Bluebells at Captain’s Wood
For photographers, late April and early May typically signify the arrival of bluebell season. In recent weeks, bluebell woodlands have been dominating my Instagram feed, so I decided to take a drive to see them for myself.
Captain's Wood in Sudbourne, an ancient woodland close to my home, is just a short drive away. It is home to various rare plants and a diverse range of natural habitats that support a wide range of wildlife. The woodland is serene and secluded, and a short walk on arrival will lead you to a stunning concentration of bluebells. Accessible paths make it easy to view most of them. There are numerous tree stumps in the area, and of course, plenty of trees that make for interesting subjects in photographs. However, I find them quite challenging as subjects.
Bluebells are extremely delicate flowers, so it’s key to stick to the paths rather than trample over them. Sadly, this kind of behaviour has been witnessed in the past and has been highlighted recently by Woodland Trust.
As you can imagine, during peak season, this area attracts a lot of families and photographers, so it's advisable to arrive early to avoid the crowds. Fortunately, when I visited on this particular morning, I only encountered one couple on a walk. The surroundings were very serene, and the light was stunning.
Although I had previously mentioned finding bluebells difficult to photograph, I managed to capture a few shots on this particular morning that I really like, which was an improvement compared to my previous attempts last year.
All images shot with a Fujifilm X-T3 & Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Lens.
