Hello, I’m Gill and I write a photography blog inspired by the landscapes of Suffolk and beyond. Please subscribe to read more of my writing and visit my website to view my images
It is 5am and the natural world is just waking. Light seeps across the land where darkness once lingered and the stillness of the night is replaced by the energy of a new day. The dawn chorus starts with one or two lone voices, these are soon joined by many more until a cacophony of birdsong rings out around the landscape.
The path to the wood is a long one. It meanders around the edge of an open grassy field, dotted with yellow flowering gorse and grazed by herds of fallow deer. Mist lingers low over the grass as I skirt the edge of the field and enter the wood where a glade of silver birch form a line to my right, their vibrant green leaves creating a tunnel over my head.
This is an ancient woodland, managed by the local wildlife trust. It is a peaceful place where wildlife thrives and dog walkers are not allowed. For this reason it seams to be quieter than the other woods in the area and is one of the reasons I enjoy coming here so much - I can usually guarantee to be alone.
The wood is a wonderful mix of rough grassland, open wood pasture (the largest surviving piece of medieval wood pasture in Suffolk) and coppiced hazel. There are numerous veteran oak trees as well as large areas of silver birch. This is not a manicured woodland, (deadwood litters the forest floor and bracken grows in the more open areas) but at this time of year it comes to life with one of the best displays of bluebells in Suffolk.
I’ve come to the wood with another photographer to photograph the bluebells. I have been here many times before so I know what compositions are possible and I am hoping for a shot amongst the coppiced hazel with the rising sun.
The bluebells grow in areas spilt up by a main path which affords ample photographic opportunities. My favourite part of the wood is the hazel grove. The trees here have been coppice for many years which has resulted in some characterful shapes with gnarled branches and raised root systems.
Coppicing is a pruning method where a tree is cut to ground level every 7-10 years to promote regeneration and new growth. The technique was common in ancient woodlands and has been used for generations to provide timber and firewood. It is still carried out today as a woodland management technique although I am not sure the trees in this wood are still cut.
Photography in this environment is not easy as the structure of the wood is chaotic and simplification can be difficult. But after much experimentation I manage to get a couple of images that I am really happy with. I also hear my first cuckoo of the year which makes me feel that spring has arrived.
Once the sun spills its light on the land I swap my 24-70mm lens for my 105mm macro and spend some time trying to capture dreamy close up shots. I love this type of photography, although there is a lot of trial and error involved. I usually like to shoot into the light with a wide open aperture, a technique which makes the most of the background bokeh.
When shooting close up it is often the background that can make or break an image so I try to look for something that will provide a clean background and a complimentary colour palette.
The early morning dew, which is still present on the foliage, creates some lovely light effects around the edges of plants as in the unfurling bracken frond below.
Opting for a really low viewpoint gives me some interesting effects in the background. The following images were taken by lying on the path and looking up into the flowers. This has created some nice abstract effects in the background bokeh using the out of focus foliage and the light coming through the trees.
My idea for these images was not to create a portrait of the flowers but to create a sort of ‘dreamscape’ where the out of focus sections of the image are as important as the sharp areas. For me they add context to the photographs, giving an essence of woodland and creating a light and airy mood that conveys perfectly the experience of being in the woods.
I love exploring habitats like this as I find them very restorative and therapeutic. I have grown up in nature and was always encouraged as a child to spend time outside. Some if my earliest memories are associated with wildlife and the outdoors. Identifying plants, trees, birds and animals as a youngster became second nature and to this day I will always try to identify the flora and fauna that I encounter when I am out. For me this is part of my connection with the natural world and I think it makes me a more observant and considered photographer. It also gives me knowledge that I can use when planning an image. I know when certain plants and trees will flower, I know what habitats they like and where to look for them and this all helps when thinking about how to portray a place in a photograph.
As you might imagine spring is my favourite season. I love the newness, the vibrancy, the infinite possibilities and the energy that is evident wherever I look. Like electricity it’s potency is energising and spills over into my being, creating within me the desire to get out at 4am and capture it all with my camera!
As with all landscapes the bluebell woods are important but fragile habitats. Trampling bluebells in a quest to get a photo has become a big problem. Crushing foliage harms the plants and once the bulbs are damaged they cannot produce enough energy for the plant to flower the following year.
I believe, if we want to photograph natural landscapes then nature connection and nature knowledge is as important as knowing how to use our cameras. It helps us to understand our environment and where we fit in within the natural world. It also makes us more aware of why nature is so important and why it is imperative that we protect it.
I would love to hear your views on photography and nature knowledge and connection - is it important to you and does photography enhance your connection to nature? Please leave your comments below.
If you are interested in identifying the nature around you I can recommend the following apps:
Picture This - the plant identifier app which I use as a free app to photograph and identify plants when I am out and about. It does require an internet signal to use.
Merlin Bird ID - I have found this most useful for bird calls and songs and is one of my most used apps.
I have printed one of the images from my morning in the woods. I chose an A3 print on Hahnemühle German Etching 300gsm textured matt paper. This print is now available from my website as a one off special offer.
Thank you very much for reading and until next week enjoy your photography.
Gill
I enjoy your writing as much as I enjoy your photography. You help to keep me in touch with nature and enjoy my surroundings as much as I enjoy my photography.
Some lovely images and knowledge of the subject always helps, not to just produce more engaging images but as you highlight to prevent damage to what we admire; I'm certain very few would trample off the path if they were aware of the damage they were doing
I find bluebell woods quite a challenge - I think I get overwhelmed by the swathes of flowers and the beauty of the scene.
As you highlight, repeat visits help to find compositions (the same as with any landscape imo). However the window for photographing them is quite short - perhaps their ephemeral nature makes them even more appealing? Additionally the bluebell woods locally tend to be ancient mixed woodland which doesn't detract from their beauty but photographically can be challenging to deal with more cluttered backgrounds. The woods in the south of England are often predominantly beech so the mature trees create the tall upright backgrounds that are so beloved by many. The ultimate test for me is has the photographer created a sense of place with their imagery and made me wish I was there - with these images you most definitely have succeeded