Another iconic location situated in the south west English county of Somerset has to be Glastonbury Tor. While passing through Somerset had to scout this area and try and get a good landscape photo.

Glastonbury Tor Walking Map

Was using the Ordnance survey walking guide for Somerset to get my bearings around Glastonbury Tor and where to park.

For a landscape photographer these walking guides linked to OS Maps online are a good starting point when you find yourself in a new location. You can modify the walking routes to suit your needs. For me, the sun was breaking through the clouds so headed straight for Glastonbury Tor.

Glastonbury Tor Scout

Approached first from Chalice hill, which gave some good views of the Tor on top on the conical hill with the sun breaking through the clouds and big patches of blue sky.

Was just handholding the camera with the 24-70mm lens so as to include some of the surrounding area and not just the tower on the hill.

Glastonbury Tor viewpoint

From the top of the hill there are some great views all around the Somerset levels and the Isle of Avalon.

Had some sporadic good light with the sun breaking through the clouds and creating patches of spotlight on the Somerset countryside. Still handholding the camera, not using a tripod although think I should have.

When its overcast and needing to use a small aperture like F16 to get the depth of field, maybe using filters too the shutter speed can be too low to handhold even though its midday. Especially if using more the telephoto end of your lenses focal length.

Bit Soft

Looking closely at the landscape photos above post processing in Lightroom they are a little soft due to handholding. Although nice photos of the Somerset countryside the ultimate composition from this location needs to include the Tor itself which should be the main subject.

Sunrise Return

I cut the photo walk short that day due to thick dull cloud moving in. The weather forecast for the next morning around sunrise looked promising. With sunlight and broken clouds. Having now scouted the location some side lighting from a rising sun to the east from Wearyall hill could be good.

Actually rose early enough the next morning from my hotel in Burnham on Sea and hiked up Wearyall hill which gives a good composition that includes the hill top as the main subject and focal point and the surrounding area. But the early morning sunlight not happen, just more thick cloud that was not moving. What you really want is the morning light of a sunrise plus mist hiding all those new builds down there. Maybe next time.

Every Cloud

Still had a fantastic cooked breakfast in Glastonbury town, every cloud has a silver lining. Glastonbury is an interesting town full of mysterious shops, cafes, lots of pubs and interesting people, well worth a visit.