Heathland Connections
Why people are important in landscape photography
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 was dark when I climbed into the car at 4am to drive to the heath. The sky looked cloudless but it was hard to tell in the half light of dawn. There wasn’t a breath of wind and the car was covered in dew so I had high hopes for some mist but the journey was clear all the way and there was nothing to suggest such conditions until I turned onto the heath road. Ahead of me a layer of mist hung in the valley, ethereal and haunting it created a lovely mood and I could feel the excitement beginning to rise.
I had arranged to meet a friend in the car park and pulling up I could see he was already there. After a quick chat we shoulder our camera bags and head out onto the heath to search for some solitary trees to photograph.
It is half an hour before sunrise and the cool light of dawn combines perfectly with the mauve heather to create some lovely tranquil compositions.
I usually like to photograph alone, as I feel I make better work when there are no distractions, but sometimes company is good and compositions are improved by a shared experience.
As the morning progresses the conditions get better and better. There are a few wispy clouds in the sky which light up perfectly as the sun rises and as the heat of the day begins to build the mist intensifies.
This shoot was the first of several trips to the heath that I made this week, each one memorable for different reasons. On Monday and Tuesday I went for some recce trips to Hollesley Common to scout conditions for my heathland workshops later in the week. On Thursday I ran a landscape workshop and on Friday I followed this up with a creative macro course. Both these days were really enjoyable.
We had some challenging conditions for our landscape workshop but the participants were enthusiastic and we had a brilliant session. The weather was very hot, the skies were blue and cloudless (which is every photographers nightmare) but my group still managed to make some lovely images.
This was followed by a really enjoyable macro session the following day where the level of work made was really stunning. Despite not making any images during these two sessions I enjoyed my time just as much as if I was out creating my own work.
For me this is the joy photography brings. The connection with people and the buzz that I get in seeing them achieve their potential. When someone else creates a shot that excites them it gives me the same pleasure as I get from making my own images. It is the same feeling I get when photographing with friends. The shared joy of photography is something that cannot be beaten. Experiencing moments of elation when a shot comes together and sharing that with other like minded people is one of the reasons I enjoy workshops so much. And this applies to personal time out with the camera too. Sharing magical moments in nature is something we should all do from time to time. Not only does it create connections but it also makes us better photographers by sharing ideas, discussing compositions and helping one another out. I cannot recommend it highly enough!
This week I also spent some time in front of the camera instead of behind it, having some professional photographs taken for a new website. I don’t really enjoy being the subject of an image but I hired Cherry from Simply C Photography and she made the whole process really relaxed and fun. Cherry and I started out in photography at a similar time and we first met at an exhibition about 17 years ago. Reconnecting after so many years was really enjoyable and the session flew by. I now have some lovely images that give a bit of an insight into who I am as a photographer.
Photography for me is all about connection. Connection with the landscape and nature but also connection with other photographers. I love meeting people and finding out what inspires them. I love the company of others when I am out with the camera and I get just as much joy from seeing others succeed as I do from making my own images.
If I can share my knowledge and my love of photography and nature then I feel I have achieved something worthwhile. For me there is more to photography than making great images, it is about sharing a passion with others, making connections and taking my joy from that.
How important is connection to you? Are you a solo photographer or do you prefer the company of others when making images. I would love to know so please leave a comment and join the conversation.
Lovely photo's of you Gill. And such lovely words too 🙂
Gorgeous images Gill. Glad the two days went well. I am very happy shooting solo or in the company of other like minded souls, that’s the joy of landscape photography.