Rannerdale, Bluebells and Dalehead April 29

Today I am going up to the Lakes to Rannerdale to see the famous Bluebells , they cover the fellside along the valley near to  Crummock water in Buttermere Valley.
The weather forecast is looking good , warm and sunny so an early start needed to get up the m6 .

Arriving at the Rannerdale car park, which is full and continued to the second , Yes  you guessed   Full!    one more area left and I managed to squeeze in the last spot. Right opposite Crummock water and Look at the reflections, fabulous.  I get the drone up immediately to get some shots before the breeze ripples the surface.

                  9 frame panorama , auto mode .Rannerdale Knot on left in deep shade , High stile, Stirling Dodd and Mellbreak opposite me with great reflections.

Looking down the lake towards Darling Fell and Fellbarrow.  Loweswater is just hidden to the left of the small mountains .

                            9 frame panoramas , great clouds today , and not a breath of wind.

                  Now time to see the Bluebells, its a short walk from here across to the valley.
                     Looking back towards Crummock water.

                             I am at the head of Rannerdale valley now, Buttermere is just visible.

This is a six vertical frame panorama shot with canon 5dsr and 17-40L lens, a 0.6 soft nd grad to hold back the exposure on the sky.

                                                             Mollster is with me also.

Walking up into the Bluebells,  all the paths are roped off now to prevent people trampling the flowers , which unfortunately still happens.

                                                Close up on the tree with 100-400 lens

A two frame panorama , showing the path I have just walked down , having made my way down to the edge of the stream to get this composition.

I waited for the sun to break through the light cloud to illuminate the hawthorn blossom , with the shade behind giving good contrast.

Time to go climbing now, I did think about going up to Rannerdale knots summit, but since I have been up there quite a few times I have decided on  Dale head , it must be at least 7 years since I last went up there.      Time to drive up Buttermere valley along the lake and then up to Honister slate mine to park in the NT  car park.

 Now for the steep climb all the way up to the summit Cairn, which is one of the very best in the entire lakes .    unfortunately the higher I get the stronger the wind is getting, just hope it doesn't get too much to fly the drone.

                                                  Dale Head cairn, what a stunner it is .

                                   The drone is up , but Mollster doesn't seem interested.

                                                                    That's better Mol

A multi frame panorama , shot manually in rows of three frames vertically. overlapping about 30% -40% when shooting.

                                                    Mollster waits for me to finish flying.

15 Frames merged in this image , showing the ridge line towards Robinson and around to Hindscarth.

                                                               a 5 frame Vertorama

I have now left the summit and walked along to get a better view over Buttermere with High Stile in the background.

                                                                         Now a dronie

A 27 frame manually shot Panorama ,l-r   Fleetwith pike, High Stile , Starling Dodd ,  Centre - Dalehead cairn , Robinson, Hindescarth ,  Right - High spy , Maiden Moor .  I think  

                                                                   View Larger  HERE

                        Time to head back now,  its very windy now and clouding over.

                                               Fence line leading down towards Honister

                                                                     Mol and her shadow

The end of a fabulous day in the Lakes ………………….

images shot with canon 5dsr, 17-40L, 100-400L , Phantom 4 pro drone and I phone7+

Rannerdale Bluebells May 16 th 2016

It is time to drive up to  Cumbria to see the famous  Bluebells which grow on the fellside below Rannerdale Knot.
The weather forecast is mixed with some sunny spells, so not too bad.
Arriving at the small car parking area at  Rannerdale , i leave the Terrible Twosome in the car while i photograph the bluebells.  its not warm so they will be ok for half an hour.

                                  Through the gate..............................

                                                Sun lighting up streaks in the bluebells.

      Walking along the main path towards the stream , bluebells on either side looking good .

                                                        5 frame vertical panorama.

I have crossed over the bridge and walking along the far side  where the main area is on the steep sloping fellside.

                                 Glorious view towards Mellbrake over Crummock water.

 

Looking back up the valley

I have collected the Terrible Twosome and we are going to walk up the valley and up to the summit of Rannerdale Knotts.

                                        Getting higher now with great views.

                                                               Up on the tops now

                                           Buttermere in the distance now behind Mollster.

                                           Chester poses for a moment , a rare ocurance :)

                              Fleetwith Pike, Haystacks  and Buttermere in the valley below.

                                                            Time to head back down now.

Back down to the bluebells, and some nice light to do a couple of long exposure images with the Lee Big stopper ( 10 stop nd filter)

                                                        this is my favorite , 70 seconds f 14

                                                 The end of a great morning in the lakes

Buttermere Reflections 4th Nov 2013

Continuing the Buttermere walk, the lakes surface is now like a mirror now the breeze has dropped,  the "lone tree" makes a superb image :)

Walking around the top of the lake to the fence near the stream , gives a good view down Buttermere, the colours are really nice now , the afternoon sun lighting up the far bank trees. its looking like a good afternoon to shoot the reflections

this trees silhouette makes a stark contrast to the sunlit fells behind.

using tree trunks to frame the reflections

Long lens time, to focus on the reflections

looks stunning in late afternoon light

the sun has crept behind the trees now

Fleetwith Pike Reflection

 

and back lit Buttermere Pines

a final shot with Fleetwith Pike lit up by late afternoon light and Dale head over to the left