted to capture the beauty of the flowers
in the early morning light.

Left This image was taken just after sunrise on a
misty summer’s morning. I loved the relationship
between the two trees in this composition, it felt
as if they were reaching out to each other across
the reeds. I was thrilled this image was chosen
as the runner-up in the Classic View category
of LPOTY 2021.

Submit your best images and win great prizes.
This month’s winner, Gill Moon, receives a MindShift
Gear Rotation 22L backpack, worth £218!

Designed for outdoor adventure photography, the water-resistant coating, the backpack features an
Rotation 22L offers immediate camera access adjustable, robust harness system with angular
without the need to take off the backpack – simply foam padding covered with air mesh to keep you
rotate the integrated belt pack to the front of cool and dry. And the belt pack is removable, so
your body and your camera is at your fingertips. you can go light when you get to your location!
Find out more at snapperstuff.com
Built with rugged nylon fabric treated with a

64 Outdoor Photography

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Call +44 (0) 1273 488005

International Garden
Photographer of
the Year

IGPOTY continues to be the best
annual competition for amateur
and professional photographers
obsessed with gardens, plants and
flowers. Here is the overall winner
and a selection of our favourites
from Competition 15

Left (top)
Overall Winner
Magdalena Wasiczek
I photographed this large white or cabbage
white butterfly (Pieris brassicae) at rest on
a flower head. The numerous raindrops
have created a pleasing background bokeh
resembling stardust. It’s amazing how a
few drops of water in the air can create
a magical effect in a photo.

Left (below)
Yong Miao
The autumn wind was bleak and the plants
withered gradually. I noticed this brown
butterfly, which had stopped to rest on the
tip of this curled leaf, like a sad dancer
preparing to perform on the stage.

Opposite (top)
Jacky Parker
A beautiful blend of pink coneflowers
(Echinacea purpurea), planted with blue sea
holly (Eryngium), in an herbaceous border
in Surrey. I added a soft-toned texture
for a dreamlike effect.

Opposite (below)
Khanh Bui Phu
The beautiful flooded forest at Tuyen Lam
Lake, Da Lat City, Vietnam, with a scene
that portrays the true paradise of the intense
vitality of the forest. It is an extremely rich
and friendly ecosystem, with the nomadic
life of the old fisherman and the elements
of water, trees and nature. I captured this
photo during a trip to explore the ecology
and populations of submerged trees in
the lake.

66 Outdoor Photography

PHOTO SHOWCASE

Outdoor Photography 67

68 Outdoor Photography

Opposite (top)
Luigi Ruoppolo
I shot these twisted beech trees in the mist,
they were illuminated by the sun setting
behind the forest as it passed through the
low clouds.
Opposite (below)
Fan Yi
A good friend gave me a box of peaches. A few
days later, I saw that the peaches were covered
with mould. It turned out that the mould
stole my peaches while I was away! I wanted
to throw them away, however I saw that the
mycelium was beautiful, so I captured this
wonderful moment with my camera.
Right (top)
Jo Stephen
I combined multiple exposures of plants in
Wareham Forest, Dorset, as reflected in a
pool of water. Several images from different
perspectives of the water and landscape
have been combined, using a variety of
blending modes.
Right (middle)
Barry Webb
A line of up to 2mm high fruiting bodies
of a comatricha species slime mould
I captured in my garden on a small
log from my wildlife log pile.
Right (below)
Tony North
A group of mycena mushrooms adorned
with water droplets and illuminated by
a light pad. I created the swirly rain
effect by using a water spray.

Outdoor Photography 69

Above (left) Above (right) Below
Rob Hunt Xin Zhong
The Hanging Gardens of Marqueyssac are Oregon’s Painted Hills were in full bloom Keith Horton
perched on top of a rocky outcrop above a with wildflowers. This desert landscape in This scribbly gum tree (Eucalyptus
bend in the Dordogne River. There are the John Day Fossil Beds National haemastoma) is recovering from fire by
different levels that emphasise the ‘hanging’ Monument contains a diverse assemblage of putting out epicormic shoots. These shoots
part of the gardens’ name. Everything was leaf fossils aged approximately 30-39 million grow from buds lying deep underneath the
wet with rain from the last storm, which years old called the Bridge Creek Flora, bark. This tree had lost nearly all its leaves
seemed to be a fact of life in the Dordogne which was a prehistoric forest. in a fire, but the new shoots helped it to
in early June – and added to the drama. survive. The ‘scribbles’ on the bark of these
trees are made by the caterpillars of scribbly
gum moths, which burrow (and feed)
under the bark.

Opposite (top)
Anne Mason-Hoerter
I wanted to reproduce the unseen
movement of plants at night, so I chose
these specimens of wild carrot (Daucus
carota) to demonstrate this. There are over
50 single images combined together to
produce this photograph, and it took
more than a month to complete.

Opposite (below)
Robert Peter Staadecker
This is a panoramic photograph of a snowy
road in York Regional Forest, Ontario.
To increase image resolution and capture
fine detail, I took several photos and spliced
them together using Adobe Photoshop.
I created an artistic work with
further post-processing.

70 Outdoor Photography

PHOTO SHOWCASE

Outdoor Photography 71

YOUR CHANCE

See your work in print + win great prizes!

Online submissions!
Go to outdoorphotographymagazine.co.uk

ONE THING THIS MONTH READER GALLERY

If you only do one thing this month… Each issue we publish the best images from those submitted to our Reader Gallery.
Turn to page 72 to find out how to enter your work. Here is this month’s winner...
Through the mist

In issue 276, we asked you to
show us the magic and mystery
a misty scene can evoke, and
invited you to send us your best
images of foggy views and misty
landscapes. Here’s our winner,
Kate Maxwell, who wins a
Lowepro PhotoSport BP AWIII,
and our superb runners-up.
For details of our next challenge,
turn to page 94

WINNER Winner Gill Moon flowers, foliage and trees to be the focus of my Above Taken at sunrise on a misty June morning.
Kate Maxwell images. I care deeply about the environment. For me, this image encapsulates the essence
This was taken at Wheal Coates in Cornwall. My love of photography goes back to my Over the last two years I have been focused of the Suffolk coast. I love the cow parsley
I had planned a sunset shot but as I was childhood when I was given a small Kodak on exploring and photographing a local patch that fringes the river wall and the flat expanse
scouting the location in the early afternoon camera which I took out with me most of ancient oak woodland. This has been of marshland on either side and just the
a sea mist started to rise up the cliffs, backlit weekends. Although I was hooked from a fascinating project and I have learned so hint of sea beyond.
by the low sun. an early age, it wasn’t until my forties, when much about the oaks and the wildlife that
Nikon D810 with 100-400mm lens, I moved to Suffolk, that I really took up full- inhabit the wood. In 2010 I turned my hobby Opposite Taken on a blustery summer’s day,
ISO 100, 1/250sec at f/11 time photography. Photography for me is not into a profession and now spend my time I used a three-second exposure to blur the
katemaxwellphotos.com about capturing iconic locations, but much running photography workshops in some foreground grasses and flowers to give a
more forging a connection with the landscape of the wilder parts of the Suffolk coast. painterly feel to the composition. I then waited
Outdoor Photography 89 I am working in. I have learnt that the more for the sun to light up the windmill and give
time spent in an environment, observing Hometown Woodbridge, Suffolk me the contrast with the moody sky behind.
what is around, the more successful I am Occupation Landscape photographer
at capturing the essence of that landscape. and author
Photographic experience 15 years
Although I am a landscape photographer Website gillmoon.com
my images are very much centred around
nature. I love photographing the natural
elements of a landscape and will seek out

88 Outdoor Photography 62 Outdoor Photography Outdoor Photography 63

IF YOU ONLY DO READER GALLERY
ONE THING THIS MONTH
Send us your best outdoor images
Enter our Sunrise and Sunset photo and if you’re chosen as our winner
challenge and you could have your image your work will take pride of place in OP,
published in issue 281 of OP. Plus, plus there’s a brilliant prize on offer.
there’s a superb prize for the winner: a This month’s Reader Gallery winner
pair of Keen NXIS EVO WP hiking boots, received a Mindshift Gear Rotation
worth £135. See page 94 for details. 22L backpack, worth £218.

72 Outdoor Photography

COMPETITION OP COMMUNITY

Join the OP community on our social chan-
nels where you can see what we’re keen to
share in the world of outdoor photography.

Keep right up to date with news
by ‘liking’ OP at facebook.com/
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Tell us the name of these beautiful spring gardens and castle and you could Follow us on Twitter at
win a handy CosySpeed Camslinger worth £135 twitter.com/opoty

ENTER ONLINE NOW! THIS MONTH’S GREAT OP 276 WINNER Find us on Instagram at instagram.
com/outdoorphotographymag
The grounds of this castle host a CosySpeed Camslinger In issue 276 we asked you to identify
stunning spring flower exhibition. There Worth Outdoor MkII the eroded gorge below. EMAIL ENTRIES
are 14 hectares with more than one The correct answer is:
million bulbs planted of tulips, hyacinths £135 Perfect for those occasions a: Johnston Creek, Canada We are unable to accept speculative
and daffodils. when you want to travel light, submissions via email, so please do not send
But is it: the Camslinger Outdoor MkII Congratulations to our winner! work in this way, unless requested to do so
offers fast and safe access to your camera. The by a member of the OP editorial team.
a: Adare Manor, Ireland bag can be worn on the hip or over the shoulder Robert King from Harborough, Leicestershire Send via post or online instead.
and will fit anything from a small DSLR to a
b: Gripsholm Castle, Sweden full-frame mirrorless body with lens attached, WEBSITE SUBMISSIONS
plus other small accessories. It has a thick
c: Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium 900D nylon outer, four internal dividers and You can send us links to your website, for us
an integrated rain cover to keep your gear dry. to view your general work only. Please note that
The answer and the winner’s name A magnetic closure combined with smooth- strictly no correspondence will be entered into
will be revealed in OP 282. You can running interior and exterior zips ensure easy regarding website submissions. Send the link
enter the competition online at: one-handed to [email protected].
outdoorphotographymagazine.co.uk/ access.
competitions, using Castle279 as the Find out PLEASE NOTE
code. Deadline for entry is 6 May. more at
GadgetBag. Due to the many submissions we receive from
co.uk our readers each month, if you have not heard
from us within eight weeks (except for
96 Outdoor Photography Viewpoints) then it is unlikely we will be using
your work in the magazine on this occasion.
WHERE IN THE WORLD? SOCIAL HUB
GMC Publications cannot accept liability
Name the location on page 96 and this month Please send your for the loss or damage of any unsolicited
you could win a CosySpeed Camslinger views, opinions and material, including slides.
Outdoor MkII. Perfect for those occasions musings to markbe@
when you want to travel light, the Camslinger thegmcgroup.com,
Outdoor MkII offers fast and safe access to or submit them via
your camera. our website or by
For more post (accompanying images are welcome).
details visit Our next Letter of the Month winner will receive
GadgetBag. a Tenba Tools Tool Box 6.
co.uk Please limit your letters to about 200 words
and be aware that your words may be edited
before they are used in the magazine.

VIEWPOINTS EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS

WINNER If you would like an exhibition or event included
Roly Barth in Outdoor Photography, please email
[email protected] at least 10 weeks
Whiteford Point, in advance. You can also submit it online
Swansea through our website.

S ituated off Whiteford Point in
the Gower peninsula, with views
towards Pembrey Forest, the
61ft-high cast-iron Whiteford
Lighthouse was built in 1865 to warn ships
of the dangerous area of sandbanks and
rocks on the approach to Burry Port
and Llanelli. Now a rusting relic of that
bygone era, the lighthouse offers good
compositions throughout the year. You
can approach it via the broad, sandy beach
or through Whiteford Burrows, a system
of sand dunes and pine forest which is
home to a good population of wildlife.

How to get there: Head west on the A4067
from Swansea for two miles, turn right on
Brynmill Terrace then left on the A4118/
Gower Road. Follow the B4271 for six miles
until Oldwalls. At the T-junction, turn left
on to the B4295/New Road. After three
miles, turn right by the church and follow
signs to Cwm Ivy car park. The lighthouse
is a three-mile walk from the car park.
What to shoot: The old lighthouse,
beach, seascapes and a good selection
of wildlife, especially waders.
Other times of year: All year
round, although you can only reach
the lighthouse at low tide.
Nearby locations: Weobley Castle
(4 miles); Worm’s Head (9 miles).

Congratulations Outdoor Photography 55 NEWS STORIES
Roly Barth wins a fantastic
£200 for his photograph. Is there a current and time sensitive story you’d
like us to cover in our news pages? Please email
17 miles from Swansea • 13 miles from Gorseinon ACCESS RATING details to [email protected] or submit
it online at: outdoorphotographymagazine.co.uk/
54 Outdoor Photography contact-us.

VIEWPOINTS WRITE FOR US!

We want to see your favourite UK and Irish viewpoints! Send us up to 10 of your best digital images We are always on the lookout for inspiring new
and if one of them is selected it will be published in the magazine. Plus, there’s £200 up for grabs features. If you have a great idea for an article
each month for the winning image. You can submit online at: outdoorphotographymagazine.co.uk then please send a short outline (no more than
Don’t forget to include your name, daytime contact number and email address. 60 words), plus high-res JPEG images for
And please include camera data for each image submitted. our consideration.

Outdoor Photography 73

LIFE IN THE WILD

The pier at the Tweed estuary

Atlantic grey seals, otters and red-throated divers are just some of the photogenic species you’re likely to spot at
the end of one of Northumberland’s oldest coastal structures. Just dress for the elements, advises Laurie Campbell

When people think of piers, they are most to Lindisfarne and Bamburgh Castle. Above Just prior to taking this photograph,
likely to think of the type supported on In terms of wildlife interest, the Tweed is I had been shooting handheld pictures of flocks
pillars with a wooden decking and buildings of wading birds in flight against a stormy sea,
such as ice cream kiosks towards the end. a renowned salmon river and their presence hence the high shutter speed.
Berwick Pier is different. More accurately, in the estuary naturally attracts predators, Nikon D4 with 500mm f/4G lens,
it is a solid stone breakwater bordering the so it’s rare not see at least one or two Atlantic ISO 640, 1/3200sec at f/7.1, handheld
north side of the mouth of the river Tweed grey seals from the population on the nearby
with a lighthouse at the end. Farne Islands from the pier at any one time. Notable bird species include red-throated
Sightings of otters are also frequent, and divers (in winter), goosander, red-breasted
At 960 yards long and categorised as a perhaps most significantly, pods of bottle- mergansers, Arctic terns, eider and goldeneye
Grade ll listed building, its origins began nose dolphins are seen on an almost daily ducks. The state of the tide can have an
in the 13th century with a structure known basis for many months of the year. I first influence on what may be present, such
as the Holdman Wall. This was lengthened wrote about this in OP 124 and their fame as the turnstones and purple sandpipers
in 1557, then subsequently replaced by the has since grown so much that there is now a that often roost on the ledges behind the
construction we see today that took 15 years Berwick Dolphin Watch group on Facebook. wall at high tide. Rock pipits and swallows
to build and was completed in 1825. often prey on flies and other insects that
At times, the level of dolphin activity seem drawn to the warmth and shelter of
Having grown up with the pier on has exceeded that at Chanonry Point in the south-facing pier wall. I have also come
my doorstep, it has always been one of the Moray Firth, especially during long across gatherings of dozens of pied wagtails,
my favourite walks and I’ve long since dry spells when the salmon stack up in the most likely attracted for the same reason.
realised that, like just about any other pier, estuary, reluctant to enter the river system
breakwater or harbour wall, it is a great due to lack of freshwater in preparation for One of the most unexpected encounters
place to photograph wildlife. For social their migration upstream to the spawning was when two chunky, 3cm-long sea slaters
occasions too, and without the need to grounds. Not surprisingly, a tour boat emerged from gaps between the stonework,
have to don walking boots or wellies, it company has materialised, offering short much to the astonishment of some like-
is the perfect place to meet up with family cruises to view and photograph the minded dolphin watchers. As always, I was
and friends for a bit of exercise, with the dolphins and other wildlife. carrying a macro lens because even in places
bonus of sharing the spectacular views you think you know well, nature always has
down the north Northumberland coast Less obvious is all the other wildlife a habit of throwing up a few surprises.
that can be photographed around the pier.

74 Outdoor Photography

A great vantage point differentiate between them and the rocky cliffs Above To photograph this sea slater, I used my
where they would normally nest. For example, favourite combination of lens and camera when
Unlike most prominent headlands along our it’s not uncommon to find black guillemots working at close range and need to handhold.
coast, many piers and breakwaters offer nesting in crevices of piers in many parts of the Nikon D7100 with Laowa 60mm f/2.8 macro
a lower viewpoint to the sea, resulting in Hebrides, north-west Highlands and Northern lens, ISO 400, 1/200sec at f/11, handheld
the photographs we take of the birds and Isles, paying little attention to ferry traffic.
mammals on the surface having a more Similarly, otters regularly have their holts in amusing to watch film clips on social media
intimate feel. The perspective of waves is also cavities of old stone piers or in among the rock of people on beaches with their backs to
improved because they can look taller and armour protecting many of the newer ones. the sea suddenly swept off their feet after
more impressive, with the added advantage being engulfed by a rogue wave, but the
that they may be photographed obliquely. It goes without saying that piers can be consequences of being washed into the sea
dangerous places and as the frequency from a pier could be far worse. Remember
Like many others, the end of Berwick Pier is and severity of storms increases due to too that even in seemingly fine weather,
a great vantage point for conducting seabird climate change, the danger to sightseers the exposed end of a pier can be like being
watches that record the numbers and range and photographers does so too. It may be out on the sea in a boat, so wrap up well.
of species flying up and down the coast. Most
of the time, the birds are just too far away
to photograph, but it’s surprising how often
species that wouldn’t normally come close to
the shore, such as fulmars, gannets and sea
ducks, will pass close to the tip of the pier.
With no obstructions, it’s easy enough to pick
them up at distance with a pair of binoculars
and still have ample time for an autofocus lens
and camera to lock on to them once they come
within range.

Animals, and especially mammals, that
spend time hunting in the waters around
piers do seem to become more habituated to
people, perhaps because they have learnt that
there is no risk of a threat coming from any
other direction. Plus, being aquatic, they are
always more confident when in water because
they have an easy means of escape.

Some birds become so accustomed to
these man-made structures that they don’t

There is often little way of knowing
exactly where or when a bottlenose

dolphin will suddenly erupt from
the water, but on this day I got lucky
because there was a lot of activity as
the dolphins were chasing salmon.

Nikon D3 with 200-400mm
f/4 VR lens at 340mm, ISO 1600,

1/1000sec at f/5.6, handheld

Laurie’s April

highlights

Left (top) Cuckoo flower (Cardamine
pratensis), also known as lady’s smock, is
actually a member of the cabbage family
of plants and is so-named because its
flowering period traditionally coincides with
the arrival of cuckoos. It continues flowering
into June, with the delicate pale pink or
mauve flowers each having four petals.
Found on damp grassy ground, it is the food
plant of the caterpillars of green-veined
white (Pieris napi) and orange-tip butterflies
(Anthocharis cardamines), upon which the
latter individually lays bright orange eggs.
Nikon F4S with 200mm f/4 IF-ED lens,
Fujichrome Velvia 50, 1/2sec at f/32,
tripod, cable release, mirror lock-up

Left (below) After a long winter, the condition of
many red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Scottish
Highlands is at a low ebb and they sometimes
struggle to find enough to eat. In the quieter
glens, some estates put down supplementary
feeding in the form of hay or silage by the
roadside, so these are ideal locations to park
up and use the vehicle as a hide while waiting
for some interesting behaviour to happen. If
you’re lucky, you may have the opportunity to
photograph them settling disputes by boxing,
where two animals rise up on hind legs while
lashing out at one another with their front ones.
Nikon D4 with 500mm f/4G lens,
ISO 800, 1/800sec at f/6.3, handheld

Opposite (top) Fir clubmoss (Huperzia selago),
also known as mountain clubmoss, is one of
seven species of this ancient group of non-
flowering plants that occur in the UK, with
origins that date back to the carboniferous
period some 320 million years ago. Growing
to around 10cm, the upright stem and needle-
like leaves are quite distinctive and resemble
a tiny conifer, hence one of its common
names. As for its other common name, it
is certainly mostly found in mountains and
being fairly robust in structure it is much
easier to photograph in windy conditions
than many other montane species.
Nikon D3X with 17-35mm f/2.8 lens at
26mm, ISO 100, 1/6sec at f/20, cable
release, mirror lock-up, beanbag

Opposite (below) European larch trees
(Larix decidua) are our only deciduous conifer
and at this time of year small clusters of pink
or white scales appear on the twigs of the
tree. Sometimes called larch roses, these
are the female flowers that ripen and turn
brown after pollination to become the cones
that will eventually mature and release the
winged seeds once the scales open.

Nikon D3X with 200mm f/4 IF-ED micro
lens, ISO 100, 1/4sec at f/25, tripod,
cable release, mirror lock-up

76 Outdoor Photography

NATURE GUIDE

More seasonal subjects

Flora

Common dog violet
Nikon F3 with 105mm f/4 manual-focus micro
lens, Kodachrome 64, 1/60sec at f/5.6,
cable release, mirror lock-up, beanbag
Common dog violet (Viola riviniana)
– a quintessential spring flower and indicator
of ancient woods that is best appreciated
and photographed from a low angle
using a beanbag.
Germander speedwell (Veronica
chamaedrys) – a much-overlooked species
that requires excellent macro technique to
successfully photograph its diminutive flowers.
Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
– the unmistakable sticky brown buds
contrast nicely with the fresh green leaves
as they appear.

Fauna

Golden plover
Nikon 1 V1 with 500mm f/4G VR lens with 1.4x
teleconverter, ISO 400, 1/160sec at f/6.3,
cable release, beanbag
Golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) – the flocks
that have spent the winter on the coast and
farmland will now have moved to our uplands,
where they disperse for nesting.
Ring ousel (Turdus torquatus) – the distinctive
song of this summer visitor to our uplands is often
heard before seeing the bird, so it can be a good
way of locating them.
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) – young cubs will be
showing above ground by now, but keep your
distance because the vixen is likely to move them
at the slightest hint of disturbance.

Outdoor Photography 77

A magical morning

For all the planning and preparation, it was a spontaneous moment of serendipity
that resulted in this beautifully elegant little egret portrait. Robert Canis
recalls the events that led up to a very productive dawn shoot

T here are certain aspects of outdoor home and so that night I photographed the marshes
photography that can only ever be learnt under a full moon, all the while surrounded by the
through bitter experience, and passing calls of waders and marsh frogs. I’m biased, I know,
up opportunities to leave for another time but there are few places more evocative than a marsh
is one of them, for it is missed photographs that at this time of the year, particularly at night.
remain embedded in your memory far longer than
those you have successfully captured. Thankfully, With sunrise at 4.45am, I made my way into
I discovered this very early on, and unless I have the hide at 3am and slowly set about preparing my
no choice other than to leave it, I do my utmost to equipment, which consisted of a tripod-mounted
either do what I can there and then or to return Nikon D610 and 200-400mm f/4. For me, this is the
as soon as possible. perfect hide lens, enabling me to shoot portraits as
well as small-in-the-frame contextual images.
In the spring of 2015, while visiting an area of
the North Kent Marshes just a short distance from As the sun slowly burned through the mist, the
my home, I noticed a pool that was attracting a pool was engulfed in an orange glow. Without
significant number of birds, ranging from avocet and warning, a congregation of little egrets appeared
redshank to egret, godwit and lapwing. This basin- and began feeding and squabbling right in front of
like ‘scrape’ had been dug by the nature reserve the me. There was so much going on I had a job to keep
previous year with exactly this intention, to produce up. And then, all of a sudden, this individual flew
a place for them to roost and feed. from my left, landed directly in front of me, and with
wings outstretched, pirouetted facing the opposite
It had been a wet winter and the scrape had filled direction, but thankfully turning its head. There
nicely. That spring, as we underwent a significant wasn’t any time to think – you simply have to rely on
dry spell, it began to slowly evaporate, resulting in your instincts and, of course, a huge dollop of luck.
the perfect depth for birds to benefit from the large
number of insects that had also made it their home. That morning remains one of my most productive
– I obtained some very pleasing images of species I
With a still, clear morning forecast and having hadn’t previously captured and improved upon those
secured permission, I returned later that evening I had many times previously. More importantly,
where under cover of darkness I erected my small through viewing this photograph and writing its
pop-up canvas hide. Given that I needed to be here backstory, I’ve relived a truly magical morning that
pre-dawn, there seemed little point in returning can never be repeated.

78 Outdoor Photography

A MOMENT WITH NATURE

Outdoor Photography 79

NATURE ZONE birds ‘redpolls’ in this article, but within this
species lies a complex identification puzzle – at
STEVE YOUNG the time of writing, there are common redpoll,
lesser redpoll (the one mainly found in Britain
On the wing and what I was looking for) and Arctic redpoll.

Proving that you don’t need to travel far to find Within Arctic, there are currently two
interesting species, Steve Young develops his portfolio of species and within the redpoll complex itself,
redpoll images at a birding site virtually on his doorstep a number of further forms or sub-species.
However, the latest publications are now
favouring just one main species – presumably
to be called redpoll – with all the others
basically variations on a theme.

But that wasn’t important today, and there
seemed to be an abundance of alder trees,
with a couple of goldfinches feeding in one,
but no sign of anything else. A long, almost
circular muddy walk ensued, with siskin seen
at one point, until I returned to where I’d
started, to find a small flock of redpoll feeding
quietly in an alder tree.

Over the course of the next couple of weeks,
I visited whenever the weather was good
enough. At the end of it all, I had slowly built
up a nice selection of redpoll images, which
took an enormous amount of patience. Siskin,
goldfinch, bullfinch, song thrush and buzzard
were also snapped. I even found a woodcock,
which exploded from beneath my feet in
a small wood, but I didn’t manage any photos.

I have been very grateful to my local parks,
new and old, during lockdown – they have
given me wildlife time that I wouldn’t have
had otherwise, and I’ve shot some great
species, showing that you don’t have to travel
far to build your portfolio and learn about
birds and photography, even in a pandemic.

Following on from last month’s visit to of countryside, a nice walk among lots Left Female or first-winter males lack the pink
a local park (Princes Park, Liverpool), it was of fields, bushes and trees. colouration. As you can see, the species is very
Childwall Fields I ventured to for my next acrobatic and can hang from virtually any angle
lockdown journey. This time I was in search It was alder trees I had to look for next, while feeding on the alder cones.
of redpolls, and as the site was only 2.4 miles as the redpolls had been feeding on the seeds Below Male lesser redpolls have varying
from home, I was keeping well within all tucked away within the cones that are a feature amounts of pink on the breast.
government guidelines. The only problem of this tree during the winter. I’m calling these
I had was finding the place; despite people
saying, ‘It’s only round the corner from your
house,’ I didn’t know it!

Was this site one of those places I had visited
in the past, but called it a different name, or
had I been there casually in search of a local
bird over the years and just not remembered?

When I eventually found the fields after
much driving around (the entrance is tucked
away down a side road with no signposts),
I realised I had never been here in my life,
which was something of a relief, as I don’t like
forgetting bird sites I’ve visited.

Anyway, I was here armed with a 500mm
lens and binoculars, plus wellies, as I’d been
advised the site was very muddy in places.
And it was, with some paths just a sea of mud.
I have to say it was a very nice site; a quiet piece

80 Outdoor Photography

BIRD OF THE MONTH

The bill detail can clearly be seen in this close-up image. The fulmar has a stiff-winged flight, with a few flaps and then a long
glide – it is a master of just effortlessly gliding along.

Breeding seabirds will start returning to old buildings. It is an expert glider and after cliff face at close range. Photos on the
their nesting cliffs during the spring and a few stiff-winged beats it seems to be ledge will depend on accessibility, but
one of the earliest to stake a claim for a able to fly forever without flapping again. care should be taken if you can approach
ledge site is the fulmar. This noisy gull-like closely, as they will warn you by calling
bird is a familiar sight around the cliffs of For a photographer, fulmar is a perfect loudly, but will then ‘spit’ at you if you
the UK and will also nest in burrows or on subject, turning and banking many times come too close.
during a flight and then returning to the

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY TIP

This roosting lapwing is a perfect example of a total failure to show birds Taken in Shetland, I was crouched behind a rock in a gale
in the wind – it was blowing a gale when I took this (from a hide), but apart while this purple sandpiper faced into the wind as the rain
from the bird’s flat crest and the slightly forward lean, you wouldn’t know. and sea spray crashed over it.

As I write, there is a raging storm outside, and see how the birds react to the weather. Taken on the same trip as the purple sandpiper, you
the wind is battering my garden, the fence is It’s hard to show that birds are actually can clearly see by the ruffled feathers the gannet is
making strange groaning noises and twigs hanging in the wind during a snowstorm in April.
are being blown everywhere. This got me photographed in the wind unless in a sea
thinking about shooting in the wind and setting with waves; a bird sheltering from
what steps you can take if you do fancy the wind by a rock looks just like a bird sat
going out and about in a gale. by a rock! But there are times in wind and
rain when they do crouch down, face into
To be honest, if it’s that windy, I tend not to the wind and look a bit miserable.
go out unless it’s an autumn gale and I am
trying to photograph migrating seabirds such If you are out in a storm, try to find
as Leach’s petrel on the river Mersey. But I a spot with the wind behind you, stay as
will sit in a reserve hide where it’s sheltered, low as you can and use the fastest shutter
speed possible to reduce camera shake.

Outdoor Photography 81

GEAR ZONE

The OP guide to…hats

Whether it’s to keep your head warm, fend off the drizzle or protect
your face from the glare of the sun, an appropriate item
of headwear can help improve your experience of the
great outdoors. Here are five options to consider

DexShell Gradient Beanie

Best for weatherproof warmth
Loved by everyone from Cornish fishermen to
Hollywood A-listers, the ubiquitous beanie is
a good place to start any round-up of hats.
But no matter how on trend they are,
regular beanies aren’t great in the rain,
so what’s the solution? The DexShell
Gradient Beanie might be. It’s a
warm, striped hat that comes low
over the ears and is available in a
range of colours to match many
if not all wardrobes. However, it’s
what’s inside that sets it apart.
Beneath the acrylic-knitted outer is
a waterproof and breathable Porelle
membrane which, while it won’t stop
the rain soaking into the hat, will stop it
reaching your head. This membrane also traps
an extra level of heat in the beanie, making it
warmer than a non-line equivalent.
£24 dexshell.co.uk

Fjällräven Värmland Heater

Best for ultimate winter protection
If you’re reliant on hunting and trapping your

food in the bitter depths of winter, you need
the right headwear. Hence why the trapper
hat was born in places such as the wild
American frontier where winters were
harsh and keeping one’s head warm
was critical to survival. These days it’s
overkill for the weekly supermarket
shop, but a trapper hat such as the
Fjällräven Värmland Heater might be
a godsend for photographers out in
sub-zero conditions waiting for the
winter light to do its thing. Featuring
soft synthetic fur on the brim
(no animals were trapped or
harmed in the making of this hat),
earflaps and along the edges, the

Värmland traps heat in and keeps the wind out.
The outer shell is made from a water-repellent
polyester fabric which is able to shrug off rain and
snow, and the hat can be fastened under the chin
for complete wrap-around warmth.
£66 fjallraven.com

82 Outdoor Photography

Mountain Equipment Squall Cap EDITED BY BEN WEEKS

Best for mixed weather and packability Tilley TMH55 Mashup Airflo Hat
A peaked cap serves two main purposes: hiding a
bad-hair day and keeping stuff off your face. Of these Best for a lifetime of sun protection
two, the latter is perhaps most critical. The Anyone spending time outside for long periods in sunny
peak of a cap shades your eyes on a bright weather needs to protect themselves from the harmful
sun-filled day, and in wetter weather adds effects of the UV rays, and a wide-brimmed hat is one
additional protection to a hood by providing of the best ways to protect your face and neck. Tilley’s
an awning over your face. The Squall cap is Mashup is so-called because the fabric from which it
made from soft shell material which is both breathable is made incorporates leftover yarns and sustainable
and water resistant, making it versatile enough to
handle both warm or wet weather. The strap at the materials, resulting in a one-of-a-kind style.
back is adjustable for different-sized heads and the The venting along the top of the hat allows airflow
mesh-lined front panel helps stop your forehead and helps keep your head cool on hot days.
getting too sweaty. And in addition to providing A chin strap ensures the hat won’t go anywhere if the
protection to your face, the peak has another trick: it’s breeze picks up, and a durable water-repellent coating
foldable, so the Squall cap can be collapsed down to means the Mashup can cope with the odd summer
take up minimal space in a pocket or kit bag. shower. For those who take to the water to capture their
£20 mountain-equipment.co.uk outdoor images, it’s good to know the hat is buoyant
too. It’s not a cheap hat, but it’s robust, well made and
Trekmates Annat Beanie comes with Tilley’s guaranteed for life promise.
£75 uk.tilley.com
Best for budget and layering
There are so many variations on the traditional beanie hat that it would Outdoor Photography 83
be possible to fill this entire magazine full of them, but the Annat is
an example of a particular kind. Made from Polartec Micro fleece,
it is warm, lightweight and, importantly, close fitting. Why is this
important? Because a hat might not be the only headwear you’re
wearing. On cold but wet days – something the UK weather
serves up relatively frequently – you may need the services
of a warm beanie and the hood of a waterproof jacket. Bulky
beanies are less suited to such layering, and bobble hats
are all but impossible to wear under a hood. A close-fitting
beanie like the Annat can also be worn under a helmet, be
that a climbing helmet in more technical mountain terrain,
or a cycle helmet for the commute to work.
£12 trekmates.co.uk

GEAR ZONE

3 Legged Thing Gracy L-bracket

If you’re a landscape photographer using the Fujifilm GFX 100S or
50S II for your work – and there are a lot of good reasons to – then
you’ll want to know about the Gracy L-bracket from 3 Legged Thing.
Made from aerospace-grade magnesium alloy, the Gracy is precision
engineered to fit either body and provides full access to side ports,
battery door and memory card slots. The base is extendable for the
use of tethering cables, has cut-outs to let the tilt screen articulate
and incorporates a strap slot in addition to its standard stainless steel
1/4in-20 mounting screw. It comes in copper and metallic grey.
Guide price £99 3leggedthing.com

Sigma 20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary UP

Continuing its excellent range of small, light, durable and – most
importantly – high-quality I Series lenses, Sigma has released the
20mm f/2 DG DN Contemporary for Sony E-mount and the L-Mount
shared by Panasonic, Leica and Sigma itself. This wideangle prime
is the fastest in the range so far, and at 370g opens up some decent
low-light and astrophotography subjects for those who want to travel
light. Its minimum focus is 22cm and it takes 62mm filters.
Guide price £649.99 sigma-imaging-uk.com

GEARING

Newell batteries and chargers

Any photographer who travels with their camera, shoots huge
numbers of wildlife frames or wants to avoid the pain of losing
power just as the light gets right needs a spare battery. Offering
batteries and chargers at a fraction of the price of camera
manufacturers’ own, Newell uses high-quality lithium-ion cells,
giving all the performance and duration you expect. All top models
are supported and the chargers will also juice up first-party
batteries. Plus, if your camera supports USB charging,
these Newell batteries will do that too.
Guide price From £29 newell.pro

Tilley Warmth Beanie

The daffodils might be peeping out, but there’s still a nip in the
air for outdoor photographers, so if you’re feeling the chill, take a
look at Tilley’s recently updated range of beanie hats. Made from
a mixture of Merino wool and acrylic fibre, the hats claim great
warmth and longevity. The Warmth version has an 80/20 blend
and a rib-knit design with a full microfleece lining which, as well
as being cosy, wicks away moisture.
Guide price £30 tilley.com

84 Outdoor Photography

Peak Design Travel Duffel 65L OM System OM-1

Well known for its excellent backpacks and shoulder bags, The OM-1 is the first camera from OM System – which bought
Peak Design now adds a larger duffel bag option designed for Olympus’s photographic wing – and it’s an exciting flagship Micro
photographers who need to carry lots of kit, but don’t want the Four Thirds model. Many wildlife photographers have enjoyed the
added weight of a case. The Duffel 65L has a durable water- MFT system, with its highly magnified results in smaller, lighter
resistant 600D nylon canvas shell and a waterproof bottom liner, bodies. Building on that reputation, the OM-1 uses a new 20MP
while internally it works seamlessly with Peak Design’s packing stacked BSI Live MOS chip and TruePic X processor, which is
cubes, camera cubes and pouches. There are four external claimed to be three times faster than in any previous Olympus
side pockets, two internal mesh camera. Noise performance is said to be 2EV better than before
pockets and a heavy-duty and there’s a top ISO of 25,600, expandable to 102,400.
weatherproof zip. Available
in black and sage, it comes Also of great interest to wildlife shooters is the OM-1’s AF
with a lifetime guarantee. performance. It uses a brand-new Cross Quad Pixel AF system with
Guide price £149 1,053 phase detect points covering the entire frame and AI-powered
peakdesign.com subject detection and tracking. What’s more, there’s up to 50fps
in full resolution via its blackout-free EVF, but fix the exposure and
focus and that rises to 120fps. A five-axis in-body image stabiliser
allows up to 8EV of shake reduction, depending on the lens fitted.

Weighing 599g and measuring 135x92x73mm, the OM-1 is also
highly durable, with the world’s only IP53 rating meaning it’s dust
and splash proof, and allows shooting down to -10ºC.

Two new MFT lenses launched with the OM-1, the M.Zuiko Digital
ED 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II (£899) and M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm
f/4 PRO (£799), which both share the OM-1’s rugged rating.
Guide price £1,999 (body only),
£2,499 (with 12-40mm lens)
omsystem.com

Benro GH2F folding gimbal head M.Zuiko Digital ED M.Zuiko Digital ED
12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II 40-150mm f/4 PRO
Anyone shooting wildlife with long, heavy telephoto lenses knows
the value of a good gimbal, and this new model from Benro looks Outdoor Photography 85
set to please. Its folding design allows not only the sort of smooth
and precise movement you need when framing at extreme
magnification, but also packs down for easier transportation. What’s
more, the gimbal’s supporting arm can be removed and used as an
L-bracket on any Arca-compatible head. The GH2F weighs 1.13kg,
supports a maximum 10kg and comes with a carry case.
Guide price £480 uk.benroeu.com

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EDITORIAL NEXT ISSUE

Editorial Mark Bentley, Claire Blow, Outdoor Photography 280 | On sale 21 April
Ben Hawkins, Scott Teagle
[email protected] The beauty of the world’s quietest places
Designer Toby Haigh Your guide to shooting in delightful Cheshire
Brilliant pictures from International Landscape
ADVERTISING Photographer of the Year

Guy Bullock © Greg Stokesbury / 8th International Landscape Photographer of the Year
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[email protected], 01273 402871

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Origination and Ad design
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Printer Precision Colour Printing, Telford,
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Distribution Seymour Distribution Ltd
Outdoor Photography (ISSN 1470-5400)
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Outdoor Photography 87

ONE THING THIS MONTH

88 Outdoor Photography

If you only do one thing this month…

Through the mist

In issue 276, we asked you to
show us the magic and mystery
a misty scene can evoke, and
invited you to send us your best
images of foggy views and misty
landscapes. Here’s our winner,
Kate Maxwell, who wins a
Lowepro PhotoSport BP AWIII,
and our superb runners-up.
For details of our next challenge,
turn to page 94

WINNER
Kate Maxwell
This was taken at Wheal Coates in Cornwall.
I had planned a sunset shot but as I was
scouting the location in the early afternoon
a sea mist started to rise up the cliffs, backlit
by the low sun.
Nikon D810 with 100-400mm lens,
ISO 100, 1/250sec at f/11
katemaxwellphotos.com

Outdoor Photography 89

Left (top) Gary Angus
Crows landing on a winter morning. I pass
this park in Perth every day. I was taking my
wife to work and stopped when I saw the mist
and the colours in the sky. I walked about 30
yards to take the shot then rushed back to
the car to get my wife to work on time.
Nikon D750 with 16-35mm lens,
ISO 100, 1/30sec at f/8

Left (middle) Malcolm Blenkey
Rosedale Valley in the North York Moors
is one of my favourite places to visit in the
winter months, when there is a chance of
frost and mist overnight. There is an old
disused railway track above the valley that
provides excellent viewpoints. This shot
was made using a medium telephoto lens
to compress the perspective slightly.
Canon EOS 400D with 75-300mm lens,
ISO 100, 1/800sec at f/11, tripod
mblenkeyphotos.co.uk

Left (below) Debbie Stevens
After days of persistent rain, there was a
weather window, an opportunity to capture
the wonderful Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe
at sunrise, the hope being there might be
something magical in the morning light.
This image was one of my last taken before
the mist lifted and the light scattering of
pastel-pink clouds disappeared.
Nikon D750 with 24-120mm lens,
ISO 100, 0.6sec at f/16
debstevens.co.uk

90 Outdoor Photography

ONE THING THIS MONTH

Above Isabella Hillhouse
Loch Eck, Argyll and Bute, is within a
long, narrow valley surrounded on three
sides by steep hills. The east side provides
a low-lying connection to the Firth of
Clyde. This geography is prone to forming
misty conditions, often connected with
temperature inversions. This morning shot
was taken as the mist was rising, resulting
in soft colours that seemed to suit the
image in monochrome.
Fujifilm X-T3 with 18-55mm lens,
ISO 160, 1/25sec at f/13, tripod

Right (middle) Alan Novelli
The first light of dawn pierces through
low-lying morning mist along the river
Dane valley in Cheshire. This view was
taken from the top of Bosley Cloud to gain
elevation and I used a telephoto lens to
compress the scene and create silhouetted
layers of hillsides receding into the distance.
Fujifilm XT-3 with 100-400mm lens,
ISO 200, 1/200sec at f/9, tripod
alannovelli.co.uk

Right (below) Kevin Nutter
Canon EOS 5D MkIII with 24-105mm lens,
ISO 400, 1/100sec at f/8
flickr.com/photos/kevinnutter

Outdoor Photography 91

Left (top) Richard Humphrey
This is the Severn Vale, just north of
Gloucester, where mist often hangs when
the conditions are right. Taken with a drone,
I hoped to capture a vast landscape covered
in a blanket of fog. The long shadows of
the trees help to give the vista a three-
dimensional feel.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro with Hasselblad 28mm lens,
ISO 100, 1/1600sec at f/4.5
richardhumphreyphotography.com

Left (middle) Kevin Sawford
An early wake-up call was needed to be
in position to capture this red deer stag
roaring during the rutting season at
the edge of woodland.
Canon EOS-1D MkIV with 500mm lens,
ISO 400, 1/1000sec at f/5.6
kevinsawford.com

Left (below) Anthony Murden
A beautiful autumnal sunrise at Dunham
Massey, Cheshire. Initially, I had visited
Dunham to photograph the ancient herd
of fallow deer. However, the light, colours
and mist on this particular November
morning meant my focus quickly switched
to capturing the beautiful woodland
landscape. The mist not only accentuated
the colours and shapes in the trees and
bracken, but also created some amazing
crepuscular rays as the sun rose.
Nikon D750 with 24-120mm lens,
ISO 800, 1/200sec at f/14
anthonymurdenphotography.picfair.com

Opposite (top) Alf Branch
I took this shot on a cold, calm and misty
morning on the shore of Crummock Water
in the Lake District. The mist was moving
around a lot and the view was constantly
changing. For several hours I had great
reflections as I moved around and shot
away. Finally, the mist parted to allow the
view to open up, revealing Melbreak.
Olympus OMD E-M1 with 8-18mm lens,
ISO 64, 1/40sec at f/8, tripod
flickr.com/photos/alfbranch

Opposite (below) Jon Martin
Mist had hung around St Benet’s windpump
on the Norfolk Broads for most of the day.
I chose a composition and just waited for
the sun to burn off some of the mist.
Canon EOS 5DS R with 16-35mm lens,
ISO 100, 1/125sec at f/13, tripod
jonmartin.co.uk

92 Outdoor Photography

ONE THING THIS MONTH

Outdoor Photography 93

ONE THING THIS MONTH Left (top) David Hughes
I was camping in Ullapool and got up early
94 Outdoor Photography for a stroll along the shore of Loch Broom.
I was greeted by this view of clouds and mist
on the surrounding mountains and still sea.
Canon EOS 700D with 18-55mm lens,
ISO 100, 1/250sec at f/10
Instagram @david.n.hughes

Left (below) Raymond Bridges
Taken early on a February morning on a walk
(courtesy of my mobility scooter) in Hemsted
Forest, Kent. I was out at dawn ready to
capture some lovely misty conditions. This
is part of an ongoing project in the forest.
Canon EOS M3 with 18-200mm lens,
ISO 400, 1/200sec at f/8
rmbphotography.net

Your next challenge
ENTER ONLINE NOW!
Sunrise and sunset

This month, we are asking you to send
us your images taken as the sun rises
or sets – favourite times of day for
outdoor photographers, when the light
is low and the colours are majestic.
The winner and runners-up will be
published in OP 282. To enter, go to
outdoorphotographymagazine.co.uk/
submissions. The closing date for
entries is midnight on 4 May.

See page 72 for more details and
terms and conditions.

Enter and you could win a
pair of Keen NXIS EVO WP
hiking boots, worth £135!

Keen’s new NXIS EVO WP combines
the stability and comfort of the brand’s
award-winning hiker, the Targhee,
with the lightness and flexibility of a
trail runner. A vented mesh upper,
made from recycled plastic with TPU
overlays, provides extra durability,
while Keen’s patented toe protection
system enables fast, secure travel
over a variety of terrains. Available in
mid and low-cut models in men’s and
women’s versions.
Find out more at keenfootwear.com

Landscape
Photography Workshops

Supported by Kase Filters, UK Digital and Novo

Take your photography to the next level with Sarah Howard

The Essence of Tuscany: May 14th-20th

©Sarah Howard

With its soft undulating hills, quintessential cypress trees, silvery olive groves
and ancient medieval walled villages, Tuscany cannot fail to captivate.

More upcoming workshops

©Sarah Howard ©Andy Page ©Sarah Howard ©Sarah Howard

Northumberland’s Castles and Coast Yorkshire’s Coastal Treasures South-West Cornwall Dramatic North Cornwall

March 31st - April 3rd April 4th - 7th April 21st - 24th April 26th - 29th

Practical based workshops • Expert tuition
All abilities welcome • Inspiring locations • Small group sizes

For more information on all our workshops

www.imageseen.co.uk 07760 498 112

COMPETITION

Where in the world?

Tell us the name of these beautiful spring gardens and castle and you could
win a handy CosySpeed Camslinger worth £135

ENTER ONLINE NOW! THIS MONTH’S GREAT OP 276 WINNER

The grounds of this picturesque castle CosySpeed Camslinger In issue 276 we asked you to identify
host a stunning display of spring flowers. the eroded gorge below.
There are 14 hectares of land, planted Worth Outdoor MkII The correct answer is:
with more than one million tulip, hyacinth
and daffodil bulbs. £135 Perfect for those occasions a: Johnston Creek, Canada
But is it: when you want to travel light,
the Camslinger Outdoor MkII Congratulations to our winner!
a: Dunrobin Castle, Scotland offers fast and safe access to your camera. The
bag can be worn on the hip or over the shoulder Robert King from Harborough, Leicestershire
b: Gripsholm Castle, Sweden and will fit anything from a small DSLR to a
full-frame mirrorless body with lens attached,
c: Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium plus other small accessories. It has a thick
900D nylon outer, four internal dividers and
The answer and the winner’s name an integrated rain cover to keep your gear dry.
will be revealed in OP 282. You can A magnetic closure combined with smooth-
enter the competition online at: running interior and exterior zips ensure easy
outdoorphotographymagazine.co.uk/ one-handed
competitions, using Castle279 as the access.
code. Deadline for entry is 6 May. Find out
more at
GadgetBag.
co.uk

96 Outdoor Photography