After the recent scorching weather we have been experiencing in Cumbria, the weather forecast was for this to change to strong winds, and heavy rain for the coming week.
I decided to try and get out with the camera before this bad weather came in, so I looked for where had the best weather conditions for Saturday morning.
A 3.15 alarm got me on my way to Derwent Water, the forecast was for light cloud, low winds and mid teen temperatures, so I was hoping for a good sunrise with potential for a colourful sky and the possibility of mist in the valleys.
Upon arriving at the location the low cloud was present, so I set off to find a composition and wait for the sun to rise. I elected to go the Friars Crag looking over the lake towards Catbells, the thought being that we might have some mist over the lake and/or low clouds kissing the tops of the fells, and a good chance of some colour in the sky as the sun rose over the eastern fells.
Looking around there were low clouds seeping over Skiddaw in the distance and lovely mists blowing over Barrow Fell, unfortunately nothing was visible within the Borrowdale valley.
I quickly found a composition by the waters edge, took a couple of test shots and waited, and waited and waited.
Only once, did we have a 5/10 minute period when there was a hint of colour in the sky, this was as quickly blocked by the bank of clouds gathering in the eastern sky, despite this, and the missing mist over the lakes surface I got a couple of reasonable images with the heavy clouds in the sky adding atmosphere to the images.
Whilst waiting by the waters edge, the midges were attacking me in swarms, even in warm conditions I had to retreat in to a puffer jacked with my hood up to afford some protection from the little blighters..
After a hour and a half or so, I decided to take a walk around the lake towards Calfclose Bay to look for other compositions, but as I began packing my equipment away it began to rain, despite this I set off towards Calfclose Bay, but as I was walking towards this, the rain became much heavier, at this point I decided to head back to the car, a cup of coffee and the return journey home.
The two images below are from Friars Crag, one a long exposure and one a short exposure, which one do you prefer?
I
Comments