For me that passion is capturing the natural light and the beauty that Mother Nature has provided us with. I often wonder why other people do not feel as closely attached to the natural world as I do? I just don’t understand it. Others are beginning to forget that we are part of the natural world and we have been for thousands of years. It seems that in our so-called advance in our own evolution and with all the material things around us some of us have become disconnected from our BACKGROUND or WHERE WE CAME FROM.

I could go on for pages about our ignorance to the planet we call home and in which we thoughtlessly destroy. But that would be far too depressing. It would be great if conservation for our planet and the nature that lives within it was as popular as Football or Designer Label clothing or even music….But it’s not. In my book it IS more important than the latest TV or car. These items are cold and lifeless.

I love the natural world and I couldn’t live without it…none of us could. I love the colour of sun set and sun rise. Looking at the stars on clear nights is mind-blowing, the endless galaxy which even scientists cannot find and end to. The changing of the seasons is so exciting. To see autumn’s deep reds and oranges thorough to its yellows. Then the autumn leaves drift to the ground creating a colourful autumn carpet.

I see the house martins and swifts and they feel like long-lost friends although it was only the previous year when I last saw them. When their visit is nearly over and it’s time to go I sometimes wish I could go with them on their return as I know I will miss them. Summer bee’s buzzing around pollinating our flowers and crops. How? Just how does everything fit together so well and so organised like clockwork?

The saying goes “you’ve got to see it to believe it! “ Well I can. We all can and it’s FREE! To see the dappled light on the leaves and the crimson sunset the blue skies with their cotton clouds and the somewhat angry stormy skies. The migrating birds to the early morning city foxes. That point on which you step into a woodland and come across a single fallow deer who stops and stare’s and for that moment….that blink of an eye lids moment you both connect as though you both know you are all part of mother nature’s big plan. How can you better that…You can’t. It’s what life is about.

We can change our direction in which we have chosen to take. The route in which we are on of careless destruction. We can change ourselves and we can educate our youth. The more you are out with nature the more you want to be with it and the more you learn to love it and care for it. IT REALLY IS THAT SIMPLE.

I had set up in a field in the correct position and in the most pleasing light. I was working with ISO 100 and f13 ( im going through a f13 phase at the moment ). The shutter speed was around 1/30th second and I had a 3 stop ND filter attached to even the sky and foreground.

I had taken around 10 shots max and went home to download them straight away……..I was not impressed with the colour at all. I use RAW and process later to bring the picture back to as I saw it but here the colours that had been captured were stronger than what I had seen and I was having difficulty getting the picture to look REAL. I didn’t know what to do and felt I had a wasted photo shoot ( but not wasted time as it was a beautiful morning ). At the last-minute I tried a black and white with a slight sepia colour and I was amazed at the difference and very pleased!

I returned a few hours later with my camera and tripod. I set up in the cold stream wearing my shoes with the holes in designed to let all the cold water in and make my feet cold!!. I knew what I wanted but had to wait and experiment as the light started to fade. I wanted a slow shutter speed so the water was almost like misty glass so the stones would stand out. I stayed until almost dark to capture these pictures using 30sec shutter speeds.

I don’t know the guys name but he was friendly and stopped to talk to me for a few minutes in between planting Firs and listening to Terry Wogan on his radio.

He explained to me he was planting Douglas Firs and he had over a thousand to plant by hand just him and his dog. The dead line… March! Armed with just a pack of Douglas Fir on his back and a spade come rain or shine.

I think we all tend to be drawn to everything at the start of our learning. everything is a photo opportunity or a ” that would make a nice photo ” but there is a time when we move to a different direction. Some go towards portrait others landscape and wildlife then you also have journalist photographers.

I think I know what I want and that is to be able to present people with pictures that don’t say ” look what I did !” but more to the point of ” look whats out there! now get out and experience it too!” I’m still learning everyday and still need more time. What I would suggest is that you go out at the beginning and snap away at all subjects untill you find what is right for you or more to the point what interests you most. As for style well I will get there eventually but at the moment im still learning and that is what is important.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,900 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 48 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.