The Photographer.
Portrait Credit : Ryan Harris Photography
Over the past eight years, his journey as a landscape photographer has taken him on countless adventures: capturing breathtaking temperature inversions at dawn in the Peak District National Park, sleeping under the stars in the Lake District, and embracing the wild challenges of the Scottish Highlands in winter. Yet, some of Phillip’s most meaningful moments are found closer to home.
The Landscape.
The Old One Awakens
The conditions this morning were much like yesterday, only on a far greater scale. The fog had returned to Dale, but this time it was thicker, heavier, quietly swallowing the field and softening everything it touched.
But there was one important difference — light.
As the morning began to stir, the sun slowly crept in from the side, brushing warmth across the mist and gently illuminating the branches of this old tree. Having photographed this field the day before gave me a much better understanding of how the tree needed to be composed, and this time I positioned myself slightly to the side to really accentuate the twists and turns of its branches.
With that incredible side light filtering through the fog, the same tree seemed to transform again. The warm glow in the mist created an almost cinematic feel — something reminiscent of a Blade Runner 2049–style aesthetic, where the light and atmosphere take on a life of their own.
To lean into the softness of the scene I chose to shoot at f/5.6, allowing the mist to gently wrap around the tree and keeping the mood calm and dreamlike.
Of course, Indie was never far away either, quietly wandering nearby and keeping me company as the field slowly woke up.
And in that soft golden fog, it felt as though The Old One was finally awakening.
The Stories.
The Gear Behind the Photographs
Does camera gear really matter when it comes to landscape photography? Some may disagree, but in my experience, it absolutely does.
That said, it’s not the be-all and end-all of making a good photograph. Modern cameras are incredibly capable, and great images can be created with almost any system. What matters more is choosing equipment that suits the photographer behind it.
For me, that means being comfortable with the size, weight, ergonomics, functionality, menu system, lens options and overall handling of the gear I carry. When a camera feels intuitive and dependable, it removes much of the friction from the process and allows me to focus fully on the creative side of photography.
I’ve been using Fujifilm’s X Series for many years now and remain just as happy with that decision today as I was when I first made the switch. Spending so long with the system means I know the camera inside out. While working in the field, I can adjust everything I need quickly and instinctively without diving through menus, which keeps my attention exactly where it should be — on the landscape and the light.
Below is a rundown of the photography gear I currently use when creating my landscape photographs.