Posts Tagged ‘lake’
Lake District
Grasmere Lake_Nikon D700, 18-35mm, Cokin ND
I think Lake District doesn’t need introduction. This magnificent piece of landscape is visited by millions of people every year. It was my 4-th visit and I was hoping I could catch this landscape lit by beautiful light this time.Previously I had no luck. Rain , rain, heavy clouds and rain….
I woke up at 2:30 am and together with Chris, my friend from our Camera club we set off to Lakes. Destination Blea Tarn.
When we park the car quess what? Started to rain. Great, I told to myself, just great. It was still dark and we were sitting in the car.
After few minutes rain stops and we climb out of the car and went to see what Blea Tarn has to offer for us. This place is great, really nice calm lake with mountains in the background. With heavy clouds above us we hoped that weather would improve. I did few shots but I was not satisfied and I moved close to the lake. Then, suddenly for few minutes clouds broke apart and we had nice blue sky to work with. This doesn’t last long but we still managed to do some shots. Then started to rain again and we decided to go for full English breakfast. Our friend Paul was guest of one of the B&B nearby, so he invited us there. I must admit it was great idea 
,I loved it, outside was raining and we were eating beautiful breakfast and we had a nice cup of coffee. Luckily when we finished our breakfast, rain stopped and it was time to move on.
We looked into map and decision was clear. Visit one more lake ( I didn’t do much here…) and then we headed to visit Grasmere lake. Beautifully located between hills, Grasmere lake is great location. Chris and Paul stayed on the main path, but I wanted to see full lake from above, so I walked up. When I stopped and look around I new it was good decision to wake up that early. Lake with surrounding mountains was in front of me. With heavy clouds above there was no great deal but there was still a chance that sun can break through. I setup my tripod and compose my shot with nice tree and rocks in the foreground and I was waiting…. Then for few seconds heaven opened, sun came out and shine the landscape. I was pressing cable release in hope I can do at least one good shot…..
…and this is story behind this shot.
If you want to see more please visit my landscape galleries.
Location hunting_The Roaches
Peak District is national park situated in Derbyshire, which is pretty much in the middle of England. As it is nearest national park to Nottingham. I’m always trying to escape there and find beautiful places to photograph. This time I decided to visit The Roaches and Lud’s Church which is linked with many legends. Famous Roaches (or Roches) is a wind-carved outcrop of gritstone rocks straddling the parishes of Leekfrith and Heathylee in the Peak District National Park about 4 miles north of Leek, Staffordshire and 8 miles south of Buxton, Derbyshire.
Weather was beautiful and the sun up high, so I decided to visit Lud’s Church first. Although described on the map as a cave it is really a large landslip,lost among the trees of Forest Wood.
Lud’s Church is a chasm about 15m(50ft) deep and about 100m long. There are many legends linked with Lud’s Church. Robin Hood, Friar Tuck and Bonny Prince Charlie are all reputed to have hidden from the authorities within the chasm.Ralph Elliott, local Luddites (known to be active in the area during the Luddite protests), and others have identified Lud’s Church as the Green Chapel of ‘Sir Gawain and the Green Knight’. Another legend has it that Lud’s Church was named after a horse: supposedly, a huntsman was pursuing a deer and as he followed it on horseback he was led to the chasm. The hunter failed to see the danger but his horse, Lud, did: when the rider went too close, the horse bucked and threw him to his death in the chasm. There are also connected rumours that originate from a similar period in time, suggesting that the hunter that was killed still roams around the woods and the area. It is said that he is covered from head to toe in moss and leaves so the locals called this legendary being the green man…..
It’s great place for taking pictures when sun is high. As it’s deep there is no direct light and in the summer, interior of chasm is bright green.
Then it was time to go back to the Roaches. It’s stunning view from Roaches.In sunny days like this you can see far away. As I walked pass i found many beautiful spots for taking pictures. There is also small pool called Doxey Pool. And of course it has it’s legend too. 
. This shallow ,peaty pool is said to have no inlet nor outlet, and is the home of a seductive siren of a mermaid, who attracts unwise young men to a watery grave…. As I’m not unwise I survived and I safely walked past.
I finished my walk in the col between The Roaches and Hen Cloud,which stands like a miniature Rock of Gibraltar.
This is amazing piece of landscape, well worth to visit. Unfortunately I did not stay for sunset. Location is ideally orientated for it. I’ll definitely come back here , for some shots. I hope I’ll be lucky to catch the last light shining through clouds….
