Do I behold these steep and lofty cliffs,
That on a wild secluded scene impress
Thoughts of more deep seclusion; and connect
The landscape with the quiet of the sky
William Wordsworth
As I sit by a silent glade watching the sparkle of the setting sun fade away into another enchanting night in my homeland South Downs, I cannot help but reminisce Wordsworth and feel awed and surprised; for the unexpressed might of a sibilant world around us astounds me beyond comprehension. Not the world made by us, but the world created by providence, in a loving flourish of his magic wand. Indeed the serenity of British landscapes leave you enchanted, and make you wonder that when a beauty of such degree exists, can there be any room for impurity in the world?
A photographer’s sole objective is to capture the beauty of a moment, to encapsulate it for eternity, preserving it forever. In my experience of landscape photography, I have seen many sights which have captivated the photographer inside me. But the challenge is of translating the view in front of eye to the image inside the viewfinder; to archive the scene you saw forever on a page, rather than a hazy memory. As my favorite past landscape painter, J.M.W. Turner says, “There's a sketch at every turn”, in the beautiful terrains of Britain, I found it coming true for me.
Britain through camera lens and the eye
Photography took me to explore Britain. And never have I found a place that did not leave any footprints in my heart. While the lush green meadows running up to the foothills of Scottish Highlands and the clouds drifting between the valleys of the Peak District stops time and makes you stand benumbed in abject marvel of the landscape around you; the Lake District lets you see the world changing, as it doubles up on the silvery reflection off the rivers and ponds and reminds you of the great inspiration it has been to so many a poet! The snow capped mountains of Snowdonia in Wales beckons and or the river flooded Yorkshire Dales calls in celebration! Britain offers you newer and better sights to soak into, every time, all year through. No wonder it is a photographer’s paradise. It is my paradise.
As a landscape photographer and an inhabitant of Britain, one unforgettable coastline in my eyes would be the arches and coves of the magical Jurrasic Coast, which has been recently declared as a World Heritage site. Indeed words fail when one comes to describe the beauty of such places, because as you stand at the vantage hill, and feel the breeze flutter around you, words will only defile the gaiety filling up in your heart. And thus I take refuge in pictures. And what a model these landscapes have been!
Just like an ideal protégé, they have given me exactly what I needed, and helped me translate their beauty on a page. In true sense, made me a photographer.
Watch the vibrant colors of horizon mingle with the static beauty of the rocky mountains, and you cannot, but feel as if you are able to taste the flavor of the scenery, and savor the fragrance of unadulterated naturalness in the environment.
And when I speak of British Landscapes, I cannot refrain from talking about J.M.W Turner, who has been one of the only people to have actually captured the true beauty of the British scenes and locales. To me, he is a guiding light which makes me unravel ways to capture and pickle the essence of the lush landscapes around me. As a photographer, his work has always inspired me, and given me the depth and vision required to mount up to the monumental task of photographing such breath taking panoramas.
A few places leave you with the feeling of having seen heaven on earth. Maybe Wordsworth saw it as he saw the daffodils swaying to the tune of silent zephyrs. I see them each time I set my eyes on the beautiful English Landscapes.
