Savernake Forest is an Ancient Woodland in Wiltshire, near Marlborough. It was originally a Royal Forest, and has been privately owned for over 31 generations, back to the Norman Conquest. It is managed on a 999 lease by the Forestry Commission, and has long been managed by man. It has a large number of old trees, in particular oaks, and has a rich and diverse landscape.
The club was very lucky to hear a talk by an ex-member of the club David Eagle, who shared his photography of the wood, and some of his methodology to achieve his lovely imagery. Aside from the technical expertise, I think we were all impressed with the diligence that David applies to this, as he is a frequent visitor to the forest and records carefully where the shots are taken and where future possible shots might be taken. He monitors weather forecasts to ensure the right conditions for the shots - in particular mist in the morning contributes greatly to atmospheric pictures, but can be so difficult to predict, and will disappear quickly - knowing the lie of the land helps David identify where the mist might gather longer than elsewhere. This exemplifies the key element in landscape photography - planning and knowledge of the site and the conditions.
The following pictures are a small sample of the pictures that David shared with us.
All pictures are copyright David Eagle.
