The problem with this time of year is dawn. The ungodly hour of 4:30ish am at the moment. I think its no secret that the light in the dusk and dawn provide opportunity for great shots. Especially where wildlife and nature is concerned.
So a surprising bout of insomnia saw me up and around at Dawn on Sunday. Travelling by car I instantly came across a herd of red deer on Ley hill above Porlock. The always seem less jumpy at dawn than they do dusk and were happy to stand and munch less than 20 yards from the car. Although with the sun yet to rise the light was far too dark for any shots.
Wading into the rapidly growing ferns when setting up a shot I was surprised to get a deer tick on my jeans in less than 30 seconds. Deer ticks are notorious for Limes disease so it was tucking socks into trousers time. I was looking faintly ridiculous I'm sure, but better than contracting an incurable disease.
A strange haze really stopped any decent shots from materialising from that first shoot.
Grab those Photographs quickly,
Slightly further on I came to a promising spot. Where the road to Stoke Pero dives straight through a hedge. The sun was rapidly climbing so diving out of the car I grabbed a quick hand held shot. Seconds earlier or later and the same effect really wasn't there as the sun climbed rapidly out from behind a cloud. Rather pleased with the results. Just goes to show don't hang round and keep your camera to hand when dawn shooting.
The second Stop
Further on on top of the moor. A short 5 minute drive up the road the bleak exmoor moorscape provided a tempting spot to try another shot. The sun was much stronger. In processing this image I had to split the foreground and background into 2 separate shots. Just maintaining that bit of foreground detail to take you into the photograph.
Deer Photograph from the Car
Really rather please with the images so far I decided to call it a day as the sun climbed. I came across another herd of deer out towards Exford, Exmoor. I didn't even have to get out of the car to photograph these two. In the high res version you really get a feel for the rough texture of the coat.
Looping Back
Finally as I was looping back to Porlock via Porlock hill and Larkbarrow came across 2 separate herds of Exmoor ponies. All with foals on show. The first herd I bypassed as the sun w
as in the wrong position and didn't want to disturb the herd.
The second herd however resulted in one of my favourite all time personal shots. The proud stance of the father next to the pregnant mare lift little doubt as to parentage.
Over the moon!! Makes getting up at 4:00 almost worth while.
It really does pay to be out and about before the herds of deer and ponies move to quieter locations for the daylight hours.
Last month Somerset Photography undertook a shoot at the new restaurant and bed and breakfast holiday accommodation at Binham Grange in Old Cleeve. Binham Grange is featured in a two page spread this quarters Exmoor magazine. The interior shots for the dining room and salon were setup to try to invoke some of the unique friendly atmosphere that you find at Binham Grange from the owner Marie Thomas.
Exmoor. Not a paid undertaking by time for prints/images. Shared copyright on all images with revenue share if used.
SMILE --- CLICK!!! The presentation shoot for Visit Exmoor at the Tithe Barn in Dunster. I must say Smille--- Click! Photography is my least favourite kind. Many people become shy in front of the camera and you never know how they'll react. 
The most commonly asked question I come across when people see the images I have taken of Exmoor and Somerset are "Where is that?" Hopefully this blog will help not only us remember but enable you to find out and plan your own trips or photography in the area. 