John
IT can be both elating and disheartening to shoot at a famous
location like Sycamore Gap. First, there’s the buzz that comes from shooting in a location that you’ve seen brought to life by the work of hundreds of photographers; then there’s the big question of how you make it your own…
Of course, you don’t have to try and reinvent the wheel every time, but putting your own spin on a familiar spot is rewarding. There’s no substitute for thinking on your feet, and exploring the area fully before locking your camera on a tripod.
“I didn’t really want to shoot the classic shot, as I knew there were better compositions to be had at either side of the tree,” explains John. “I knew that by setting up my tripod behind the tree and slightly higher up the path would produce this subtly different yet pleasing composition.
“The challenge I had was that the light was very flat, and initially there was a considerable amount of mist in the picture. I wanted the mist to be an element but not to spoil the overall composition, so waiting for just the right moment was crucial.”