Workshop Report: Aysgarth March 2012

Our 2012 workshop season got off to a great start with a very enjoyable day with easy walking and some great photography opportunities in unseasonably warm weather!

The day started with a chat about landscape photography over coffee in the comfort of the Fox and Hounds in West Burton.  We walked across fields toward Aysgarth with a couple of stops to look back toward Pen Hill which was shrouded in morning mist so not visible as a backdrop for views across Wensleydale, but the bright overcast conditions were great for the Lower Falls at Aysgarth.  As the sun burnt off the mist lighting became a bit more challenging so concentrating on abstract details in the water, especially in the shade were the order of the day.

After a lunch stop we had a close look at the Upper Falls before a stroll back through Aysgarth churchyard and along the River Ure to explore the changing character of the river  as it widens out into a series of  smaller falls.  Our return route provided a break from moving water photography with a series of picturesque barns on the path back into West Burton where we photographed the final waterfall of the day – the spectacular Cauldron Force (or West Burton Waterfall) tucked away in the corner of the village.  The dry conditions meant we found it in its gentler and more photogenic mood with plenty of places to get out into the beck for an interesting viewpoint or two.  As sunset approached we returned to the Fox and Hounds for a well earned drink and to discuss the day’s photography.

Participants brought along their favourite images to the post processing afternoon the following day in Harrogate, which we used to demonstrate Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop workflows to produce final images worthy of display which rounded off the weekend course nicely.