This week, accompanied by Mrs T, I headed off to find the Judge’s Chair on Crockern Tor and to get some woodland shots of the ancient Oak Trees in Wistman’s Wood returning via the high ground of Longaford and Littaford Tors. The weather was good for walking but the light was very harsh and contrasty for the photography.
Wistman’s Wood.
The Judge’s Chair.
When we left the car park the sun was strong and the skies were clear.
It being Autumn the sun was low all day, we passed this rather tranquil scene Sheep grazing in the meadow and sunlight on the Copse.
It wasn’t long before we were on the slopes of Crockern Tor looking for that chair, the harsh sunlight was making photography a challenge.
Crockern Tor isn’t a big one but it does have some interesting rock formations.
After Crockern Tor we set off for Wistman’s Wood, this is a very popular attraction even on a weekday, we saw several couples/groups on the well trodden track out to the wood. It wasn’t long before we got our first sight of the wood.
When we got up to the wood it became clear that going into it with my large backpack and tripod wasn’t an easy option so I settled for some shots from the upper edge the light again was very contrasty including sky made it really difficult to control the dynamic range of the shots, Grad NDs to the rescue.
Inside the wood was quite dark but still that contrast was there. The twisted Oaks are an amazing sight that the camera can hardly do justice to.
After the wood we headed up to Longaford Tor to find a spot for lunch.
There were Ponies on the slopes but not close enough to get portraits.
From the slopes of Longaford Tor you look West over to the Military Firing Ranges (which were in use, red flags flying to warn us). Those ranges are a wilderness on their own and span for several miles northwards.
We found a nice spot for lunch just at the base of the main Tor.
After lunch we set off towards Littaford Tor through the rest of the rock formations of Longaford.
Looking back towards the main Tor we thought it looked a bit like an Egyptian Pyramid.
We were soon at Littaford Tor, this one has some nice rock formations.
By now the weather was starting to change, incoming clouds warned of approaching rain.
It was fine to the East.
But looking West was a different tale, the lower clouds clearly had rain in them, we decided to head back to the car hoping to beat the rain.
Looking back the rain was chasing us.
But we managed to outrun it this time.
That’s all for this week folks, as always comments welcome.
Tags: Dartmoor Landscape and travel Devon uk Wistman's Wood Crockern Longaford and Littaford Tors
Search for all the latest photography gear and services.
