Dartmoor Guided Photography Walks
These aren’t Photography lessons, these are a chance to walk to parts of Dartmoor that you’ve either always wished to visit, or spots that rarely get photographed. Totally bespoke and customisable. Just some guy who likes to take photographs and knows his way around the moor 😁
A Profound and Intimate Knowledge of the Dartmoor.
Meaning of course that I’ve been rained on, got lost in mist and fallen into enough bogs that most of my personality has been replaced with mildew or fungi (sometimes both) and I don’t see any photograph of Dartmoor as being truly “authentic” unless at least one of the previous scenarios mentioned existed at the time of it’s taking, or I was lost in a haze of deep spiritual enlightenment or being chased by angry cows.
An almost Manic, Fanatical Devotion to the idea of Mood.
The more bleak, misty, or existential the better. Especially if the results makes me look ever so mystical and pious on my social media.
An Obsession With Places So Bleak Even some of the Sheep Refuse to Hang Out there.
The people want photographs of Haytor but I give them such artistic images of bogs and random bits of granite jutting out of even more bogs
That being said, I am happy to pass along experience and make suggestions about how you might improve your photography - my work is for me and if it doesn’t resonate with you, why would you wish to
Not in the slightest renowned, nor even highly thought of for that matter 😂 Some bloke who wanders around Dartmoor and shoots some stuff now and again.
My love of Dartmoor is authentic and heartfelt it’s not something I readily decided to package up and sell on as some kind of half baked commodity.
This crappy country (in fact the world in general) fed me a lie about working hard and getting on - this isn’t true, and now I find myself getting on and having zero pension, my solution, to do what I enjoy. If you enjoy photography or Dartmoor or both, then let me share that love and be able to afford rent and food this month 😂
Will my walks drastically change your life? Who knows! They might.
Will you enjoy your time with me, here’s hoping so.
I’m witty, whimsical and not adverse to a good debate - am I always right? nope
My oeuvre is a little odd - I’m drawn to a kind of neo classical way of editing - though I don’t really have any set idea what I’m doing.
I shoot nearly all my work with old film camera lenses (adapted to digital cameras) … though I also sometimes still shoot and develop film.
A complete nobody with zero professional qualifications in Photography and nothing more than a passion to create (that’s actually a lie, I got an A in “O” Level Photography at Plymouth CFE (night school course).
Here’s the bit where I try and convince you to spend money with me by either appealing to your own vanity or some kind of misguided hierarchical
I’ve attempted to create videos and other social media things (with very little success) photography is subjective and not everybody will like my take on things.
I’m definitely not the worlds greatest photographer, and although I’ve successfully completed my Hill & Moorland Leader course, I can think of at least a half dozen Dartmoor Guides who could probably do a better job (absolutely none than can do both even half as well though).
I don’t pretend to know everything and if you think that by coming with me on a trip to the moor will automatically
Over the years I have built connections with several other Dartmoor types, however I have no affiliations that
I don’t really do talks, or socialise in general - It’s not that I don’t like people, I just don’t seem to fit in with what is generally accepted (which is lies and half truths and lots of waffle with almost zero substance) … just my opinion.
WALK OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
Nobody is expecting you to hike across miles and miles of open moorland in torrential rain, on the other hand being out in the mist or the snow is not only exhilarating it lends itself to way more interesting photography. If you want chocolate box images of Dartmoor, you can drive to a nice parking spot and grab yourself some beauties.
I was born in Devon, raised in Devon and have been walking on the moor since I was a toddler.
I grew up in Plymouth and remember exploring around Burrator with my parents and lobbing sheep shit at my dad by Yelverton aerodrome.
I completed all three Ten Tors.
Although all of that is true, it could also be seen as marketing BS.
Does any of that make me a better guide than the next person? Does it mean I have better knowledge of the moor than somebody who moved here 5 years ago? Inconclusive at best.
If we look at photography anybody who can’t admit there’s a 14 year old in Bristol with an iphone 12 whose a better photographer than them, will never take decent photos.
Same with the moor - a friend of mine Max Piper is only 21 and he has probably forgotten more about Dartmoor than I ever knew.
Paul Rendell (or Dartmoor Paul as he is rightfully known) grew up on the moor - he edits The Dartmoor News and runs numerous guided walks and lectures about the moor and it’s history.
Emma Cunis from Dartmoors Daughter will always know more about the legends and
So, why choose me for your photography walk? No idea - check out my work and even if you don’t like my style, do the locations look interesting?
You can read my reviews (they’re all real) or you can message somebody who knows me, or has been on a walk with me.
I’m definitely not everybody's cup of tea and I’m fairly opinionated and I don’t mind a decent debate.
Lets get this straight - I do not walk on the moor to take photographs.
I leave that to the photographers who love to stand on a hillside at the time the sun is supposed to rise and then complain it’s a cloudy day. On many occasions I have definitely decided to be in the rough area of somewhere picturesque at around the time the sun will rise.
If I’m lucky, I get some amazing sunrise (or sunset) photographs, if I’m not, I just carry on walking.
Make it stand out.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
If you want a totally unique adventure and you’re willing to take a risk on the unpredictability of Dartmoor, I can guarantee you an experience to remember
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Adventure
Part of what I think