In a world that seems to be ruled by technology, where we spend vast quantities of time looking at screens, we could say that we are more ‘connected’ than ever. But has that connection come at a cost? Has the connection we have to our immediate surroundings been diminished in an endless world of email, social media, vlogs, blogs, texts, websites etc.
In 2020 it is rare, certainly in the UK, to go somewhere that has a complete lack of connectivity. No Wi-Fi, no 5G, 4G or any type of mobile signal, nothing…zero. To start out, it can be quite scary. ‘What if something happens?’; ‘What if I’m needed?’, ‘Am I missing something important?’…..In a world where we have become so dependant on those connections, them suddenly being stripped away is a shock.
But that is exactly the situation I found myself in when I visited Blea Tarn in the Lake District National Park, UK. No outside communication, no signal, no Wi-Fi……no distractions.
You can’t fail to be inspired by the view that greets your arrival at Blea Tarn
Upon arriving and realising how close to the car park the tarn was, I further removed distractions by deciding to initially leave my camera in the car. To just go for a walk through the countryside and explore the location. Taking in the amazing vistas, waterfalls, woodland and, of course, the tarn itself. Just me and the landscape, the sounds of sheep bleating, birds singing, and the occasional thunder clap….yes, I got drenched.
For about 90 minutes, I didn’t have a screen to look at, just the vastness of the landscape, the wonder of nature. It was blissful; and I walked far more than I had anticipated doing, barely noticing the rain. Clambering over streams, rocks, wall ladders. Climbing hills and jumping felled trees. It was a feeling of connection with the landscape that I rarely feel. Free of distraction, I experienced the wonder and excitement of exploring a location for the first time, without being glued to a map or staring through a viewfinder looking for compositions. No ping of an incoming email or stopping to share a ‘story’ on social media. A connection born from being disconnected.
A morning of rain only added to the dream like view, as seen here from the woodland path
That being said, I am of course a photographer. So whilst I was exploring, I was doing so with an eye for a shot, scouting for a composition. And this is indeed a location where there are many…..oh but only if you can make it past the first one!
And what a composition it is. Amongst UK landscape photographers, it is iconic. Leading lines, foreground interest, beautiful midground, all backed by an amazing vista. I must admit that when I finally did get my camera out, it took a while to move past it.
And it is even more of a photographers dream when you take into account that this amazing viewpoint is quite accessible and less than a quarter of a mile from the small National Trust car park (so small that it is easy to miss) which sits on the Little Langdale to Great Langdale road….the road itself being quite an adventure to navigate!
Trying to get a ‘less taken’ shot of the tarn
A bit of exploration though uncovers much more besides that first shot. Whether in the woods, along the many streams, towards Great Langdale or over the Hanging Valley, there are many spectacular views. Much more to photograph than I managed to do on my visit….which of course, gives me a great reason to head back later this year.
Aside from photography though, I would still revisit. I may even take the family next time. Because that feeling of connection is worth it. Even as I sit at a screen typing this vlog, I can find myself getting lost in, what are, quite vivid memories of the place. And that isn’t a feeling that I have usually, almost two weeks after visiting. A lot of my memories of a location are formed through the viewfinder. Or my experience was marred by having a time frame or an aim, in many cases to come away with a stunning shot, or at least some footage for my You Tube Channel.
But in the case of Blea Tarn, those memories are fresh and vibrant, pleasant and inspiring. So when I do return, I will do exactly the same again….
Disconnect to Connect
Dave
July, 2020
The Langdale Pikes provide a stunning backdrop to the tarn