Even on a rainy day

During a brief post-Christmas break in the Lake District last week, I was a little disappointed in the dark, overcast weather, especially after the wonderful winter scenes that had been around just the week before. However, it was a good time to relax and chill with the family.

Of course, a photographer can't last a week without getting his camera out at some point so I took off for a few hours to "do my thing".

At the far end of Derwent Water is a small hill that proudly stands at the head of the lake like a little boy that refuses to stay in the shadows of his larger brothers. I've always wanted to climb the hill, known as Castle Crag (which would indeed have a castle if Ludwig II had had his say) so I decided this was the time. Unfortunately, as I started the ascent, the thick clouds got thicker, the mist descended and the rain started to fall. Usually I would have given up at this point but I decided just to persevere. After all, you never know what photos you me get, even on a rainy day.

And indeed it was worth the effort because, to my unexpected surprise, the summit consisted of an abandoned slate quarry. That would have been good enough but the best part was that unknown visitors seemed to delight in erecting many of the large slates in upright positions. Moreover, the mist wafting through the slates added an atmosphere that certainly would not be there on a sunny day.

So the moral is, don't give up looking for photo opprtunities if the weather seems against you. You never know what's round the corner.