The Photographer's Guide to the Yorkshire Dales

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Yorkshire has some brilliant nature reserves which can be great places to watch and photograph wildlife. These havens are often managed for both people and nature with good pathways, purpose-built hides, and other facilities to improve the experience. With spring’s “mad” season fast approaching, now is the time to be heading onto your local patch in search of one of Britain’s most photogenic animals. Yorkshire has many small rivers and streams flowing through woodland. One of my personal favourite locations is Hardcastle Crags near Heptonstall, which is managed by the National Trust. There are numerous examples of these small valleys close to the village of Huggate and, with a ‘less is more’ type attitude to composition, and some favourable, cloud-diffused light, it’s possible to come away with something just that bit different! This offers opportunities for fantastic behaviour-style images. I prefer to visit this location at sunrise when conditions can be very atmospheric, especially if there is a mist rising up the valley, helping to amplify those epic moments.

Autumn Paradise: Come autumn, the woodland turns into a riot of oranges and yellows, offering a completely different, yet equally captivating, photographic experience.We will meet at 5:30pm on the first evening for an introductory talk and discussion before dinner on each participants needs and aims – an essential aspect of ensuring that every participant gets as much as possible from the course. You will also at this stage be briefed on the programme for the next 3 days. Home to the famous abbey, Whitby is one of the best spots for photography in Yorkshire. Despite being a very walkable town, there are a lot of things to do in Whitby. Most of these things (such as the 199 steps) are also super cool photo spots. I have been able to get very close to hares on a few occasions by laying prone on the ground and inching forward whilst remaining hidden behind a slight rise in the field. This can be excruciatingly slow progress, but it can’t be rushed and you just have to be patient and take your time. But the benefit of this approach is that you will be shooting from a low level, which affords a great perspective. Personally speaking, it’s an invaluable source of inspiration; a labour of love covering thousands of miles and many years.

Gibson Mill is the crown jewel of Hardcastle Crags. Built around 1800, it was initially used for cotton spinning. The mill was driven by a water wheel, harnessing the natural power of the stream. It ceased operations in the late 19th century and was later converted into an entertainment emporium, complete with a dance hall and roller-skating rink. Today, it stands as a testament to the industrial heritage of the area and offers a fascinating subject for photographers interested in capturing a slice of history. Geology: The Valley and Its Secrets Officers will be restricted to recording only incidents that are motivated by intentional hostility and pose a real risk of escalating into significant harm. Yorkshire is England’s largest county, stretching from the North Sea coast, into and over the Pennines, and from the River Tees in the north to the Humber and further south. One of the best views in Knaresborough, is the famous view from the castle gardens overlooking the river Nidd and the viaduct. This is easily one of the most photographed places in the town, which is always great to shoot regardless of the time of day or year. I've taken many photos at this spot but my favourite time to take photos there is at night. The river is illuminated by lights from the surrounding houses and roads. It's a great opportunity for a long exposure, especially if the train is going over the viaduct. Go low to the ground with a long-ish focal length (above 70mm) and use a wide-ish aperture (f/2.8 – f/5.6), and focus on the distant barn. The colourful, out-of-focus foreground flowers contrast beautifully with the sharp stonework of the barn, giving a slightly painterly feel to your images.

History: A Blend of Beauty and Danger

In June and July, the sunsets along the coast at Whitby and Flamborough can be spectacular, with the sun actually rising and setting out to sea! The western reaches of the region are certainly worth a visit, particularly around the Three Peaks area (consisting of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-ghent). The landscape over there is by far the most dramatic, with hills towering above the rare limestone pavements and plenty of foreground interest with lone hawthorn trees. In this guide you'll find a number of locations to make the most of these views, from both low down and up on top of the mountains themselves, but there's always more to discover. If you look carefully enough, you'll even find a number of hidden caves and potholes which are worth visits in their own right, even if hard to photograph. I like to visit this reserve in spring when there are beautiful orchids hiding within the flower-rich grassland. There is something about a hare’s outsized ears that makes it incredibly appealing, and they’re always very popular with photographers. Thought to have been introduced into Britain in Roman times, the brown hare is now considered to be naturalised and is an accepted and much-admired mammal of the British countryside. Forever immortalised in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Whitby is the typical Yorkshire seaside town, with amusement arcades, funfairs, and numerous novelty shops and public houses.