 |
| Great Langdale, winter dawn. As scene from the summit of Bowfell last December. |
After a couple of weeks of inclement weather, I’ve decided now is the time to up sticks and leave my home comforts behind and head back to the Western Lake District in a tent. I must admit I was beginning to feel a little stir crazy of late, chomping at the bit to be back out on the fells.
I shall be away for quite some time on this trip with lots to do. For this week’s shoot, I’ll be exploring the wonderfully wild side of the Scafells – Great Moss, Hard Knott, Upper Eskdale and so on. The focus being on just the landscape itself. I’m looking forward to viewing the contrast of the fells from my summer shoots as winter fast approaches.
I won’t be alone either. A couple of folks from the BBC will be joining me for at least one night out on the fells. BBC Inside Out will be filming me in action as part of a 10min programme they’re producing about yours truly and the ‘Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike’ documentary I’m working on. This will be the first of several shoots they have planned, another being when I make my way to attend the Kendal Mountain Festival in a couple of weeks. No doubt this will all feel rather odd for me, as it’s usually me stood behind a camera pointing it at others!
Before Kendal, I’ll be meeting and filming the local Wasdale Mountain Rescue and National Trust teams at work in the area. Post Kendal, I’ll be making my way back to Wasdale to attend and film ‘The World’s Biggest Liar Competition’. So, all in all….a busy trip lies ahead. One I’m relishing too.
Before I sign off and begin packing my rucksack, I’d like to thank you all for your kind and wonderful support in recent months. Particularly those of you who supported me for my Scafells film on Indiegogo. Again, I’ve been truly humbled by you all. It really does mean a great deal and hopefully as the coming months roll on by, I can re-pay you all with producing a wonderful film showcasing England’s highest peak through the seasons along with all the delightful people who live, work and play in the area and make it what it is today.
Needless to say, visiting here you can view my progress on the project and on the likes of Twitter too where I’m constantly updating folks on where I am, what I’m seeing, and the camps I’ve made chasing those special scenes of an iconic area of the Lake District.
I’m pleased to say I’ll be receiving some minor support on the documentary from award winning photographer and writer, Chiz Dakin. I’ve given Chiz the task of capturing the Scafells on film at night. A tedious and difficult task, which I can thankfully put aside and leave in her more than capable hands. In fact, she’s out on a wild camp right now! At a given location I’ve submitted to her, with specific scenes I have in mind.
She has quite the task too. The list of locations and scenes I’ve given her won’t be easy to achieve, but I have also made it clear she’s free to come up with some of her own too (goes wihtout saying, eh?). I’m really looking forward to seeing the fruits of her labour. She’s proven to be able, enthusiastic and most of all patient so far. The latter being essential in capturing the fells at their very best – never mind at night!
In the meantime, enjoy a wee clip from ‘The Cairngorms in Winter with Chris Townsend’. It’s a scene from a 40min ‘festival edit’ I had to produce for the Kendal Mountain Festival, which incidentally you can buy now in full HD from Steep Edge here.
Take care folks and speak soon!
TERRY ABRAHAM 