I felt like the universe was telling me to stay at home yesterday. I've written before about my mental struggles to get out of the house, but when I was faced with a litany of issues at 5:45am, I nearly gave up.
I was out of ground coffee, and I wasn't sure my wife would be impressed if I got the electric grinder out at that time. So Decaf it was...
The car was iced over - the forecast wasn't for temps to drop that low, but the glass must have dropped below freezing in the fog - but the fact it was foggy was one thing that spurred me on!
Get in the car and ping "Please Refuel - zero miles left". It's ok, Tesco is on my way... Get there to find the petrol station closed and coned off. 15 minute detour to Sainsbury's...
And then, on the drive in to the Peak, the nearer I got to my chosen destination the more the fog cleared.
But coming up to a high point on the road, I glanced down a valley only to see an inversion in the distance. I knew where I needed to be. And even better, when I arrived at Curbar Gap I found that they no longer charge for parking - Maybe things were improving after all!
Before the sun rose, the light was warm and soft, casting a hint of a glow on the damp rocks - the inversion stayed a little way off down the valley.
Soon enough, the sun broke the horizon - initially through the mist, and then catching on it. A passing flock of birds made nice addition.
The light then caught on the rocks where I was standing, and across the distant landscape too.
(I did have to clone a couple of parked cars out of this shot... how dare other folk come to enjoy this view too!)
I loved the streams of mist and light that looked like they were trailing back across the moors from the edge.
Like the other photographers there yesterday, I spent most of my time looking out across the valley towards Baslow Edge (above) and the mists. However, I happened to glance to my right, and the first light from the rising sun was clipping the tops of a couple of silver birch - turning them a striking red against the frosty tones of the woodland behind.
There was a photographer perched right above this scene, seemingly oblivious, so it felt like I'd seen something that was happening under everyone's noses. Maybe that's a bit smug of me - I messed up the depth of field though, so that's the price I paid ;)
I then decided to change location. I first went for a walk along Baslow Edge, but the light was harsh, and the views didn't inspire me. I think the early start was weighing me down a little by this point.
However, I could see that the fog was hanging heavily on the next ridgeline over, a spot called Gardoms Edge, which I've visited before in the summer. I knew that there was a large coverage of silver birches on the moors...
But, I'll leave that story for another post - probably tomorrow.
Thanks for reading :)
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Thanks very much :)
It’s bizarre how these things unfold with the bad start leading to something worthy. Nice part of the world up that way, pity we’ve not been in ages.
Thanks Nick - yeah, I agree. For me, the bad start (or at least the focus on it) is something where I seem to put barriers in my own way, but getting out always seems to be the most rewarding thing (regardless of the images) if I can push through it...
Yeah, it's a lovely area. I'm only an hour away but still don't get there as often as I'd like. Hope you manage to get a trip in before long.
I just can’t get up early these days. I’m up by 7 to start work which is all from home anyway. The other day I managed it and went out to do some photography at Silchester.
Amazing set of images Kieran! Love all those beautiful misty layers. Looks like you had a cracking morning for it. :)
Thanks so much Cath - yeah, it was a wonderful morning. Just what the Doctor ordered too!