A Woodland is for the Whole Year ... Not Just for Autumn ...
- Chris Hilton
- Oct 26, 2025
- 1 min read
If Paul Mitchell did bumper stickers ... that's what it would say ... and whilst Autumn itself is so photogenic that Paul subdivides it into Early, Mid & Late, each with their own nuance, he doesn't neglect the dull, damp atmosphere of Winter that lends itself to sculptural images of the woodland, the hoare frosts of the promise of snow.
Nor does he neglect Spring with the guarantee of new growth, blossom and a wealth of bluebells ... or summer, lush and full where the greenery, bursting with chlorophyl reflects the harsh UV light in a way that makes infrared photography sing.
But it's Autumn that has his heart ...
Rather than shooting the widest view possible, he will often go in close, much like Christopher Burkett, a photographer much admired by Paul.
Paul is a photographer who strives to capture mood and atmosphere as opposed to a mere representation so it's no wonder that his other influnces come from the art world. He's not the first person to come to the club to wax lyrical about the Hudson River School and the likes of Albert Bierstadt, or closer to home, the great JMW Turner.
On the afternoon before his presentation to the club; some members were lucky enough to go on a field trip with Paul out to Thorncombe Woods where he gave lots of tips ... more of those were on offer later, when he gave a bit of an insight into his processing techniques.
Next up ... sit back in the comfort of your own home for a zoom talk with Micheal Wilson ...
