I made this picture one fine morning last autumn while the family slept off the previous day's walk at our accommodation in Ambleside.
My plan was to improve on the pictures of Langdale Pikes over Blea Tarn I made the previous year but I arrived in plenty of time before the sunrise to give me time to find something new too. Unlike last years visit there was a constant breeze so little chance of a reflection in the water, but with a clear sky I was sure to see some sunlight this time. I set-up my camera and then, while waiting for the anticipated light, started to explore the shore for more pictures.
I settled on roughly the picture shown here. In the pre-dawn light I was drawn to the rocks scattered in the water but the darkness of Blake Rigg looming behind wasn't going to work. It needed more light. I knew that the rising sun would illuminate Langdale Pikes soon after sunrise due to it's position at the western end of the Great Langdale valley, but I wasn't so sure what to expect on Blake Rigg. Sunlight would inevitably fall onto the fell but I was unsure exactly when.
The very first warm tones at sunrise would be ideal but I already had Langdale Pikes earmarked for that moment. I considered abandoning my planned pictures but that would risk everything so I settled for using whatever light was available once I had completed my planned pictures. As it turned out I had plenty of time to reposition my camera for this picture and when sunlight finally reached Blake Rigg I was delighted to see the warm orange colour was still present. The warm light on the fell made a wonderful contrast to the the cool blue rocks and water below.
I did have to make one small compromise. A number of fellow photographers arrived on the scene moments before sunrise and chose to perch their tripods in a row a few meters in from the shore. They were directly between me and Blake Rigg so I had to rework the composition slightly to exclude them.
I attempted to make another picture as the sun rose further but it was by now a very busy with photographers jostling for position. It was impossible to set-up the large format camera quick enough before someone had placed their shadow across my composition. I managed a few handled digital pictures instead before retreating back to Ambleside for breakfast.
I settled on roughly the picture shown here. In the pre-dawn light I was drawn to the rocks scattered in the water but the darkness of Blake Rigg looming behind wasn't going to work. It needed more light. I knew that the rising sun would illuminate Langdale Pikes soon after sunrise due to it's position at the western end of the Great Langdale valley, but I wasn't so sure what to expect on Blake Rigg. Sunlight would inevitably fall onto the fell but I was unsure exactly when.
The very first warm tones at sunrise would be ideal but I already had Langdale Pikes earmarked for that moment. I considered abandoning my planned pictures but that would risk everything so I settled for using whatever light was available once I had completed my planned pictures. As it turned out I had plenty of time to reposition my camera for this picture and when sunlight finally reached Blake Rigg I was delighted to see the warm orange colour was still present. The warm light on the fell made a wonderful contrast to the the cool blue rocks and water below.
I did have to make one small compromise. A number of fellow photographers arrived on the scene moments before sunrise and chose to perch their tripods in a row a few meters in from the shore. They were directly between me and Blake Rigg so I had to rework the composition slightly to exclude them.
I attempted to make another picture as the sun rose further but it was by now a very busy with photographers jostling for position. It was impossible to set-up the large format camera quick enough before someone had placed their shadow across my composition. I managed a few handled digital pictures instead before retreating back to Ambleside for breakfast.
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