Photography is a strange hobby full of contradictions. When I first started I was always on the lookout for good weather and clear blue sky. Only later did I realise that clear blue sky creates very difficult shooting conditions. In fact some of the most interesting and dramatic images are created in the worst weather; weather that you would never have ventured out in when you first started photography.

I now hate clear blue sky. Often the UV haze causes images to be blurred and hazy as well as very cold. The clear blue sky with bright sun is not ideal weather for shooting the grand landscape unless that is you are near to a lake. The calm weather that often accompanies blue sky conditions can leave lake surfaces clear, flat and mirror like.

This is what happened to me on a recent trip to the Lake District. I have always liked Wastwater as a location. It’s very difficult to reach but that has the benefit of keeping the tourists away. The other feature of Wastwater is that it is relatively sheltered and often quite calm. On a fine sunny day it can give a wonderful reflection as seen in this image.