Black and white photography is an art form that speaks directly to my soul. The absence of colour allows me to focus solely on the essence of the subject.
As I wander through the realm of black and white I am reminded of the power of simplicity.
In a world filled with sensory overload the absence of colour allows me to distill a scene to its purest form.
Water leat
This leat has been an essential life line for many farmhouses on Dartmoor for a long time and makes the perfect leading line for a low key minimalist image.
Shelter
In the vast expanse of Dartmoor National Park where the weather changes from minute to minute it can be very hard to find shelter from the elements. An abandoned ruin from a bygone era of prosperous mining or just a few lone trees somehow managing to battle the elements is all there is for shelter from the relentless wind and rain.
Scottish Black Face
Whilst wandering through Dartmoor in thick fog with no idea of where I am heading I came across this sheep posing on a rock. I thought I would take a quick shot of it as like myself it seemed in no rush.
Purgatory
This tree has fallen into an intermediate state of expiatory purification after death. This otherworldly scene of a sparse landscape shrouded in fog adds such atmosphere and character to it's simplicity.
Sleepy Hollow
An eerie feeling surrounds this scene. With the air wet from mist and visibility very low I stand before this tree hiding behind my tripod feeling very wary half expecting the headless horse man to appear from nowhere and cut me short.
Back bone
I was high up at the top of the Pyrenees mountains and it was my first day there. I was shooting the sunrise lighting the top of the snow capped mountains and slipped on black ice which badly injured my back. The following day barely able to move I managed to capture this scene from my front door step. All was not lost. See me take this image here https://youtu.be/uqlX-VaLBg0
Lighthouse
Built in 1832 and made of timber this little Lighthouses presence to this day is a testament to it's builders. Season after season of battling the elements and it still stands before us making an excellent subject for a minimalist seascape photographer.
Dartmoor Butterball
Found deep in Dartmoor National Park on top a Tor with no name is this one granite boulder reminiscent of Krishna's Butterball original name Vann Irai Kal which translates from Tamil as "Stone of sky God" .
Faded
This lone tree on Dartmoor slowly made an appearance through the thick fog for a brief moment. The boulder and tree both leaning to the same direction with a stone row leading diagonally in the opposite direction helps to balance the composition.
Onward & Upward
Overcoming the boundaries we face in life can sometimes feel like an impossible task. A simple step back to evaluate your situation and surroundings can often offer a new perspective on the approach to reaching your chosen path. Simplicity is key, less is more.
T-REX
The beauty of Art is in the eye of the beholder, it is a matter of personal opinion. When asking my 8 year old son what he thinks of my image he immediately tells me it looks like a T-REX skull with the teeth at the bottom pointing to the lichen around the tip of the rock. Now I must agree it does look like a Dinosaur skull in a desolate land that time forgot.
Liver Rock
If there was a prize for the most unusual shaped rock in Dartmoor then I believe I may have found the winner. Using the remnants of a dry stone wall as foreground interest to compose this image of the characterful lone tree and rock offers a balanced scene with three elements of interest.
See Moor
Time and erosion have opened a window revealing a far reaching uninterrupted view of open moorland. The two granite stacks now go head to head in a long game of Jenga played between Mother Nature and Gravity.
Nun's Cross farmhouse
Black and white photography can be the perfect genre for unsuitable landscape photography conditions. Many photographers turn to black and white edits when they feel the conditions are not conducive. Personally I find the worst atmospheric weather is always the best weather for black and white adding so much tension unease and intrigue to the scene.
Pump House
Built during the late 1930s for a water pumping station and reservoir. The perfect subject for a black and white moody image. With far reaching views across open Moorlands and parking for several cars, This building would make a perfect little house for someone.
Pew Tor
This lone tree sits proud in an elevated position commanding the unobstructed view across open moorland. The sharp grass and patch of light on the surrounding area gives such detail clarity and depth to the image.
Watern Tor
Layer upon layer of granite isolated in an almost empty landscape that has drawn humans to its side for centuries. How many people has it seen I wonder and how we have changed whilst it remains the same. The native Rushes in the foreground are my favourite upland grasses that offer great detail and work really well in a black and white image.
Wicked Witch
Upon finding this battered and bent tree struggling to survive the elements high up in Dartmoor National Park that is perched upon the edge of a granite outcrop I felt it makes for an intriguing subject. With a weather front passing over the conditions were perfect for a dramatic high contrast black and white image with foreboding skies and a feeling of tension emanating from the crooked tree.
King of the Moor
This tree stump is surrounded by open moorland and from this one angle looks like a battle scarred lion roaring across the Moor pronouncing his presence to any who dare challenge him to his territory.
Going going gone
Chesil beach,Dorset a glorious Summer's morning with almost clear blue skies and a vast expanse of pebbles made this minimalist black and white image possible.
End of an era
Teignmouth pier built in 1865 using cast iron pylons has in recent times fallen into disrepair leaving behind the skeletal remains of a once magnificent edifice. Rare sea fog enabled me to capture this moment in time soon to be lost for ever in a minimalist black and white image.
Stairway to Heaven
High key photography is no easy feat to master. Having stumbled across this lone tree nestled upon a stairway seemingly leading to nowhere on the edge of the open ocean I knew this had to be my first subject to attempt wetting my feet in this genre.
Pin sharp
On the rugged coastline deep in the South Hams brittle jagged slate cliffs come head to head with the open ocean. I was reminded of a record needle when I spotted this detached section of rock and waited for a wave big enough to bridge the gap through the middle of the frame.
Ebb & flow
Jagged and smooth textures with a free flow through the frame leading the eye to the twin peaks in the distance. This image is a perfect example of how the absence of colour accentuates the raw composition.
Sea Stack
This impressive stack makes an excellent subject enhanced by the steps in the foreground and a long exposure to smooth out the incoming waves of the rising tide. My feet got very wet in the making of this image.
Serrate
The entire coastline in this area is made up of the same serrated geological matter. A fascinating place to visit and exceptional quality of subject for seascape photography. The jagged edge of the rock helps your eye bounce it's self down the leading lines towards the island and then the point and back to the jagged foreground once more for further investigation.
Tide Line
An image of two halves. Soft sand dunes and detailed grasses give way to the wet sand bar and lighthouse backed by the incoming storm cloud. This was my last image from the day whilst leaving and one of my favourite. Always look behind you.
One lump or two
Portland Bill in Dorset has a lighthouse on the edge of an old quarry and is a very popular subject for photographers. Me being me and true to my style ends up coming away from this location with no lighthouse image but instead this image of some left behind stones that never made it on to the last boat therefore never reaching their final resting place.
Danger lurking
A long exposure time smoothes out the ebb and flow of the sea leaving a calm feeling juxtaposed to the jagged rough slate cliffs whilst also revealing a rock that looks like a crocodile emerging from the sea in your general direction. The calm sea is giving me a false sense of security drawing me into harms way.
Chosen road
Where the road ends is where the adventure begins. Nothing but mountains and sky for miles and miles. The leading line of the S curving road takes the eye to the mountains where the imagination takes over.
Road to nowhere
The imminent passing of a storm with the remnants of light on the hillside gave me the opportunity to capture this dramatic image with its leading lines and dark skies above.
Warped
Landslides and steepdrives have left this scene looking as though the World has started to melt. This perspective is the only one that offers this look and feel of the area.
Convoluted
Twisted extremely complex and difficult to follow but what a subject this stretch of road makes. Following a huge land slide due to rapid snow melt a large part of the only road in to Cauterets was washed away. With the town cut off from the outside world the army were drafted in to make this epic new stretch of road in record time. See me take this shot here https://youtu.be/zNIYhfJunfA
La Fruitière
Isolated and nestled in a valley only accessible in summer high up in the Pyrenees mountains you will find beside a trout stream fed by the melting snow one of my favourite restaurants in the world. The owners are welcoming their food is excellent and the view speaks for itself.
In sight
High up in the Pyrenees mountains shrouded in cloud I just made out the faint outline of this triangular peak nestled in the centre of a V shape created by the sides of two separate mountains on opposite sides of a valley. Day after day I kept returning to the same spot in the hope of catching a clear view to create this image. Finally on the last day before returning home a brief break in the weather made it possible. See my struggles here https://youtu.be/zNIYhfJunfA
First flurry
Waking up to catch the morning sun kiss the first flurry of snow on the highest peaks was a great feeling. To be starting the day with anticipatory excitement for the week ahead was everything I had hoped for on the lead up to this trip. It was at this moment I knew it was all going to work out as planned.
Summit and Nothing
This is the summit of the highest mountain in Cauterets in the Pyrenees with a dusting of snow and nothing behind but thin air.
Pen y Fan
It was my first visit and the climb began. How high is the summit? I had no idea I could not see it. On and on we climbed into the cloud where we reached a flat plateau with nothing but my hand visible. Well at least we got some exercise I said to my wife. Within moments the cloud thinned revealing the true summit just 100 meters away creating the perfect opportunity to create this image.
Malevolent cloud
A foreboding feeling drifts down the valleys of these snow dusted mountain peaks enhanced by the diffused light adding clarity and texture to the scene. Should I run away or should I stay and watch with apprehensive awe?
Cow
Thick fog soaks every fibre of this cow's being. In the middle of nowhere in Dartmoor National Park this cow made for a good subject. I have left a good amount of negative space to the right of the frame with just a hint of another cow visible to really show the dense atmosphere.
Incy wincy
Spiders everywhere which had it not been for thick fog throughout the whole forest I don't think I would have noticed. This image is not the usual for me however the atmosphere and rarity of this scene makes it one of my favourites from the day.
