In Search of Spring (2024)
woodland and wildflower photography
Hey everyone! How's it going?
This year, my springtime landscape photography was concentrated on capturing the beauty of local woodland wildflowers. I became somewhat obsessed with finding immersive compositions of bluebells and flowering garlic.
Due to my storm-chasing duties in the United States, I only had a small window of opportunity to explore when the flowers finally bloomed. Unfortunately, this also meant missing out on what promised to be some spectacular fields of rapeseed.
However, I did manage to visit Bolam Lake, where I sought out one specific subject and ended up with something both unexpected and delightful—my favorite shot of the season.
The Challenges of Woodland Composition
Bluebell Wood and Pegswood near Morpeth in Northumberland are home to some of the finest examples of bluebells and flowering garlic in the North East. Despite being ‘ancient woodlands,’ the forest floor is cluttered with saplings and young trees, which can often distract and spoil the view and make springtime landscape photography a challenge. Finding a 'clean' composition here requires effort and exploration.
Capturing Spring: Bluebells vs. Flowering Garlic
Even though Bluebell Wood is known for its bluebells, I find it better suited for photographing flowering garlic. When in bloom, the entire forest floor can be covered with them, and the aroma is divine. Since garlic is more evenly distributed along pathways and waterways, finding good compositions is easier.
On the other hand, capturing bluebells can be a challenge—at least for me. Their protected status makes accessing visually interesting spots more difficult, and I often questioned whether the effort was worth it.
Springtime Photography at Hollinside Wood
Hollinside Wood in Durham is much better for photographing bluebells and offers many excellent sites within a short walk. The best areas are at the bottom of a steep hill, and because this is Wearside, the terrain is often muddy. This area seldom sees sunlight, and the banks are frequently slippery and well-trodden. I had what could only be described as ‘hilarious fun’ trying to scramble up hills to get a decent vantage point without destroying a swathe of bluebells.
Sunlight, as it always has been in the past here (did I mention Wearside?) was at a premium and so the light was flat (again!). The images I managed to capture were less than desirable and I feel my Springtime photography was more successful the previous year.
The Timing Challenge in Springtime Photography
Allen Banks remains an enigma in my springtime landscape photography journey. I know that garlic and bluebells bloom at different times, even at neighboring sites, but the blooming patterns at Allen Banks vary wildly year to year, and I never seem to time it right. This year, I visited in mid-May only to find that the bluebells had yet to flower, while the garlic was already dead. Maybe I should just stick to photographing this location in autumn, which, by the way, is fantastic!
Into the images then...
Searching for the Perfect Woodland Shot
As I mentioned earlier, finding a clean composition in these woods requires significant effort—to the point where I question if it’s even possible (though a more experienced eye might succeed). It’s not just about wandering around; it’s about letting your photographic eye relax, taking your time, and truly absorbing your surroundings. This is where I often struggle—I rely too much on achieving traditional compositional norms rather than ‘feeling’ the shot and capturing the essence of spring.
Capturing the Elusive Woodland Composition
In some cases, a composition can go unnoticed unless you stand in precisely the right spot. This was true for one view I found, where a couple of steps to either side caused the composition to disappear—you couldn’t see the trees for the wood. When I first saw it, the garlic was either not yet flowering or just beginning to in patches. I became slightly obsessed with this spot and made repeat visits until the flowers had fully bloomed. After that, it was just a matter of waiting for the sun to appear, which, given the typical British weather, took some time.
multiple moods
I was able to make several different images with different mood and feeling from this one spot. Is the focus of the image about the trees being surrounded by garlic or is the focus about the garlic in which a group of trees sit?.
Wrangling dappled light is always an issue as the camera’s sensor can never capture the full range effectively so I had to resort to exposure bracketing and blend accordingly. I defocused the background ever so slightly and added a tiny hint of Orton to create a more hazy, summer vibe.
The subtle misty morning shot was achieved entirely in post. I was pleased enough with the composition when I took the image but the light on the day was pretty boring and for whatever reason, I just couldn’t recreate the strength of the composition when I revisited and the light was good.
I don’t think I was ever going to find the ideal composition I was looking for; that of a level ‘clean’ forest floor with a few tree islands and golden hour sunlight. Given the nature of the woodland here, a more intimate take is necessary, or maybe just a better eye than mine.
Northumberland in Spring: The Unexpected Success at Bolam Lake
Despite the challenges, I did capture my favourite image of this Spring.
I’ve long been fascinated by a pair of tree trunks that stretch out over the lake but what to do with them or how to compose them has always eluded me. By chance, during one of my wanders, I saw how the evening sun just fell upon them and then I knew immediately what I needed to do. Given that Bolam Lake plays host to some native swans, I figured they’d make the perfect subject... IF they'd play ball.
Were the swans playing ball this day though? They were not! I didn’t care though, for - almost on cue - a family of ducks and ducklings willingly obliged instead, helping me create one of my favourite images for some time.
In the end, this year's springtime landscape photography was both challenging and rewarding. The unpredictability of Nature often dictated the final outcome, but with patience, persistence, and a willingness to adapt, the results were incredibly satisfying.
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