Although this summer has failed to brighten up on many levels I was still surprised by what I found in the woods today. The persistent rain over the past few weeks has, it’s true dampened my spirits slightly. So I resolved to face it head-on and went for a walk during a monumental downpour to some local woods. This served two purposes; firstly get the hell out of the house and secondly to satisfy my curiosity to really see what changes come when it’s absolutely chucking it down. I’m not talking about ‘lots of water from the sky’ type changes, nor the resulting puddles of it collecting on the ground as I walk. No, I’m talking about the change in atmosphere around me and how could I possibly capture that on camera?!

During the summer months woodlands are pleasantly mild, shaded places full of buzzing insects busily going about their tasks, flitting between the dappled pools of light from flower to flower. More often than not, any breeze is reduced to a whisper on the woodland floor and may only be noticeable from the swaying canopies as it brushes by above. How different it had become from the usual warm environment I had become accustomed to on previous visits. It was not cold, although we have had considerable amounts of rain this ‘summer’ temperatures have been gradually creeping upwards during the day, no it was warm and dark. Very, very dark. The thick canopies above all but blocked the light leaving very little remaining to hit the sodden floor beneath. I found there exists a strange middle-ground between floor and canopy where very little exists, save the tree trunks stretching upwards to support the world above. It all reminded me of something that could be found in an Anime film. I took a few shots as I explored the darkness, heavy rain pounding its way though to the ground and literally blocking further viewing through the woods. During a break in the deluge a mist gradually rose all around me, the trees and ferns steaming as the moisture returned from whence it came, no doubt building for the next shower! I shall return again on a rainy day and make a better go of things… Who said we have to stay indoors when it rains?!

And here’s some more: