This project has concluded.

Similar to my first New Forest project, this one was also based on regular dawn visits to the forest, but I approached it differently. I experimented with reduced colour and wide aperture shots. Why did I make things difficult for myself? Why did I not seek mists and rays of sun shafting through the trees, or vibrant autumn colour? Or, perhaps, a hoar frost decorating the branches? These are proven approaches to woodland photography. I suppose the answer was because when I'm in the forest I wanted to just wander and respond to what I found. Colour can be a distraction, but by reducing it I've discovered I can see trees' form more clearly amongst the general clutter. Trying to isolate particular features can be helped by blurring its surroundings. The results are often mundane, never going to win any social media accolades, but taken as a set I hope they reflect the forest in its quiet beauty and I've managed to produce a more reflective view of the place I've become very attached to. That was the aim.

Instead of just leaving the photos stored electronically, I have bound them in a book, using a style known as Japanese stab binding. On my Instagram account there's a reel of the finished book. You can find it here

For further examples of my photographs take a look on my Instagram account: @barryedgeimages

For latest examples of my photographs take a look on my Instagram account: @barryedgeimages