2018 Predictions

First the autopsy on 2017's risible efforts:

1. Harsh Light, the new black
Not yet.

2. Post-truth landscape photography
The caveat I tacked onto the prediction confirms that post-truth landscape photography was indeed endemic some years before Brexit and Trump came onto the scene.

3. Auteur theory
Nope.

So the annual irreverent, wildly uninformed predictions on landscape photography in 2018 are:

1. Integrity
An often controversial, sometimes farcical, much hyped UK landscape photography competition pandering to the lowest common denominator will award the major prizes to photographs of actual scenic landscapes sans pets and livestock by photographers stood on terra firma with their camera in close proximity.

2. Kübler-Ross Award
In what is becoming a firm fixture in the landscape photographers calendar those rejected from a much hyped UK landscape photography competition pandering to the lowest common denominator, take to social media to lament their rejection and seek solace in their echo chamber. In recognition of their craven desire for '15 mins of social media fame' there will be #KüblerRossaward to showcase their reaction.

3. Manual focus zoom lenses
In order to deprive photography media of filler articles 'How to manually focus autofocus lenses'. A lens manufacturer will announce a family of 100% manual focus, high quality F4 zoom lenses for the landscape photographer. Featuring silky smooth focusing ring, a calibrated focus scale c/w infinity hard stop, aperture ring, rugged build quality, environmental sealing and resolution of fine detail.

Lichens of ancient deciduous woodland

There is something compelling about native woodland where twigs, branches, and trunks are mantled with epiphytic flora. The juxtaposition of lichens, liverworts, mosses and polypody ferns creates a visual kaleidoscope of patterns and colours when walking through these unique woodlands. The complexity is not just visual but also on an ecological level where similar adjacent trees can have widely divergent epiphytic flora with one tree dominated by liverworts and mosses, whilst an adjacent tree has crustose and leafy lichens and another has mosses and leafy lichens. This apparent random distribution of species, as far as I am aware, is the exploitation by species of microhabitats determined by humidity/light levels/bark character/air pollution level etc. Whilst mosses and liverworts create their own unique primordial atmosphere in a woodland, the patina of 'hoary' lichens generates the atmosphere evocative of antiquity.

Oak woodland with a diverse assemblage of epiphytic lichens ~ Coille Dhubh,  Shieldaig Forest

Early 19th century oak plantation with a poor assemblage of epiphytic lichens ~ Nagshead Plantation, Forest of Dean.

It just so happens that some lichens are indicative of ancient old growth woodland, identified by the commendable detective work of ecological historians and a significant amount of survey work incorporating careful observations of habitats. In many areas of the British Isles, lichens of old woodland are glacially slow to colonise new woodland and this is illustrated from studies in the New Forest, where 200-300 years was sufficient time for most lichens to recolonise undisturbed woodland. Although the ancient dry bark lichen community (Lecanactidetum premneae) requires 400 years to recolonise after clear felling. The ecological impact of clear felling woodland in the 17th Century is only now being rectified.

The Revised Index of Ecological Continuity (RIEC) developed in 1976 lists 30 indicator lichens to grade the ‘ancient woodland’ interest of deciduous woodlands throughout the whole of Great Britain and Ireland :
1. Anisomeridium ranunculosporum
2. Arthonia vinosa 
3. Biatora sphaeroides (Current Taxon Name: Mycobilimbia pilularis)
4. Catinaria atropurpurea 
5. Cresponea premnea 
6. Degelia atlantica/or Degelia plumbea/or Parmeliella triptophylla 

Degelia sp. (atlantica?) and Lobaria pulmonaria on a mature Ash tree ~ Sleat, Isle of Skye

7. Dimerella lutea
8. Enterographa crassa 
9. Lecanographa lyncea 
10. Lobaria amplissima
11. Lobaria pulmonaria

Tree lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) ~ Coille Dhubh, NW Highhlands, Scotland

12. Lobaria scrobiculata
13. Lobaria virens

Green satin lichen (Lobaria virens) - Loch a' Mhuilinn SAC

14. Loxospora elatina
15. Nephroma laevigatum
16. Pachyphiale carneola
17. Pannaria conoplea
18. Parmotrema crinitum
19. Peltigera collina
20. Peltigera horizontalis
21. Porina leptalea
22. Punctelia reddenda
23. Pyrenula chlorospila/or Pyrenula macrospora
24. Rinodina isidioides
25. Schismatomma quercicola/or Pertusaria pupillarisv
26. Stenocybe septata
27. Sticta limbata

Sticta limbata ~ Meirionnydd Oakwoods SAC

28. Sticta fuliginosa/or Sticta sylvatica
29. Thelopsis rubella
30. Thelotrema lepadinum

A formula has been developed to rank the degree of ecological continuity of woodland from the species density of REIC lichens in a square kilometre of woodland:

• 15 or more RIEC lichens and there is "clear evidence of an ancient woodland with a long history of ecological continuity; the woodland has never been clear-felled or extensively coppiced, although trees may have been felled on a selective basis".
• 10 - 14 REIC lichens indicates there is "strong evidence of ecological continuity". 
• 6 - 9 RIEC lichens indicates there is "evidence of some degree of ecological continuity".
• 0 - 5 RIEC lichens indicates "no indication of ecological continuity; the woodland is either a plantation or has been clear felled and regenerated, or coppiced."

There are a number of caveats with the RIEC as it assumes levels of air pollution have not negatively impacted on the lichen population, was based largely on those Lobarion or Lecanactidetum communities found in the New Forest and lowland English parklands and some lichens are geographically restricted.

Screenshot of a map showing areas where each Lichen Index for Ecological Continuity for deciduous woodlands is appropriate http://www.britishlichensociety.org.uk/about-lichens/indices-ecological-continuity-woodland-epiphytic-lichen-habitats

Since 1976 further insights into lichens and their habitats has been been elucidated with indices developed to cater for regional distributions and rating the conservation value of woodland:
New Index of Ecological Continuity (NIEC)
West of Scotland Index of Ecological Continuity (WSIEC)
Eu-Oceanic Calcifuge Index of Ecological Continuity (EUOCIEC)
East of Scotland Index of Ecological Continuity (ESIEC)
West Ireland Index of Ecological Continuity (WIIEC)

Tree lungwort (Lobaria pulomaria),  Green satin lichen (Lobaria virens) and Bark barnacle lichen (Thelotrema lepadinum)  on a mature oak ~ Tower wood, Killarney National Park 

Many of my local woods in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley are designated as ancient in origin and sadly clearly demonstrate the effects of historic air pollution AND adverse woodland management. Centred on a coalfield and downwind of the Bristol and South Wales coalfields the area has been subjected to pollution from coal burning associated sulphur dioxide emissions and 'acid' rain. The woodland management has seen extensive coppice management for charcoal and then conversion to broadleaf and evergreen plantations. The Nagshead Plantation in the Forest of Dean illustrates the slow rate of lichen recolonisation, it was clear felled and replanted with oak in the early 1800's and a Forestry Commission handbook on lichens (1989) records that the Nagshead Enclosure has no lichens indicative of old woodland and 16 other epiphytic lichens. The same handbook has a listing for old growth oak woodland with glades in the New Forest with an impressive 20 REIC lichens and 300 epiphytic lichens recorded.

Bark barnacle lichen (Thelotrema lepadinum) indicator of 'Old woodland', Speech House Oaks SSSI, Forest of Dean

Consulting the NBN Atlas indicates that the Speech House Oaks SSSI is the richest area in the Forest of Dean for REIC lichens:

• Anisomeridium ranunculosporum
• Arthonia vinosa
• Cresponea premnea
• Enterographa crassa
• Loxospora elatina
• Porina leptalea
• Schismatomma quercicola
• Stenocybe septata
• Thelotrema lepadinum

None of which are macrolichens, which means you need to get up very close with a hand lens to see any detail and then some competence to then identify them. Which is why there is only one image of the bark barnacle lichen to illustrate the Speech House Oaks SSSI REIC community. Taking an interest in the lichens at least provides an opportunity to appreciate the micro-habitats of woodland and an insight into their ecological continuity.

An autumn narrative

A forecast of rain clearing with some brief intermittent sunshine and low winds before a more extensive weather front arrived presented the opportunity for a quick outing to simply capture autumnal colour in the woodland of the Forest of Dean. Wetted trunks of beech trees and leaves with contre jour lighting would be just the ticket. So a 10 min car journey, 10 minute walk from the car, set up, wait a few minutes for a break in the cloud and hey presto.

Mother trees and forests

If you have a spare 20 mins it is worth watching Professor Suzanne Simard providing insight into the layers of complexity in forests.

"This fascinating talk presents the scientific research that shows the interconnectedness of life in the forest ecosystem. It takes us beneath the forest floor where we learn how trees are communicating and exchanging resources. Going beyond the simple view of a forest as a resource to be exploited, it presents the forest as a complex network of life. Her examination of the relationships that make up the complexity of nature present compelling support for the idea that “We are all one” Suzanne Simard studies the surprising and delicate complexity in nature. Her main focus is on the below-ground fungal networks that connect trees and facilitate underground inter-tree communication and interaction. Her team's analysis revealed that the fungi networks move water, carbon and nutrients such as nitrogen between and among trees as well as across species. The research has demonstrated that these complex, symbiotic networks in our forests -- at the hub of which stand what she calls the "mother trees" -- mimic our own neural and social networks. This groundbreaking work on symbiotic plant communication has far-reaching implications in both the forestry and agricultural industries, in particular concerning sustainable stewardship of forests and the plant’s resistance to pathogens. She works primarily in forests, but also grasslands, wetlands, tundra and alpine ecosystems." 

mhf.kfy

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"

Overnight accommodation was booked to enable two days of photography in the environs of the upper Tywi catchment in the Cambrian Mountains. On the journey there plenty of stunning autumnal colour was passed until entering the Twyi valley, where irrespective of the woodland facing aspect or elevation the majority of oak trees were bare of leaves. Hopes of images capturing valleys mantled with autumnal oak canopies juxtaposed against open moorland were shelved for another year. C'est la vie.

The first day was leaden skies. negligible wind and 'damp' so photography ambitions were instead lowered to riparian woodland and the morphology of oak trees contorted by past events and the necessity for leaves to access sunlight. Considering the morphology and growing habitat some of the trees must be of some age.

High annual rainfall, high humidity, relatively low levels of atmospheric pollution and ancient woodland creates an ideal habitat for epiphytic bryophyte and lichens, so the opportunity was taken to photograph some of the more accessible communities.

Barnacle lichen (Thelotrema lepadinum) and Tamarisk Scalewort (Frullania tamarisci)

Crottle (Parmelia saxatilis)

The sunset vigil was spent above the tree line and hopes of a sunset were briefly raised by breaking cloud on the western horizon and then dashed as the breaks closed. Nevertheless the time spent waiting allowed an appreciation of the surrounding plateau surfaces dissected by valleys and exposed bedrock indicated folding on the northern flank of the Tywi Lineament.

The following day saw the wind increase and the weather forecast predicted cloud would briefly break up before closing, a circuitous walk through the woods and up onto the plateau was opted for. The plateau surfaces posed their usual photography challenge: a distinct lack of inspiration, so photography efforts were concentrated down on the plateau slope edge where woodland was naturally regenerating.

The cloud did eventually break up allowing fleeting patches of sunlight to play over the landscape, frustratingly though never the foreground and middle ground simultaneously during a tactical 'rest stop'. Back down in the valley and a viewpoint was chanced upon that I thought held some potential and then discovered the sun didn't quite clear the ridge, sigh.

With incoming cloud negating sunset, there ended the photography and yet another location to put on the list of places to return to one day.

Reflected and diffuse autumn light

Heavily shaded woodland environments benefit hugely from the illumination of an autumnal canopy that imparts 'warm' light and if a mist is rising then the light is diffused. The combination creates some very special lighting and is generally utilised for photographs of sun beams penetrating through breaks in the tree canopy.

A recent trip to a Scowles woodland was rewarded with the conditions and atmosphere for reflected and diffused lighting, that made venturing forth down into the darker realms a realistic photographic ambition. The lower perspective offers views of outsize tree roots flowing down over bedrock outcrops to form buttresses and the underside of gnarled veteran beech coppice stools with rot hollows that provide insight to their great age. The dense shade and higher humidity also creates the habitat for luxuriant mosses and bryophytes and for my aesthetic tastes the emerald greens contrasts well with the freshly fallen autumnal beech leaves. Whilst sun beams breaking through a canopy provide visual drama, it is well worth bearing in mind that the very same atmospheric conditions can be utilised to photograph more challenging subject matter.

What happens when a managed woodland is left unmanaged since 1944?

Well for a start a very readable book has been published "‪Woodland Development‬: ‪A Long Term Study of Lady Park Wood‬".  From the summary on the back cover of the book:

In 1944 Lady Park Wood (45 hectares of woodland in Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire, UK) was set aside indefinitely by the Forestry Commission so that ecologists could study how woodland develops naturally. Since then, in a unique long-term study, individual trees and shrubs have been recorded at intervals, accumulating a detailed record of more than 20,000 individual beech, sessile oak, ash, wych elm, small-leaved lime, large-leaved lime, birch, hazel, yew and other species.

In the seven decades since the study started, the wood has changed; trees grew, died and regenerated, and drought, disease and other events shaped its destiny. Each tree and shrub species reacted in its own way to changes in the wood as a whole and to changes in the fortunes of its neighbours. Meanwhile, the wild fauna, flora and fungi also responded, leaving the wood richer in some groups but poorer in others.

In this landmark book, beautifully illustrated throughout, George Peterken and Edward Mountford, summarise the ongoing results of the Lady Park Wood study, highlighting its unique place in nature conservation and its significance to ecology in general. It also builds on experience at Lady Park Wood and elsewhere to discuss in particular: the role and maintenance of long-term ecological studies; the concept and form of natural woodland; the role of minimum-intervention policies in woodland nature conservation; near-to-nature forestry; and the desirability and practicalities of re-wilding woodlands. 

There are also historical insights, the rationale for a long term study, case studies, how the accumulated field data has been used in published research, politics and many interesting anecdotes. I can recommend it for anybody curious on the dynamic environment of woodland.

Lady Park Wood outwith the exclosure fence

An autumnal small leaved lime and upland oak wood

A weather forecast for the Brecon Beacons National Park stated fog/mist/low cloud, light rain and negligible wind, so it was with high hopes that I set off for Coed y Rhaiadr, there was fog, negligible wind and light drizzle all the way there until I dropped down to Hirwaun. Where there was no fog, mist or rain and the rotating blades of wind farm turbines indicated wind too. Still there are plenty of options in Coed y Rhaiadr with autumnal colour and I headed for an area of woodland high up the ravine slopes with photogenic veteran oaks. Passing the waterfalls the area is noted for indicated the the tree canopy that provide a backdrop had been stripped of leaves from the recent passage of Storm Ophelia. The oaks I had hoped to photograph were also denuded of leaves, so it was back down to the river.

The numerous waterfalls make it a magnet for photography workshops in the autumn and it hadn't taken long for the workshop providers and punters to stake out their claims. I didn't see anyone photographing the woodland sans waterfalls, which is a pity as the woodland is designated as a Special Area of Conservation. A riparian small leaved lime in autumnal colour provided the necessary inspiration and a native woodland tree that I've rarely found a) in autumn colour and b) suitably sited to make a photograph. From the chosen viewpoint the rain serendipitously broke up the river surface, mitigating the sky reflection. Whilst waiting for the wind to ease I watched a Dipper working its way downstream, diving and feeding from the riverbed. The wind eventually died down to make a photograph and the only audible sound was rain falling and dripping down through the canopy.

Another storm was forecast in a few days time so I made the decision to maximise my photography opportunities and cut short my excursion in Coed y Rhaiadr to visit a nearby upland wood that should have been relatively sheltered from the Storm Ophelia's winds. Some parts of the wood have a closed canopy whilst other parts are more open in nature and mature sessile oaks are spread along a steep sided valley, with crowns and branches shaped by the elements. A few oaks have layered their branches which are mantled with epiphytic lichens and well within tripod height.

Birch, alder, willow, holly, hazel, hawthorn, ash and rowan trees make up the rest of the woodland trees and with more time I would have photographed these, but the oaks were concentrated on for this visit. I do not know anything of the woodlands history, many of the oaks are pollarded and the hazel trees are coppice stools, hinting at a past management regime. The wood is not officially designated as ancient woodland, but is depicted on first edition 19th Century Ordnance Survey maps and some of the oaks appear to be of some age. The lack of regeneration indicates the woodland is overgrazed and has been so for many years.

Eventually the wind and driving rain brought an end to the excursion and a note made to revisit again in the future.

Early autumn in a Scowles woodland.

Autumnal colour in woodlands is a personal highlight in the landscape photography calendar and it usually heralds an invigorated jet stream lining up vigorous weather systems at the UK, sigh. So it was with some relief that a calm weather forecast coincided with beech leaves starting to change colour and a trip was made to a scowles woodland in the Forest of Dean. The woodland canopy is dominated by beech with yew dominating the understorey and occasional ash, holly, hazel, wych elm, whitebeam and lime. Beech trees in the ancient woodlands I am familiar with, rarely synchronise their autumnal colour. Instead it's a gradual roll out with a spectrum of hues from green to fiery orange/red and corresponding leaf fall punctuated by heavy falls in stormy weather. The colour hues shifting from greens to full autumn colour as the days shorten and nights lengthen.

On this visit there was enough early leaf fall to enliven the floor and enough leaves remaining to maintain a closed canopy and include some of the tree crowns in a composition. Some light rainfall had wetted surfaces to saturate colours and overhead cloud provided diffuse lighting. More importantly there was almost negligible wind as the composition hinges upon the lack of movement during a long exposure.  Suffice to type that I was satisfied with the photographic reward.

Killarney National Park - 2

Due to a “series of disasters” Ireland has one of the lowest land coverage % of woodland in Europe and even then a depressing area of that is under commercial forestry of alien trees. The oak woods in Killarney National Park represent a significant percentage of the remaining native oak woodland and are designated as a Special Area of Conservation.

The Killarney oak woods have been afflicted by the Victorian era enthusiasm for alien flora and fauna that saw many exotic trees planted including rhododendron and Sitka deer introduced for sport shooting. Unusually for conservationists they are in unanimous agreement that Rhododendrons and Sitka deer are not desirable for native woodland regeneration. The eradication of rhododendron from the native woodland is an ongoing affair undertaken by commendably enthusiastic volunteers and likely to take many years. Google satellite isn't much use either as rhododendrons form an understorey and what may appear to be broadleaved woodland from above is an impenetrable wall of rhododendrons as an understorey. Additionally in an effort to regenerate the woodland, exclosure fences have been erected to keep out the Sitka and native Red deer, the exclosures do not appear to have entrance gates for visitors. Nonetheless the woodland sans exclosures and rhododendrons is worth seeking out.

There appear to be several generations of oak trees with veteran pollards and coppice stools interspersed amongst maiden trees, pointing to changes in historic woodland management. In some areas a case could be made for natural regeneration, whilst in other areas the regular spacing of oaks in linear arrangement indicates plantations.  Much of the older oak woodland in the Forest of Dean originated from Napoleonic plantations for naval ship timber and oak morphologies in the Killarney woods bear a striking resemblance to the Dean oaks.

The Lusitania flora was also chanced upon, notably the Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo) and Saint Patrick's Cabbage (Saxifraga spathularis).

Fruits of the Strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo)

St Patrick's cabbages (Saxifraga spathularis) epiphytes on a veteran oak pollard.

The lichen communities are well represented.

Green satin lichen (Lobaria virens)

Tree Lungwort (Lobaria pulmonaria) and Green satin lichen (Lobaria virens)

There are also some fine viewpoints in the woodlands offering more expansive views.

Killarney makes a great base for exploring the National Park and I can thoroughly recommend it.

Killarney National Park -1

Nic fancied an autumn break in Ireland, specifically in the South West, so a look at the map and Killarney was a good base, plenty of traditional pubs for the craic and a National Park on the doorstep. I then did some research and discovered that whilst the National Park had open access the rest of the countryside is privately owned, with very restricted access at the whim of the landowner, sigh. According to one Irish hill walking site, Eire has some of the most regressive public access laws in Europe. Further research revealed that some of the Government owned woodlands with SAC status were also closed to public access. At this point I realised the holiday itinerary would be scaled back in ambition and scope. Nonetheless, there were still plenty of hills to walk and woodland to visit.

I'll skip the hill walking bit as the weather was mostly atlantic weather fronts i.e low cloud, poor visibility and/or high winds which mitigated against visiting the loftier viewpoints, confining walking to more modest elevations and photography to views of cloud shrouded higher hills and hazy vistas.

A jewel in the crown of the Killarney NP is Reenadinna Wood, a Yew (Taxus baccata) woodland that has been extant for 3,000 to 5,000 years from palynological analysis of sediments and radiocarbon dating.

Pure Yew woodlands are a rarity and Reenadinna Wood is one of the largest, with the yews mostly growing on outcrops of Carboniferous limestone that are covered by moss. A preliminary scouting visit was made to whet the appetite and then the weather came good with a morning of rain and no wind.

The yew trees host bryophyte communities creating a pleasing juxtaposition of green and red.

A few yew trees were the habitats for lichens.

Fallen yew arils littered the woodland floor and paths exposed the yew roots tracing grikes in the limestone.

Reenadinna Wood is well worth a visit and the next post will cover the Oak woods visited in Killarney National Park.

Upland Peatlands - Photography challenges of moorland

Black Mount hills from Rannoch moor

Rannoch Moor is probably the most photographed upland peatland in the UK, its photographic appeal lies with the changeable weather and hill ranges that form a photogenic backdrop to an extensive tract of blanket bog broken up by bodies of water. Extensive suites of glacial landforms are mantled by blanket bog and the depth of underlying peat and degree of water logging has created a mosaic of vegetation, which has earmarked Rannoch moor for designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Conveniently it has a major A road that cuts across it for ease of access, it's a great pity that it's an 8 hour drive for me to get there. Nonetheless there are other moorlands and upland peatlands.

Typical moorland scenery of a featureless upland plateau 

Most of the factors that make Rannoch Moor so photogenic are sadly absent from many moorland plateaus. On plateaus the 'high' ground takes the form of long whale backs or shallow domes that provide negligible backdrop. Substantial water bodies are usually man made and glacial erratics are usually absent, leaving vegetation dominating the foreground, middle distance and beyond. The exposed nature makes any wind problematic with subject motion blur. The plateau 'flatness' requires low angled light to provide emphasis and definition to a landscape photograph and preferably some weather too. Taking into account the quality of lighting required to enliven rectangles of moorland and sky, I came to the conclusion some while ago that it's more rewarding to concentrate my photographic endeavours away from the flat moorland plateaus to moorlands that provide more topographic relief.

Rolling moorland

Rolling moorland has some welcome topographic relief to provide depth and a backdrop helps eliminate the land/sky rectangle.

Where foreground interest is confined to vegetation then the vegetation ideally needs to be in bloom or in autumnal colour.  Grasslands hugely benefit from snowfall.

It shouldn't come as a great surprise that panoramic moorlands lend themselves to a panoramic aspect ratios.

Water courses provide an alternative narrative and a welcome addition to moorland scenery.

In a future post I'll cover the challenges of photographing upland peatlands that fall outside the moorland category.