Another January treat to myself was to take a trip to Dorset for a photowalk organised by the outdoor photographer Emily Endean. This time though I was not so fortunate with the weather. No rain, but a grey and dull sky giving only the flattest of lights. And it dampened my mood too. But having recently learned about strollology - the science of strolling: wherever you go, keep your eyes open and stay inspired - I endeavoured to lift my spirits and look for possibilities in the grey.
We met at Hengistbury Head, a nature reserve and site of special scientific interest between Bournemouth and Mudeford. Historically, there is evidence of human settlement here since the Stone Age, and now a million people a year come to visit this remarkable place to enjoy the beach, peaceful woodland walks and spectacular views.
It was my first visit, and I was conscious of staying with the group. I have got so used to wandering at my own pace when I go out to take photos, lingering when something catches my eye, that this was a challenge! Walking through the forest and past the reed beds there were so many possibilities but I could only take quick shots:
The colour palette was limited, but the variety in the textures created an atmosphere, quite bleak and flat. The ever-wise David duChemin writes about the problem of 'mood' in his latest Contact Sheet, and suggests that in order to put more emotion into our images, we first need to look for it, and then find ways to enhance it. Light is the usual way to get that emotional hook, but here the light was 'boring', 'average'. Instead I had to think more about composition, what would draw the viewer's eye in and keep them interested:
We reached the beach, and the sea was flat and grey, just the smallest of waves. I looked around for inspiration. There were lines and lines of colourful beach huts!
But suddenly I was overwhelmed - where to start in all this confusion? I sat and pondered for a while, resisting the pressure to get on and take photos even though I knew my time was limited.
I remembered that in the past when I have been stuck, I found that picking one colour and creating a set has worked. This time I choose blue, which suited the mood of the day, and soon found lots of still life compositions:
I was then able to think about how to create an impression of the beach huts in winter and I tried different angles and perspectives to emphasise the feeling of being deserted.
It was soon time for a welcome drink before making our way back along the other side of the beach. So disappointed not to have had a sunset, but glad to have had the company of the group and to have had time to wallow in creating images.
A few days later, Emily shared some of the images she had taken on the day. She had processed them to give them a nostalgic, timeless feel, and this inspired me to have a play with mine. I found some filters in Lightroom that I had not used before, such as Aged Photo, Vintage Instant and Cool Light. Now I could easily create different moods, such as in these images:
As usual, not quite what I had anticipated as the result of a photowalk! But once again, being brave and stepping out of my comfort zone, going to a new place and meeting new people, has proved worthwhile in developing my photography. Adapting 'strollology' by walking reflectively enhanced my perception of the environments that we wandered through and caused me to be more purposeful in my creativity.
David duChemin The Problem with Mood
Eva Polak Mindful Photography
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