Great video Simon. And the sound of the Peacock in the background. I miss them in my local woodlands, unfortunately the wildlife association had them removed.
Nice shots Simon - what a stunning morning. Why is it that all the woodlands you visit seem so majestic and magical? Good to see you out and about again.
Very helpful video! I especially appreciated on the first photo where you describe ways to find layers to achieve depth without relying on fog, since there is never any fog where I live. I'd love to see more on that subject.
Another great video Simon and Meg, I subscribed recently and have been sifting through to make sure that there aren’t any that I have missed. Lovely, but also poignant, to see some healthy ash trees feature in the video. Last year I heard of just a few trees locally (West Dorset) with Ash dieback and I hadn’t personally noticed any. Now the majority appear badly affected to an extent that very few seem likely to survive. My farmer neighbour marked out a young hedgerow Ash and asked the contractor who cuts his hedges to avoid this particular tree but he told me the other day that even this is now affected.
You make a good point about summer time greens, they can be very pleasing and peaceful. It was helpful to hear how you set up your compositions as well as getting to see you and Meg traipse through the woods. I especially liked the second image of the three you posted. Thank you for doing this video.
Beautiful work as always Simon. Of course it had to be an expensive lens you broke rather than a bargain basement cheapie. I hope it can be repaired at reasonable cost. I have the same lens and it is also my favorite.
Beautiful images once again Simon. Really enjoyed the ambience and the lush green woodland. It's a bliss when you have the conditions you have been waiting for over a year. I am sure after such a productive day your cup of coffee would have tasted even better. Thank you.
Hi Simon I’m really big fan of your work . I had a similar accident 3 weeks ago when I accidentally knocked off my tripod with Sony A7rii and my 16-35m f/2.8gm lens from cliff . So I can’t do much photography atm. Keep doing this amazing videos, they motivate me every single time I watching them .
Just come across your channel Simon, love trees so you have a new subscriber. Love my photography so really looking forward to seeing more of your videos. All the very best and I love Meg!! Graham📸
7:10 It struck me that images like this aren't so much about the subject of the scene (what is this or what is the story) so much as presenting the viewer the experience peace and a few moments of quiet as they observe it.
Always a pleasure watching and listening to your vlogs, to your experience and journey. Thank you. The journey is as important as the moment, each step is a step to another stage in our life and learning.
I think a lot of us have done that! I once slipped and fell in a stream. The camera got wet and wouldn't work again. We were on a cross country road trip and I was without a camera! It was killing me not to be able to take good pictures, especially when we got to Lake Michigan and there was this amazing sunset! I did get my new camera delivered to me before the return trip though so I had one on the way back.
Splendid work Simon! Brilliant communication on how you set up the compositions and then the images were extremely beautiful in the way you used the light and fog to set the mood. First class all the way!
Simon, as always your VLOGS are stunning and thoroughly enjoyable. I do love the way your pull us into your process of interpreting the image from your eyes and the your setup to achieve that.
Nice one Simon. Great conditions we had a couple of weeks ago, even I caught some nice photography in a woodland halfway between my place and your place. I hope Meg is all better now and it was nowt to serious.
I totally enjoyed this, Simon. Always so relaxing watching your videos and I love the way you capture these woodland images. Wonderful scenes that not only look beautiful but feel that way as well.
Fantastic video, Simon. I really appreciate the view into your thought process when approaching woodland. In particular, I appreciated the tip about approaching a forest scene when fog is lacking. This is certainly one of the more challenging aspects to woodland photography. Cheers
Magical to watch, as always, Simon! So natural and peaceful, you really take us along with you on your journey through beautiful spaces. And wonderful images to boot 😍
Simon, Once I upload my vlog on Monday, even though I know I have to get cracking on production for next week, I'm usually somewhat fatigued. However, if I watch your latest, I never fail to get inspired and motivated to begin planning for next Monday! Much obliged, Mike
Very inspiring video . I think your images are becoming more complex , their beauty is less immediate but more profound and for me this is a great improvement . Thank you . ( I'm trying to translate in english what I feel and as I don't master your language well I hope that you understand what I' m trying to express)
Sounds like a peacock in the background around 8:50. That was unexpected! Also...when you explore a woodland, do you stick to the paths or do you venture out through the undergrowth/non-trail areas?
Your videos are so calm and relaxing as well as instructional Simon, cheers. I feel your pain about the lens, I dropped a Sony 70-200 GM complete with convertor - fortunately the convertor took the hit and the lens was ok!
Hi Simon: I really enjoy your videos and your images as well. Do you use a Nodal Slide when your create your panos? If not, why not? Keep safe. Cheers, Keith
Love it Simon, I love your compositional talk through, it really helps me to look at things a little differently. Gorgeous images as ever, I've not been out since lockdown but I'm feeling Ashridge forest may be seeing a bit of me this weekend...thank you!
Great video Simon! You really manage to convey the calm and stillness of the forest in those misty mornings in such a beautiful way (both in video and in pictures). I was wondering, is there a book on the horizon? Because I'll be getting one the second you announce it :) Greetings from Scotland (Edinburgh), take care and keep up the good work!
Inspiring as always! I am appreciating the summer greens more and more as well. The first two images appeal to me most; the compositions you manage to find are amazing... And I'm always impressed by the sharpness of your images - can I ask how you go about sharpening?
Many thanks! No extra sharpening added in the editing suite - simply a low amount of output sharpening when exported from Lightroom or Capture One :) The camera and lens tend to give nice sharp results.
I love woodland photography. I would like to know a little more in your videos like do you use polarised filters etc. I never know if to put one on or not.
Great vid simon. I am curious simon, how far do you travel each week to find these beautiful forest? Where I am at, it seems like I have to drive 2 to 3 hours minimum to find any forest that comes even close. I haven't been as much as I hoped. Part me says that's not too bad but another part of me wishes I live in a more rural area.
You always seem to have your tripod set really high and watching landscape photographers they always seem to have there tripods either chest high or really low to the ground. Is this a preferred height for woodland? Is this the key to the dark science that is woodland photography? Great images as always. Wouldn't expect anything less at this point. I dont shoot woodland and yet I'm somehow drawn to your channel.
Haha great comment :D I also shoot landscapes and woodland and my tripod is also set up pretty high most of the time. It's not a conscious decision rather than something that happens naturally. For example when you are shooting in the woods, you want a high vantage point for your camera, because the trees would appear less disorted the more you move the camera up. In most cases you also don't want to include the sky, because it would distract from the rest of the scene because of its brightness. By shooting downwards instead of upwards you can tackle that problem.
Setting the camera up high and aiming downwards somewhat reduces the amount of distracting bright sky in the image also helps reduce the dynamic range of the scene.
Many thanks :) It really just depends, but it's all about getting the right perspective for what you want to achieve. There's no rule, nothing that I force onto the scene, just adapt to what the scene needs to satisfy your own intent.
I really love this week's images, Simon. On a side note: are feral peafowl a thing in your area? Because I'm pretty sure that's what that very loud bird call was in the last segment.
Mate, I just came across your video. I am interested in woodland photography but I am scared to go in alone as we have loads of wild animal in the country I reside. I would not know how to treat with such should I meet for example a bear or a monkey. While I am enjoying your images, I am more appreciative of the relationship between you and your dog. I wish I could have one but I am not allowed (Apartment complex rules).
Enjoyed that Simon. I watched whilst letting the floors dry. Sometimes and sadly, the mopping can't be put off for any longer! I particularly liked that second image with a nice feed through from the mid ground to the background. There was lots to keep the ye engaged I felt. The woodland looks really interesting as well. The floor was carpeted in dog's mercury so it's clearly an old woodland, or at least its ground flora is.
Many thanks, Simon! Ahhhh, I was wondering what that was. Dog's Mercury sounds a bit poisonous. Thankfully it's not completely dominating the garlic and bluebells. Interesting to know that it's a sign of an ancient wood.
@@SimonBaxterPhotography I'm going to backtrack now and look like an idiot! Your reply led me to check more closely. The part at 7:27 when Meg run's along the path, I can see some leaves that appear to be on v. long stalks, so it's probably enchanters nightshade, which sound better anyway. Dog's Mercury have short stalks. If it is nightshade, each one will get a delicate flower spike around July /August. Botany ID is never easy without having the plant in the hand! I remember you saying once that it's frustrating when you reply to a comment on here only to get nothing back in return so I hope this was helpful, although my original comment was slightly misleading.
When I can't get out myself, I watch a Simon Baxter video; next best thing to a walk in the woods. Cheers!
Hehe, many thanks :)
Your videos are ideal after a hard day at work. There is always something so peaceful and relaxing about them.
Great video Simon. And the sound of the Peacock in the background. I miss them in my local woodlands, unfortunately the wildlife association had them removed.
Many thanks! It's a very distinctive sound isn't it :)
I think that I will cry in a place like that, is just too beautiful. Great video.
Nice shots Simon - what a stunning morning. Why is it that all the woodlands you visit seem so majestic and magical? Good to see you out and about again.
Thank you! It's the affect that I have - I'm like Snow White 😁
Great video. Thanks for the great explanation of how you saw the scene & set the frame up. It's definitely super green out there at the moment.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thank you :-)
Very helpful video! I especially appreciated on the first photo where you describe ways to find layers to achieve depth without relying on fog, since there is never any fog where I live. I'd love to see more on that subject.
Love the foggy photo and the birds noise in the middle scene.
Very nice video. Such a wonderful place. Always enjoy learning from you. 👍💯😊
Wonderful video. I love the way you explain and provide us with information on the process of capturing these beautiful images! Thank you
Another great video Simon and Meg, I subscribed recently and have been sifting through to make sure that there aren’t any that I have missed. Lovely, but also poignant, to see some healthy ash trees feature in the video. Last year I heard of just a few trees locally (West Dorset) with Ash dieback and I hadn’t personally noticed any. Now the majority appear badly affected to an extent that very few seem likely to survive. My farmer neighbour marked out a young hedgerow Ash and asked the contractor who cuts his hedges to avoid this particular tree but he told me the other day that even this is now affected.
Great video sir. One thing I struggle with is woodland photography...appreciate your work.
Masterful images again
You make a good point about summer time greens, they can be very pleasing and peaceful. It was helpful to hear how you set up your compositions as well as getting to see you and Meg traipse through the woods. I especially liked the second image of the three you posted. Thank you for doing this video.
Beautiful work as always Simon.
Of course it had to be an expensive lens you broke rather than a bargain basement cheapie. I hope it can be repaired at reasonable cost. I have the same lens and it is also my favorite.
Inspirational indeed! Thank you Simon for getting up early so many times and finally catching this foggy glow.
Beautiful images once again Simon. Really enjoyed the ambience and the lush green woodland. It's a bliss when you have the conditions you have been waiting for over a year. I am sure after such a productive day your cup of coffee would have tasted even better. Thank you.
Many thanks, Anuja! Haha, yes it was a very good coffee :)
Lovely video as always, really enjoyed that. Nice to see some Ash too. Chuckled at Meg trying to steal the limelight. Thanks Simon
Hi Simon I’m really big fan of your work . I had a similar accident 3 weeks ago when I accidentally knocked off my tripod with Sony A7rii and my 16-35m f/2.8gm lens from cliff . So I can’t do much photography atm. Keep doing this amazing videos, they motivate me every single time I watching them .
Thank you so much for sharing your passion with us!
awesome images Simon
Beautiful images and walk. And of course, Meg! Thank you 🙏
Always good to see you and Meg out in the wood somewhere. Thanks for the great photos.
Just come across your channel Simon, love trees so you have a new subscriber. Love my photography so really looking forward to seeing more of your videos. All the very best and I love Meg!! Graham📸
Loved the video! Well done as always.
This was a very helpful video with me and Woodland photography
Stunning video Simon ! Super photographs and educational content. Love how Meg is having fun !!!
Nice woodland and pictures of it. The peacock at 10:00 seems to love them too…
I thought that's what it was. You can also hear the roar of a tiger if you listen hard enough 😀
Great video, I love the pictures! Can't even decide which one I like best, you always get such amazing images! 😊
Thanks so much 😊
Hello Meg 💖
7:10 It struck me that images like this aren't so much about the subject of the scene (what is this or what is the story) so much as presenting the viewer the experience peace and a few moments of quiet as they observe it.
Always a pleasure watching and listening to your vlogs, to your experience and journey. Thank you.
The journey is as important as the moment, each step is a step to another stage in our life and learning.
Beautiful woodland and lovely images Simon, thanks for another very enjoyable video.
Man down! And I thought it was only me who took tumbles while exploring woodland. Love the pano shot and the depth you got in the vistas.
I think a lot of us have done that! I once slipped and fell in a stream. The camera got wet and wouldn't work again. We were on a cross country road trip and I was without a camera! It was killing me not to be able to take good pictures, especially when we got to Lake Michigan and there was this amazing sunset!
I did get my new camera delivered to me before the return trip though so I had one on the way back.
Such beautiful, cool, peaceful scenes. Summers here are scalding hot and searingly bright. Watching your videos is like a micro vacation.
Same here! I love our local red rocks in Southern Utah but sometimes I miss the greenery I grew up with on the coast.
Splendid work Simon! Brilliant communication on how you set up the compositions and then the images were extremely beautiful in the way you used the light and fog to set the mood. First class all the way!
Thank you very much, Danny! :)
I dont think I could ever be overloaded with green :) was that a Peacock we could hear in the wood?
Great vlog Simon, a lovely calm set of images there matey👍🏻
You are so talented in painting not only with the light and shadow, but also your words... Kudos!!!
Thank you very much :)
Good to see you again bro...great images and i salute your hardwork so, keep clicking and stay safe👍❤
Simon, as always your VLOGS are stunning and thoroughly enjoyable. I do love the way your pull us into your process of interpreting the image from your eyes and the your setup to achieve that.
Nicely done. I sometimes go to b&w with the different hues/tones of greenery in summer and it works quite well.
Nice vlog Simon, always like hearing your thought process when your explaining your compositions, it really helps 👍 great images as always 👍
Three beautiful photos! I could imagine that a square crop of the center of your pano would support your compositions very well.
So nice
That pano of the alders is very beautiful. Lovely to see greens being embraced. Nice one, Simon.
Many thanks, James!
Beautiful images and mood, Simon. As always!
The green is calming. I enjoyed the images and your thoughts on your photos. Always nice to see Meg too!
Once again peaceful, relaxing and inspiring vlog to watch, and photographs to enjoy.
Lovely images Simon. Nice to see Meg again too. Sorry to hear of the mishap with the lens, good lesson for all of us.
Great images. Love the way you manage to make sense of the woodland chaos.
Some really beautiful images there Simon. Very inspiring, and good to see you two out and about regularly again mate.
Many thanks, Nev. Hope you're well!
Beautiful photos
Nice one Simon. Great conditions we had a couple of weeks ago, even I caught some nice photography in a woodland halfway between my place and your place. I hope Meg is all better now and it was nowt to serious.
Another top notch vlog Simon. Beautiful images as always and love your views on your compositions. Inspiring stuff.
I totally enjoyed this, Simon. Always so relaxing watching your videos and I love the way you capture these woodland images. Wonderful scenes that not only look beautiful but feel that way as well.
Nicely done Simon, very well presented as always. I had a similar bit of luck with no mist forecast, but got mist too!
Fantastic video, Simon. I really appreciate the view into your thought process when approaching woodland. In particular, I appreciated the tip about approaching a forest scene when fog is lacking. This is certainly one of the more challenging aspects to woodland photography. Cheers
That's very kind, Adam. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this beautiful content Simon!
The images and especially the second one are absolutely gorgeous!
Much appreciated, Tomas. Thank you :)
Magical to watch, as always, Simon! So natural and peaceful, you really take us along with you on your journey through beautiful spaces. And wonderful images to boot 😍
Simon,
Once I upload my vlog on Monday, even though I know I have to get cracking on production for next week, I'm usually somewhat fatigued.
However, if I watch your latest, I never fail to get inspired and motivated to begin planning for next Monday!
Much obliged,
Mike
Very inspiring video . I think your images are becoming more complex , their beauty is less immediate but more profound and for me this is a great improvement . Thank you .
( I'm trying to translate in english what I feel and as I don't master your language well I hope that you understand what I' m trying to express)
I think you translated it very well. It's better written than a lot of people who speak english natively.
That's much appreciated and I'm glad you think so, Enrico. Well translated as Melani said.
Sounds like a peacock in the background around 8:50. That was unexpected! Also...when you explore a woodland, do you stick to the paths or do you venture out through the undergrowth/non-trail areas?
Top drawer images, Simon and a terrific vlog too. You always seem to find some great locations.
A treat as always!
Great video and lovely images. Was I hearing things or was that a Peacock in the background making a lot of noise?
Many thanks! Yes it was ;-)
Simon Baxter ok that’s got me wondering were it is. Only place around is at a National Trust place.
Your videos are so calm and relaxing as well as instructional Simon, cheers. I feel your pain about the lens, I dropped a Sony 70-200 GM complete with convertor - fortunately the convertor took the hit and the lens was ok!
Hi Simon: I really enjoy your videos and your images as well. Do you use a Nodal Slide when your create your panos? If not, why not? Keep safe. Cheers, Keith
Simon, where can l get one of those fancy baseball caps from? Thanks
eu.patagonia.com/
Or there's a Patagonia shop in Manchester. Great company!
Love it Simon, I love your compositional talk through, it really helps me to look at things a little differently. Gorgeous images as ever, I've not been out since lockdown but I'm feeling Ashridge forest may be seeing a bit of me this weekend...thank you!
Great vid Simon, I really enjoyed this one. All of the images taken were beautiful mate, the mist really does make the woodland stunning.
Really nice Simon a bit brighter on the edits than usual, have you changed up your processing or is it just what worked for these scenes?
Looks good Simon, I'm intrested in the shimoda action X30 system would be nice if you make a review of it.... thanks and a nice evening
The background for the opening shot alone makes this worth watching! I’ve often wondered if we are related (same last name). Thanks for sharing!
Great video Simon! You really manage to convey the calm and stillness of the forest in those misty mornings in such a beautiful way (both in video and in pictures). I was wondering, is there a book on the horizon? Because I'll be getting one the second you announce it :) Greetings from Scotland (Edinburgh), take care and keep up the good work!
Thank you very much, Kevin! Yeah, I'm sure a book will happen eventually :)
@@SimonBaxterPhotography Great! I'll be waiting patiently (more or less) ;)
Sorry again about your lens. Never fun! But seeing one of your videos drop always brightens my day. Lovely images and great lessons.
Many thanks, Tony. Hope you're well :)
@@SimonBaxterPhotography I am. and hope you and yours are too. Best wishes.
Inspiring as always! I am appreciating the summer greens more and more as well. The first two images appeal to me most; the compositions you manage to find are amazing... And I'm always impressed by the sharpness of your images - can I ask how you go about sharpening?
I'd like to see a video on that.
Many thanks! No extra sharpening added in the editing suite - simply a low amount of output sharpening when exported from Lightroom or Capture One :) The camera and lens tend to give nice sharp results.
@@SimonBaxterPhotography Thanks, yes of course the camera/lens are the most important factors regarding sharpness...
I love woodland photography. I would like to know a little more in your videos like do you use polarised filters etc. I never know if to put one on or not.
It's safe to assume that I very rarely use them ;)
Nice video
Another great video.
Bad news about the mishap with the lens. I very often walk around with my camera on my tripod. Must stop that!
Great vid simon. I am curious simon, how far do you travel each week to find these beautiful forest? Where I am at, it seems like I have to drive 2 to 3 hours minimum to find any forest that comes even close. I haven't been as much as I hoped. Part me says that's not too bad but another part of me wishes I live in a more rural area.
Many thanks, Shane. I generally don't drive more than 45 minutes but some of these places are easily missed.
You always seem to have your tripod set really high and watching landscape photographers they always seem to have there tripods either chest high or really low to the ground. Is this a preferred height for woodland? Is this the key to the dark science that is woodland photography? Great images as always. Wouldn't expect anything less at this point. I dont shoot woodland and yet I'm somehow drawn to your channel.
Haha great comment :D I also shoot landscapes and woodland and my tripod is also set up pretty high most of the time. It's not a conscious decision rather than something that happens naturally. For example when you are shooting in the woods, you want a high vantage point for your camera, because the trees would appear less disorted the more you move the camera up. In most cases you also don't want to include the sky, because it would distract from the rest of the scene because of its brightness. By shooting downwards instead of upwards you can tackle that problem.
Setting the camera up high and aiming downwards somewhat reduces the amount of distracting bright sky in the image also helps reduce the dynamic range of the scene.
Many thanks :) It really just depends, but it's all about getting the right perspective for what you want to achieve. There's no rule, nothing that I force onto the scene, just adapt to what the scene needs to satisfy your own intent.
👍👍
Are there feral peacocks in that patch?
Not feral. but nearby :)
Grand
Is there a good weather app that predicts fog?
The desktop version of YR gives reliable fog predictions. www.yr.no/place/United_Kingdom/
Clear Outside sometimes helps too
I really love this week's images, Simon. On a side note: are feral peafowl a thing in your area? Because I'm pretty sure that's what that very loud bird call was in the last segment.
Many thanks, John! Yep, that was a peafowl in a nearby field :)
👌
Mate,
I just came across your video. I am interested in woodland photography but I am scared to go in alone as we have loads of wild animal in the country I reside. I would not know how to treat with such should I meet for example a bear or a monkey. While I am enjoying your images, I am more appreciative of the relationship between you and your dog. I wish I could have one but I am not allowed (Apartment complex rules).
As always, beautifully shown and presented Simon. Thank you.
Enjoyed that Simon. I watched whilst letting the floors dry. Sometimes and sadly, the mopping can't be put off for any longer! I particularly liked that second image with a nice feed through from the mid ground to the background. There was lots to keep the ye engaged I felt. The woodland looks really interesting as well. The floor was carpeted in dog's mercury so it's clearly an old woodland, or at least its ground flora is.
Many thanks, Simon! Ahhhh, I was wondering what that was. Dog's Mercury sounds a bit poisonous. Thankfully it's not completely dominating the garlic and bluebells. Interesting to know that it's a sign of an ancient wood.
@@SimonBaxterPhotography I'm going to backtrack now and look like an idiot! Your reply led me to check more closely. The part at 7:27 when Meg run's along the path, I can see some leaves that appear to be on v. long stalks, so it's probably enchanters nightshade, which sound better anyway. Dog's Mercury have short stalks. If it is nightshade, each one will get a delicate flower spike around July /August. Botany ID is never easy without having the plant in the hand!
I remember you saying once that it's frustrating when you reply to a comment on here only to get nothing back in return so I hope this was helpful, although my original comment was slightly misleading.