
My photographs
A view through the eyes of Andrew Knowles
Welcome to a collection of my favourite landscape images. As you will discover on the following pages I strive to show the beauty of the world around me by the use of composition, light and weather that bring out the textures and colours of this amazing planet we call home.
Beech party. This Beech tree at Longshaw really stood out against the misty background.
Spooky tree!
Langstrath rain burst.
Buttermere selfie. Yes that's me in wellies.
River Brathay frosty morning but the image is inverted to make your mind do a backflip
A winter scene in Sherwood Forest
Windermere stand of Scots Pines with Holme Fell behind
Higger Tor frosty blue hour. I love blue hour photography especially when the landscape is frozen
The simple things
There is no escape....
Hope Valley misty panorama
Dancing in the dark.
Hidden surprise.
Veil of solitude
Pink and Blue. The blue hour pre dawn long exposure makes the sky look very dramatic.
Glen Coe afternoon. A very simple shot, the light and clouds on the mountains plus the evening sun illuminating the contours of the moor are the stars here.
Tree or Bird. A very high key treatment of this image turns it into a brain teaser.
Small and far away. The surprise addition of the lone man and his dog help to give scale and context.
Mother and child
The Golden Carpet
Ashness. This is very close to the famous bridge at Ashness, I was drawn to the scene, not sure why other that I just liked the grouping of the trees and the autumn colours
Thermal boardwalk. Iceland, I really liked the contrast between the organic shapes and colours of the thermal landscape compared to the clean sharp lines of the zig zag boardwalk.
The wood wide web. The low winter sun highlights the twists and reaches of the Oak trees in Padley Gorge
A misty sunrise over Chatsworth Park with a cloud inversion
Me sir, no sir.... these trees remind me of the angry teacher in The Wall.
Buttermere lone tree
Dunkelflaute 2
Sky Gate.
Golden Birch
Magic Duck
Misty Moor. This is a favourite tree for me, the image is shot at dawn and gives me a real feeling of the way the tree dominates what is otherwise an empty upland landscape.
I am engineer! The bothy in the Lake District was occupied by 3 polish guys when I arrived. They made me very welcome and one of them announced his occupation- I am engineer!
Temeraire Dawn. This sunrise over a cloud inversion over the Hope Valley reminded me of the colours of the famous painting of the Fighting Temeraire by Turner.
Directional overload. This is another of my favourite images, the ancient Oak woodland of Padley Gorge is endlessly fascinating but not always easy to photograph. When the mist is perfect as on this day the wood takes on an ethereal and dreamy mood.
Iceland. Vestrahorn from Stokksnes. This is one of my all time favourite locations, on this day the wind was fierce so I had to handhold the camera but the mountains with the black sand and yellow grass in the foreground just work together.
Sleeping. This lone tree in the icy grip of winter seems to be asleep, just waiting for the first signs of spring to wake from its slumber
Another meeting. This is the same group of trees I photographed earlier in the year. This time the colours were really coming through and the rain and mist made everything pop. One of my favourites.
The Aloof. These amazing twisted oaks remind me of dancers striking strange yet elegant poses.
Sphagnum peril.
Anticipation.
The grandest of Canyons
Thunderbirds are go!
Rannoch Moor.
King o the beck
Glencoe Lochen. The old mans beard lichen almost looks like snow I think.
They went thad a way! One of my favourite Oak woods. The branches all trying to get the best light on the steep valley side.
Opposites attract. Marys Shell at Thornton Cleveleys. 2 minute exposure.
Take another step.... The fallen tree on the right looks like its repelling all boarders!
Autumn window
Chaotic pop. These woods are very chaotic but if you look hard enough there are places where you can sperate the elements with enough colour and variation of light.
Stick or twist. This is a complex image but I love the feeling of evolution of the Oak woodland .
Autumn jewels.
The Shed! I have walked past this shed so many times and promised to myself to try to make an image of it. This is that effort.
Early Autumn in the Peak District.
Time machine. The long exposure of the clouds scudding across the sky reminds me of the scene in the Time Machine when he views time passing through a skylight
Stag sunrise. Not actually a Stag of course, the animal in question was behind me making a rumpus while I took this shot.
Flamenco in the rain. The way the tree leans slightly back with arms outstretched reminds me of a Flamenco dancer.
Vanishing Point. The contrails against the Cirrostratus clouds point the way to infinity.
Woodland light. This Birch wood is unusual because its a dark wood, it gives it a unique colour palette and atmosphere.
The Great Ridge. This is the Hope Valley before dawn with a cloud inversion
The Bough
Saltmarsh, sunset and Rain. The raindrops on the pool really give me the feeling of being there, very peaceful and just the gentle rain pitter pattering on the water.
Scalebor
Giving back. One of the themes I want to explore is the lifecycle of the woodland, the endless process of birth, death and rebirth.
Sherwood Forest panorama
Sunset over Millstone Edge.
At last. I named this image At last because its a Rowan tree I have passed in the car a thousand times and not stopped because parking was difficult and the light and conditions or season were not right. on this day it all came together and the image was captured.
Contours. A wider shot of another, previous image. I was fascinated by the way the light produced these waves of contours moving in different directions but converging towards the right hand side of the image. I was pleased to capture it as the light was perfect.
Spotlight on chaos. This image of Oak woodland would have been interesting but not worth a shot without the sun filtering through and lighting up this small gnarly tree.
Prevailing wind. This exposed Larch retains its colour through the winter. The lean away from the prevailing wind adds tension to the image and the square crop gives space above the tree. I used a negative vignette to really bring out its form.
Textures of frost. The Bracken hunkers down for the winter but the frost still reaches the old fronds and gives a dusting of white that contrasts beautifully with the soft caramel colour of the plant.
Essence of a tree. One of my favourite trees just after a good fall of snow. The exposure is brought up to reduce the form to just the bones.
The Crummock trio.
These ancient earthworks fascinate me, and the trees sitting on the top was the cherry on the cake!
Winter light and stillness. This is a long exposure image that I found in perfect weather, good light on the fells on the far shore of the lake and very still air so I could freeze the branches.
Parent and Child
Lost the race. This dead oak was outcompeted by the other oaks that could reach the light.
Time Lords.
Resilience. At the very end of Autumn probably on the last misty day when there are still some leaves on I found this tree. I took the shot and suddenly the mist vanished like someone had flicked a switch.
Sheffield
The Guardian.
Doing my own thing. This small oak is apart from the rest, occupying its own space and seemingly totally oblivious to what the rest are up to.
Early winter light. This cladding in the city produced a very pleasing texture in the late afternoon winter light.
The Magician. Presenting a bunch of flowers seemingly out of nowhere.
The dark pool. I stumbled across this beautiful pool beneath a lovely old Silver Birch, in fact it was so hidden I nearly fell in it! On the surface of the water floated autumnal leaves but also many dead moths giving a strange and melancholy mood to the scene.
Our work is done. The leaves float on the pool beneath the tree. Their work for the year complete and now they gently melt back into the life sustaining waters.
Touch. This is a handheld shot in transit from one composition to the next, seems to work nicely!
Reconciliation. The tree seems to grow apart and is then drawn back to itself. The twisty small branches going diagonally across the middle of the image appear to be binding the tree together.
Protection. This elegant Oak spreads its branches over the woodland as if giving protection or shelter. I love the way it leans slightly back and extends it arms like a ballerina playing a swan.
Giving in to the light. The edge of the dark wood warms itself in the morning glow.
Waiting. Always wanted a jetty picture and now I have one! forgive my indulgence.
The only one left. The Oak in the middle of the almost bare Silver Birches really stands out.
A perfect autumn morning. This is a very similar composition to Perfect evening light. Its one of my favourites and I want to capture a series of images in different seasons and conditions.
Perfect evening light. I love this composition and I thought long and hard how to best present it. In the end I chose a painterly look for the image in the the way Constable might have produced if he had been a photographer not a painter!
The edge of the dark wood. The trunks of the Silver Birch look like ghosts before dawn on a foggy morning, I like the contrast with the autumnal bracken in the foreground
Crummock sunset. My main subject was the island but the sun going down over the horizon kicked off this amazing show.
Before the storm. This elegant lone Birch tree caught my eye ( as they always do) . I was very drawn to the other trees leading the eye towards a misty Castle Crag in the distance. The bracken is the colour I really like it to be and there is just enough yellow in the leaves to show autumn is well under way.
Surprise! Nearly didn't get this shot, I had given up on the sunset and gone for a pint... luckily I had framed it up earlier and knew exactly where to run back to.
Cantilever plus 1. Another from Padley, this is the Cantilever tree from a different angle with its plus 1.
The conversation.
Defiance
When the pool becomes the sea. The seawater pool at Brixham is overwhelmed by the sea at high tide, on this occasion it had just rained heavily and the light was clearing from the left producing a really moody image.
Torridon. The Highlands of Scotland offer stunning scenery. On a hazy warm day in September the light produced these layers that interweave with each other getting progressively mistier with distance. A 9 shot panorama.
Tension
The light banishing the dark
On the way to Applecross. Mountain light and texture draw me in, the light and mood in Torridon make for a dramatic image.
The Old Watermill. This mill in the Lake District is very photogenic, in this image though I have given equal emphasis to the tree on the right as it deserves to be a part of the scene
Connections. This location in the right conditions is stunning. I love the way the light filters through the Beech trees on the right and the branches overhang to connect with the very different Pine trees on the left.
Mystery. This is a very simple composition but one that I really like. The late autumn oak trees at Padley Gorge framing a distant tree giving depth through the morning mist.
Back Tor winter light. I grew up not far from this spot, just over the next hill in fact. The lone tree and rock face has always held a fascination for me. On this day the sky was dark with low cloud and suddenly and from out of nowhere seemingly the light hit and illuminated not just the side of the hill but the lonely figure in a red coat descending the path.
Warm light descending. This is another view of the lone tree but later in the morning as the winter sunshine rises over the hill and makes its way down the trunk of the tree transforming a cold palette of colours below to a warmer one above.
Natures luxurious carpet. The colours and textures of the Bilberry and Heather ground cover provide a sumptuous carpet to frame the mature and majestic Silver Birch trees.
The Langdale Pikes. Seen from the River Brathay this image really conjures the essence of the Lake District. The textures and winter colours of this unique landscape I find constantly wonderful.
Illuminated Silver Birch with dark skies. I had walked past this tree on the way out to another location without noticing it . On the way back the light had moved and bathed it in beautiful light that really stood out against the dark skies above. I noticed it then!
Embleton. This shot is quite tricky to get as the tide has to be right and the rocks are slippery. But when it works the light and detail on the foreground pebbles really provides for a dramatic foundation to the ruined castle above.
What troubles? The morning I took this was so peaceful and the light so beautiful and serene I found myself with not a care in the world.
Buttermere reflections. The light at this location really is incredible. On a still day at dawn the colours and textures of the fell and trees are perfectly reflected in the lake.
One tree, one cloud.
Late autumn Bracken and Birch. This is a real favourite of mine. Very simple but the colours and textures of the late autumn bracken contrast beautifully with the bare Silver Birch and rocks in the foreground.
Bamburgh Castle at dawn. This is an iconic silhouette , the tide was perfect as the sun came up, it washed over the wide expanse of sand producing rippled layers that reflected the golden morning light
Looking back. This is a fun image, I took the photo with another photographer at the other end taking a photograph of me. We both agreed to keep each other in the shot. I have never seen his...
Cantilever 2 . For me this is one of the most beautiful trees I photograph. This is pretty late in the Autumn and not many leaves remain but that allows the shape and form of the tree to be seen. I call it Cantilever because it looks like it was designed by an engineer to remain upright and balanced even if it were not to be rooted into the ground.
The Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia.
Late autumn at Padley. An ancient landscape but one that was sculpted by man in the not too distant past.
The Pikes wearing their winter coat
The symmetry of Buttermere
Limbo Low. I liked the small Beech sapling appearing to be growing up in the gap between the twisted oaks, its a trick of the angle and focal length of course...
Stand off
Towards the light . The twisted ancient oaks seem to be trying to wriggle their way to the light filtering through the mist from above.
Langdale Textures. The light in the Lake District playing on the fells can produce some stunning abstract shapes.
South Iceland abstract. This is my most abstract image and one of my all time favourites. Just the bar of sand in the distance and a Skein of Geese give it form.
Holy Island. This upturned fishing boat is used a shed, it seems to dominate the castle in the distance but its a trick of perspective.
Hanging on. These oaks at Padley seem to beckon you through to the misty land beyond.
Islands. As the morning mist moves across the valley it reveals small features , and then they are gone again.
Titans
Sunrise over Sheffield
Ogwen
The great ridge
Fairy Glen
Hanging on in the light

Music while you look
Here are some of my favourite pieces of music to accompany your viewing experience. Some of them I am actually playing on, I will leave you to guess which…