TRIPOD TRIG POINTS - Otley, Yorkshire

Often landscape photographers visit locations that have famous ingredients that are known to inspire admiration. Be it castles, lakes, mountains or beaches, they are normally significant due to the elements that make connections to an audience. It’s not surprising that people who love nature are often inspired by seeing it in spectacular conditions, but what I often find frustrating is that when it becomes a mechanical process of selecting the view, (often imitated with tripod trig points worn deeply into bedrock) then visiting said location in the classic conditions (mist, sunset, aurora etc.) then hey presto a decent image. Or is it?

Ok, I sound like an old fart! Maybe I have seen too many photographs and maybe there is a 10,000 image tolerance for viewing such constructions, but for me at least, this formulaic response is becoming tiring. I’m sick of seeing some locations in classic conditions. Where is the skill? What can the photographer do to add something of themselves, say something new, communicate interesting ideas and generally get creative, if a large proportion of the audience is expecting to be wowed with a list of elements that need mixing up and presenting like a bad curry!

Anyway moving away from spurious metaphors and changing the subject. This image is from just up the Chevin from my house. It’s a wonderful place that I have spent many years exploring and somewhere I just love to wander around in all conditions. I haven’t tried to include any famous elements, in fact the famous ‘Surprise View’ is kept firmly behind me. What you see is part of Otley up Whalfedale towards Ilkley. If you look hard enough you can see thousands of locations that nobody has ever considered, that I’m sure will become the next honey spots!!!