Spring Photography in Yorkshire:

Bluebells and Morphine

The last couple of weeks have revolved around learning what I can and can’t do with a herniated lumbar disc whilst being wrapped in a delightful opiate based painkilling blanket. Although numbing the pain, the permanent brain fog and induced lethargy haven’t been great for productivity on any front. It’s a frustrating place to be, as we approach the latest break in lockdown rules, I had hoped to be in Chamonix, flying and climbing in between work trips, alas, this is my reality for now so it’s been a mental battle to try and find and embrace the positives. Having reduced my painkillers, I can now actually leave the house and remember why I am doing so. Wanting to seize the opportunity for some low pain photography in the oh so brief weather windows we are experiencing, I arranged to meet a friend for an afternoon walk through Middleton Woods in Ilkley.

Middleton woods is actually a collection of smaller woods dating back to around the 1600s. Ancient nomenclature suggests that the woods were managed and used to produce sticks, poles and timber. Due to its age, it is now formally recognised as an Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland, part of only 1.2% of all Great British Woodland that qualify for ‘ASNW’ status. Every spring the floor of the woods is carpeted with bluebells and this year due to our interesting spring weather, they appeared a little later. I was keen not to miss out.

I stepped off the train in Ilkley and instantly realised that it wasn’t the right day for photographing bluebells in the woodland. It wasn’t, in fact, the right day for anything other than drinking coffee indoors. This luxury was still two days away so we decided to rain check until the weather played ball.

On Tuesday, the rain abated in the late afternoon and the heavy, dark skies gave way to bright sunshine. Slightly on the back foot, I headed across to Ilkley and raced up into the woods maybe 15 minutes too late. the sun was just catching the top of the trees and although the colours were beautiful, the light was pretty flat and i knew I’d have to come back.

Middleton Woods Bluebells

Realising that although I’d missed the light in Ilkley, it would still be a while before the sun set proper so I headed up to Rocky Valley above the Cow and Calf for a trip down memory lane and some warm gritstone views. I walked along the edge from East to West, finding a spot just before the end of the edge. I stopped here and watched the shadows move up the crag and the rock turn a beautiful orange. Not a totally wasted journey.

Rocky Valley at sunset, looking North East towards Almscliffe

Looking at the forecast on Wednesday morning, I knew it was going to be a similar evening. This time I charged my batteries in plenty of time and arranged to head back to Middleton Woods much earlier with a friend Dan. We arrived in time to have a good hour wandering around the trails in the woods. As we walked, the sun moved lower in the sky creating amazing compositions of light and ever lengthening shadows. The colours were akin to some sort of mythical forest from a children’s fairytale and my initial ideas for images quickly went out of the window as we walked further in.

Although the popularity and accessibility of these areas sometimes leaves them open to being trashed, the only real issue was the state of the trails - we can’t really complain that they were a bit muddy when it seems we’ve had more rain than Noah had to endure in the last few days alone.

Late evening sun casting long shadows over the bluebells

The wild carpet of bluebells adds so much colour to the woods

The sun pokes through a dense canopy, casting a warm glow over the floor of the woods

I’ve chosen three images from the evening to put up here but in reality I came away with quite a few that I’m pleased with. It’s definitely worth a visit though they are at the tail end of their season now, and in fairness Ilkley may have washed away since Wednesday.

We finished the evening with a pint at a pub watching the sun go down. For a minute it almost felt normal and if that isn’t a positive to embrace, I’m not sure what is.

Thanks Dan.

All photos are taken using a Sony A7rii and a Zeiss Loxia 21mm