Last-Minute Long Man

Getting ready to relax on a Sunday evening and prepare for the week ahead after a busy weekend, my daughter suddenly mentioned:

"Dad, you know how you enjoy photography? Well, there's a photography competition at school."

"That sounds good," I replied. "We can head out one evening this week. When does it need to be in by?"

"Tomorrow."

Apparently she'd had all week to tell me but had only just decided to mention it!

Thankfully, it was a beautiful evening, so we headed out to the Long Man of Wilmington.

From the car park, we tested a few compositions of the Long Man framed through the trees. As we slowly made our way across the field, a steady breeze was rushing through the young wheat crop. It immediately struck me that this would be perfect for a long exposure using a 10-stop filter, adding some movement to the foreground.

The long Man

Catching light in the fields

Wheat fields - 20 second exposure

We stopped several times on the walk over, trying different viewpoints and discussing ideas. I offered a few suggestions along the way, talking through composition and what to look for in a landscape photograph.

Tractor lines - 20 second exposure

For her final image, though, she figured it out herself.

She wanted to use the tractor lines leading through the field towards the landscape beyond, combined with a long exposure to capture the movement in the wheat. She carefully composed the photograph and, once she was happy with it, I helped set up the tripod and camera.

The result was a lovely photograph, but more importantly, it was wonderful to see her thinking creatively and putting together her own image. Sometimes the best photography trips are the ones you never planned.

Into the Landscape - 13 second exposure

The Long Man of Wilmington – A Photographer’s Guide