The light and timing of nature
Nature photography during the Spring is all about timing and managing light filtration with subject isolation. During the early hours, you get the best of both worlds; soft, directional tinged glows along with the vibrant, translucent colours of new growth that define the season. I often find myself returning to a particular spot for bluebells - a surreal sight upon every visit, visually spectacular and a personal favourite of mine (from a scouted location I discovered many years ago). Despite my fondness for exploring various photographic genres, I find it difficult to match the allure of woodland photography during this time of year!
As the sun begins to rise, the challenge shifts to managing high contrast by using a circular polariser; it’s an essential tool for cutting through the atmospheric haze and removing glare from damp foliage, which instantly boosts natural saturation. Compositionally, I typically look for leading lines provided by wilderness trails or fallen branches to create a sense of depth in the natural environment. Lugging around a tripod can be a chore at times, but it can also prove to be a fundamental choice for such missions. Unfortunately, the winds picked up during mid-morning, which ruled out the use of a potential drone shot that I was keen to try my luck with!
Seasons move fast, and the window for optimal conditions is short. When dealing with the dense, complex structures of the countryside, you are essentially trying to solve a visual puzzle - patience is key and whilst it can be a demanding environment, getting it right means coming away with a set of images that truly reflects the sense of adventure of a photographer...
