2009 northern Heights calendar
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The 2009 Northern Height calendar has finally been printed and is available from the online shop.
12 stunning large format panoramic landscape images from around the North of England.
Includes images from the YORKSHIRE DALES, the LAKE DISTRICT,
and the NORTH YORK MOORS.
Great Langdale in the Lake District
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While walking on Side Pike early one February morning before the rain arrived to give me a good soaking, a rainbow formed over the Band. It lasted just long enoungh for me to take a couple of images before disappearing back into the cloud.
Side Pike is an easy climb from the road and gives great views of all the mountains of Langdale. Pike O'Blisco, Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and of course the Langdale Pikes.
IMPORTANT!!
Remember whenever you go out into the hills always take a map and compass and know how to use it to get to the nearest PUB (SAFETY).
.....Always check conditions locally before setting out....
Sun 10th Feb. Scafell Pike in the Lake District
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Image of the week:
Scafell Pike in the Lake District
A beautiful spring like day on the tops brought clear blue skies and ideal walking weather, but good walking weather is not always the best time to be out with the camera.
From ESK PIKE looking across to SCAFELL PIKE.
This image was taken during the middle of the day and shows the problem of trying to take photographs around noon when the light is harsh and very blue.
Using the 81 series of filters helps to alter the warmth of an image but is no substitute for shooting around the hours of sunrise and sunset when the light is at its best.
I guess I'll be returning to this location with the tent for bacon and eggs and some dawn light... perfect...... Hmmm can't wait.
Sat 2nd Feb. Conistone in the Yorkshire dales
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Image of the week:
THE DALES WAY above CONISTONE in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of the most stunning sections of the path in its entire length. If you enjoy photographing limestone pavement and stone barns then this is a great location for you.
Leave the car in the car park at Grassington and walk up to Kettlewell along the Dales Way, you can then catch the bus back to the car park which runs at regular intervals all through the year. A lovely walk at any time of year.
This image was taken from the top of Conistone Dib as the sun started to sink into the horizon.
Sun 27th Jan. Wythburn Fell in the Lake District
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Image of the week:
ULLSCARF GILL tumbles down from the heights of Wythburn Fell over a series of lovely waterfalls. There's loads of photographic potential there espescially after a period of heavy rain as on this occasion when the stream was in full spate.
To visit the fell, park in the car park at Dob Gill on Thirlmere, then climb the steep path opposite towards Harrop Tarn. Once at the Tarn take the path that heads south east onto the fell top.
Tues 15th Jan. The Mont Blanc Range in the Alps
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Image of the week:
The MONT BLANC range from Les Grandes Platieres above Flaine in the Alps.
Summer or winter the Alps are stunning. If you don't fancy the climb up to Les Grandes Platieres (2480m) there is a gondola that runs through the summer and winter months (check times first) from Flaine to the top.
This image was taken on a clear day in winter late in the day just as the sun set. Watching the sun set in the mountains is always a treat but once it had dissappeared we had to make a speedy ski down the hill as the temperature plummeted.
This image was converted to B&W in Photoshop with a touch of "brightness and contrast" added after conversion.
Sun 6th Jan. DaleHead in the Lake District
Image of the week:
DALEHEAD in the western Lakes is a great mountain with superb views, east to Helvellyn, west to Grasmoor and down below into the Buttermere valley.
This shot of the summit cairn, was taken late in the afternoon. The light wasn't great, but the strong subject makes up for that a little. The little pockets of snow and the white tops of the distant mountains gives an indication of the bitter conditions.
To reach the top of DaleHead we climbed via the ridge from Little Town over Robinson then up to the summit. We returned via DaleHead Tarn and Newlands Beck.
Sun. 30th Dec Dove Dale in the Lake District
Image of the week:
DOVEDALE BECK rises just below Dove Crag and is one of the prettiest streams in the Lakes.
This image was taken at the top of a series of waterfalls just a couple of miles up the path from the carpark at Hartsop.
I love the way the dry stone wall clings to the side of the hill with the white mountain water rushing through its opening.
A lovely feature to photograph time and again.
Our walk from Hartsop to Dove Crag, up to Fairfield and then to the summit of St.Sunday Crag is only about 9 miles, but with lots of ups and downs it feels longer than it is.
It's easy to navigate with much of the route being on the ridges with the compass only being required a couple of times in bad weather.
Fri. 21st Dec. Helvellyn in the Lake District
Image of the week:
RIDGES of the Lake District looking south to WINDERMERE from HELVELLYN.
The day was bright and sunny with the cold air in the valleys forming a low haze.
I took this image almost directly into the sunlight to accentuate the contrast between the dark ridges and the light valley mist. A slight amount of colour in the sky gives a mystical feeling to the shot as each ridge fades away into the distance.
There are many ways to climb Helvellyn, so take your pick, but be warned it's the coldest place in the Lakes in winter on a bad day. Its best to be prepared for when the weather changes for the worse....and it will... on that you can be certain!
Sat 15th Grasmere Common, The Lake District
Image of the Week:
SEAT SANDAL from GRASMERE COMMON. With hazy light and a low winter sun lack of contrast meant concentrating on a strong foreground to dominate the image.
This shot from near the summit of Sergent Man with the snowy outline of Seat Sandal behind typified the conditions of the day and made a pleasing winter scene.
The walk from Grasmere over Helm Crag to Sergent Man and then back down past Easedale Tarn is about 9 miles with about 3000ft of easy climbing.
Grasmere Common has lots of classic Lakeland views with small tarns and craggy outcrops that give plenty of photographic potential. Grasmere Common is hard to navigate in poor weather so ALWAYS take map and compass and the correct clothing.