Austust started off as a very poor month in regards to photography. At the end of July I bought myself a 10 Stop ND filter, which I was dying to try out. However, due to family commitments I only managed two quick shots to see that the filter was ok.
Last week however I was lucky to collect a couple of days off work and resolved to get away for a few days. Without much thinking I booked myself into an Inn in Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales. I had 3 aims during my 4 days stay in Ingleton.
Aim 1 :
Photograph and Walk the Ingleton waterfall trail and use the ND filter.
I did walk the waterfall trail but getting the images I wanted was very hard. I was not aware that the different falls could only be seen from various platforms and viewing areas. Most of the time these areas were packed full with sightseers and building up my tripod to use the ND filter was near impossible, especially as I had my dog with me as well who kept getting tangled up in the legs of the tripod. I only got a couple of images I was happy with but that was enough to make the trip already worth while. Never mind my second aim of the trip.
Aim 2:
See and Photograph Ribblehead Viaduct
I have to admit that the walks around Ribblehead Viaduct were my favourite during the time I was in Ingleton. I always started off there in the morning and ended there at night. I shot the viaduct from all sort of different angles and in different weather conditions as I was there but these are my favourite. One of the reasons I liked the walks so much was that my dog could run free there without any problems. There are sheep all around but my dog dont bother with them and he stays on the path, but that small freedom made his day just as much as it made mine lol.
Aim 3:
Find and Photograph Twistleton Scar
I think that aim was the greatest challenge for me personally, not only in finding the place but also of getting to it. I only actually found the place on the evening of the last day in Ingleton and only by accident. Despite having researched it before going I always seem to miss it somehow until I parked up by the road consulting my map and seeing a gentleman walker coming down one of the paths I had missed before. I waited till he was in talking range and asked him for directions. He pointed to some stones in a field and said to head for it. He must have seen the disappointment in my face and started laughing. “you have to be above it to see it” was all he said. So off I went and wow what a sight once I reached the spot he pointed out. However, I wanted a shot at sunrise so I went on my last day, before sunrise up there again to get the shots seen above. The real problem was getting down again as by the time the sun was up cows had filled the field I had to cross to get back to the car. I am terrified of cows and had to make a detour of several miles in the opposite direction to get back to my car without crossing a field with cows in it.
Besides my three aims that I had set out to do and managed to accomplish I also managed to visit and see other places on route. On the second day in Ingleton I passed my time driving around aimlessly while waiting for a rain shower to subside, so that I could take the dog for a walk. I found myself following the signs for Dent and by accident ended up above the Dentdale valley. From the road you could see Dentale viaduct and I could not resist parking up and taking some shots.
Another shot taken practically from the car was the one below. I got slightly lost on my way back from Malham Tarn lake (no pictures of that) as I come across this view. I love them stone walls criss-crossing the whole countryside and just had to take at least one image of them. As you can see, another rain shower was on its way to overtake me again lol.
On a suggestion of a friend I also visited Hardraw falls, apparently the hightest waterfall in England and one that you could walk behind. I personally could not find a way up there to go behind the fall, but that didnt matter. It was raining quite hard anyways and I had problems photographing the fall from the bottom, never mind from the top lol.
Aysgarth waterfalls were also very impressive but again very difficult to photograph. Only from a variety of viewpoints were the falls visible and most of the time tourist were blocking a good angle to photograph from. The walk around the falls and through the wood were however very enjoyable and the dog sure enjoyed the walk.
There are other locations I visited during my time in the yorkshire dales but never really got any shots off. Bolton castle for example as there was a wedding going on and I wasnt about to gate crash it… or semer waters which I did not find very photogenic. Clapham cave was a awesome to see and I did get some images from there but they are not good enough to post here. But one image I really like and are surprised about having gotten is the one below of the most remote train station I have ever come across – Blea Moor.
Overall august has not been bad for photography despite the very slow start. Back to work again tomorrow and to planning my next trip. North Devon is on the list to visit for September – so stay turned. Keep safe xx
