Borrowdale Quarry

On repetition and trusting that you have solved a composition without realising it

I had been visiting this quarry on and off for nearly 10 years when I made this picture in 2019. I was aware of the quarry for even longer as well, for I am sure I walked here with my father at some point in the previous twenty years. Anyway, I typically came in early autumn when the trees were at their peak. There is an excellent larch tree here that I have photographed plenty of times and a couple of well-known and excellent compositions of the quarry itself have been done by strong photographers before me.

On this particular trip I was accompanied by my friend Dave Tolcher. I had already spent a week in the Lakes with my parents in early November when the colour was at its peak - an amazing year for the oaks if I remember correctly. We had a chance to visit for a couple of days again later in the month. By this stage, the quarry had lost its leaves and it was very different to 10 days earlier and the conditions I was more used to.

I tried a couple of compositions amongst the base of the quarry which didn’t really work (see alternative image). Then I looked up. I had used my Linhof viewer to scout out an idea several times before based on the configuration of the trees and cliff but it had never been possible to shoot before because of the leaves. This time the sight lines were clear and I set up. I had only been using my Cambo Actus for a few months at this stage but I am glad I brought it out with me as I was able to set up the image with some front rise/rear fall in order to stop the trees leaning inwards.

At this stage I was still struggling with my transition from film to digital and was getting increasingly frustrated by the lower quality of work I was producing with digital cameras. As well as an important confidence boost, it was a strong reminder of the value of repetition and iteration. I probably identified and solved the composition several trips before even if I didn’t know it at the time.

I like my composition in the alternative image (in many ways it is stronger) but for me it falls down with the lack of quality in the vegetation. I can’t remember if I used a polariser but probably didn’t - I think I had stopped carrying it for some reason. The reflections in the vegetation weaken the image for me and I find them distracting. I think I would use my polariser now if I reshot the image, or at least I would give myself the option.