Fiddlers Elbow. Peak District 01/01/2024

 The first day of the New Year is one I definitely stay away from the popular locations, if you've ever been on are around Mam Torr, Stanage Edge are any other of the sunrise hotspots on a public holiday you will no what I mean and as someone who does like a bit of peace and quite while I'm out with the camera I make sure I try and avoid these places. There is certainly plenty of other places in and around the Peak District where you can keep away from the crowds.

So after checking the weather Apps on New Years Eve it didn't look that promising with it showing around 60% low cloud and a chance of a few early showers I was in two minds to venture out are not but with the wind that had been constantly blowing around these parts looking like it was going to subside a touch it gave me a bit of hope so I checked my gear, formatted my cards and set the alarm.

After the short 25 minute drive and at 7.15am I was parked up on Ringinglow Rd ready for the short walk onto the wonderfully named Fiddlers Elbow a small rocky outlet where Burbage West meets Burbage North a place that I've visited on a couple of occasions. Sat looking out of the car window on arrival over to the east thick low clouds were my welcome, a stiff breeze plus a passing shower didn't fill me with much confidence.

Fifteen minutes and a cup of coffee later I was feeling a little more confident, the shower had passed and I could see the odd break in the clouds looking over to the west so I was hoping that the south westerly breeze would eventually push away the clouds come the time the sun was set to rise and give me at least one chance of getting some of that early morning light I was out to catch. So I decided to put on the boots ,grab my tripod and backpack don the head torch and give it a give it go.

Walking along the edge looking for a compositions it soon became apparent that the sunrise I was hoping for wasn't going to materialise, the cloud on the horizon was hanging on in their not moving so a change of plan was needed and quickly. Down just below the edge are some interesting rock formations plus it kept me out of the wind so I didn't need too much convincing to head on down there.

Just down below the edge I had was around looking around for possible compositions but I was finding it difficult, it was becoming a struggle, those leading lines and foreground interest were eluding me. Eventually I came across a little scene I was happy with and after looking through the viewfinder at both Landscape and Portrait versions I decided on the latter I nice rocky foreground with Higger Tor and Carl Wark  in the distance.

Setting up my trusty Benro Mach 3 tripod and attaching my wide angle 10-24mm lens to the Fugifilm xh2 and adding the Kasefilters 0.9 Medium Grad into the K9 holder just to combat the highlights witch were a touch to strong to left hand side on the horizon, I poured myself another drink and played the waiting game.

Around 20 mins and another passing shower I finally got what I was hoping for, a break in the clouds and some light catching the rocks in front of me, so after taking a few shots and previewing them on the back of the screen I was happy with the results and with the cloud moving back in I decided to call it a day.