New Beginnings

Like many photographers, as we enter a new year, my thoughts turn to new projects. Don’t get me wrong, I never tire of being out with the camera, but we all need something new to keep the creative cogs turning.

As fate would have it, an opportunity fell into my lap recently,  when the hosting costs of my old website doubled overnight and I had to close it down. Thankfully, I quickly managed to find a new host, and if you are reading this, then you will have seen it has a feature for blogging.

Now, I know that blogging is nothing new and I realise that most people follow me because they like my photography, not what I have to say... but I started thinking... what if I could combine both and start a blog that helped other people out with their own Dartmoor photography??

And the more I thought about this, the better the idea became.

You see, I’m really interested in helping people get started in photography. I think its often seen as an exclusive, often intimidating world. The kit can be expensive and the jargon and science behind camera settings and light levels enough to send most people running for the hills. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

I started out with basic kit and most of my equipment was bought second hand. I'm not fortunate enough to be a full time photographer – I have to work for a living, and with a family to raise as well, I have to make the most of any precious time and equipment available to me. I’ve enjoyed photography all my life, but when I started to take it more seriously, I was often met with (I’m sorry to say) snobbery and sometimes hostility, and it was almost enough to almost put me off. And so it is my great wish to provide an alternative approach, and to create a welcome space where no question is too silly, no equipment “ too basic” and in which every photograph is a masterpiece to the person who took it.   

At its most basic, photography is just about having fun - being out in nature, enjoying yourself in an environment that gives you peace, satisfaction and a sense of wellbeing. We all have enough going on in our lives to cause stress and sleepless nights, but when you are out on a windswept Tor, staring through your viewfinder, waiting for the light to strike a distant hill, or for the clouds to clear, you simply live in the moment – what is unfolding down the lens is all that matters there and then. 

But for people who are new to photography, it can be very hard to know where to start. So my plan, is to publish a regular series of blog posts, each introducing a new location or new feature on the moor. They will be aimed at everyone – from the beginner with their first camera, to the seasoned pro who might be looking for new locations, inspiration or views to shoot. The posts will be written in plain, simple terms and I'll try and keep the jargon to a minimum (or at least explain what terms mean if I do use them). I’ll give you directions to sites, ideas of the best time of day to visit a location, what to shoot through the seasons, suggested camera settings, and add in a sprinkling of the history, natural features and folklore that make this part of England so very special.

These posts wont be for everyone - but I hope they become part of a much larger plan that is just embryonic at this stage. They may be too basic for some, but I reckon there are enough highly skilled pros out there dealing with the high end of photography – I want to open this up to everyone and I hope this is just the place to do that.

Just one last note – everyone has their own take on Dartmoor. Its what makes it so special. Locations, seasons, styles – they are all personal preference, and so what I write and suggest is what matters to me. Its intended for inspiration only and as a way to help photographers find their own style. You may not agree with me and that’s fine – I’m just suggesting ideas that work for me and In turn I hope they may work for you.

So if you’ve got this far, and like the sound of what I’m suggesting; join me on a journey across the moor and hopefully I can help you develop your love for Dartmoor photography too.