Castlerigg Stone Circle Landscape Photography – January 2025
For me, no Lake District Landscape Photography Workshop could ever NOT include a trip (or several!) to Castlerigg; but before I jump into the photos & technicalities thereof, I think an introduction to the subject location & history is in order
Castlerigg Stone Circle: An Ancient Marvel - Castle Ln, Keswick CA12 4RN - deodorant.pinks.pounce
Castlerigg Stone Circle, located near Keswick in the Lake District of Cumbria, England, is one of the most iconic prehistoric sites in Britain. Dating back to around 3,500 BC, it is thought to have been constructed during the Neolithic period, making it older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza
The circle consists of 38 stones, although it's believed that there were originally more. These stones, some standing as tall as 2 meters, are arranged in a circular formation measuring about 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter. The site sits in a stunning location, surrounded by panoramic views of the fells and mountains of the Lake District, enhancing its mystical aura
Not everyone is impressed though, one Google Reviewer left a 1-star Review with the words... “Literally a circle of stones. Nothing else.” bless her cotton socks lol
Purpose and Significance
The purpose of Castlerigg remains a subject of debate among archaeologists and historians. It is widely believed to have been used for ceremonial, religious, or astronomical purposes. Like many other stone circles, its alignment may have had significance in tracking celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes. The sightlines from Castlerigg Stone Circle align with the surrounding peaks, suggesting that the ancient people who built it had a deep understanding of their environment and the cosmos
Some theories suggest that the stone circle was part of a larger landscape of sacred sites, serving as a gathering place for rituals or a venue for social and cultural activities. Others believe that the stones may have had a role in marking boundaries or acting as a symbol of unity within the community
However, I believe there's a simpler explanation, one which I've shared with pretty much ALL of my Workshop attendees and a fair amount of Tourists alike (much to their bemusement!); and this is that it was in fact an extremely early Tesco Direct
My reasoning is simple, as you approach it from the road (the unimaginatively named... Regional Route 71) you can clearly see two larger stones further apart than most; directly opposite there is another two larger well placed stones. I contend that these are the Main Entrance and the farther one is the Fire Exit
As you enter through the Main Entrance you can clearly see a much small circular shaped set of stones to your far left, this was obviously where the cash register was with cigarettes & spirits on the (long gone) shelving behind. An almost identical layout to many Tesco Directs of today
Mysterious Aesthetic
The aesthetic impact of Castlerigg is undeniable. The stones, weathered by millennia of wind, rain, and time, evoke a sense of mystery and connection to the ancient past. Whether at sunrise, sunset, or under the moonlight, the stones are imbued with a unique atmosphere that draws visitors from around the world (who seem oblivious to being in the way of our photos!). The site has also inspired many artists, writers, and spiritual seekers, who come to witness the beauty of the landscape and the profound sense of history it embodies
Today, Castlerigg Stone Circle is a popular tourist destination, attracting both history enthusiasts and nature lovers. Visitors can freely walk around the circle and (pretend to) experience its enigmatic energy. However, as with all ancient monuments, it is important to treat the site with respect and avoid climbing on the stones; again, something the Tourists simply don't appreciate
Castlerigg Stone Circle is an absolute MUST DO for any Lake District Landscape Photography Workshop. Its so accessible. Its intriguing. Its also remarkably easy to shoot at all times of the day, and all seasons too, mostly as its a circular formation there's always an angle on some of its stones that makes for a great shot
Anyway, enough of the words, let's jump into the photos…
Sunrise on 10th January 2025 was 8:30 a.m. but like anywhere in the Lakes the sunset 'times' are tempered by the effect of the hills & mountains delaying us actually seeing the Sun
My first shots are often 'Testers', both of general exposure & composition, and such was the case here where my opening photos were shot at f7.1 for a decent DoF (Depth of Field), 1/125th second shutter speed to avoid camera shake (there was no concern over subject movement!), and a pretty high 2000 ISO as it was rather dark still
Once happy, I moved on to my tripod to allow the aperture to increase to f11-f16, dropping to ISO 100 for maximum noise-free quality, and the shutter speed hovered around 1/10th – 1/30th second but of course that's irrelevant now its on a tripod
Finally, post Sunrise, I decided to make much more of the snowy foreground by shooting with the camera either on, or just a few inches above, the snow and shooting super-wideangle too
Super-wideangle lenses (here just 14mm on a full-frame camera) at f16 the online DoF calculators will tell you means that everything from 23cm to Infinity is in “acceptably sharp focus” if you use a Hyperfocal Focal distance of 50cm – but they LIE !!!
More precisely perhaps, what all of these DoF calculators have in common is that their assessment of something being “Acceptably sharp” is NOT what WE think is sharp enough; so here, for my final shot at Castlerigg I've actually used 2 photos and blended them in Photoshop to effectively extend true sharpness from around 30cm to Infinity. To do this, one photo is focused around 50cm in front of the camera, and the next is focused some 10m in front, making for a very simple 'Focus Stacking' using a Layer Mask
Gear used...
Nikon Z6ii with a Nikon Z24-70mm f2.8 and Nikon Z14-30mm f4, no filters of any kind; well battered 20-yr old Manfrotto tripod with pan/tilt head
Post-Processing...
All done in Adobe Lightroom using a variety of Masks; mostly for separating the Subject from the Sky/Ground, for adding Gradient Masks to the Skye, and for using both Linear & Radial Masks as a means of applying localised Dodging & Burning, and enhancing selective colours, clarity, etc.
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