There's loads of equations out there to help photographers take better photos - relating to exposure, F number, shutter speed, focal length and stuff like that (they usually have a chap write about this in Amateur Photographer magazine each week). I guess these kind of equations have their place and are useful if you're into the technical side of making images.
I'm not brilliant at maths, but there's a really useful equation which I'm using at the moment. I goes something like this:
Frosty morning+mist+decent sunrise=no time for breakfast
Nothing transforms a familiar landscape like snow.
The mundane suddenly takes on a new beauty under a mantle of the white stuff.
I've been waiting a couple of years now for some decent snowfall in Worcester. The photos I have of the city, and particularly the Cathedral, were taken the last couple of times we had snow.
So, when the forecast was for a wintry blast to pass across Worcestershire, particularly on a weekend without work the next day, a trip up the Malvern Hills first thing was on the cards.
Having said that, with the car temperature gauge showing -2.5C, it would have been easy to knock it on the head and forget about an early morning trek up the hills to catch the sunrise.
As it happened, I forgot to turn off the alarm and at 6am I was peering out of our bedroom window staring at a light dusting of snow which had fallen overnight - this usually means the top of the Malvern Hills will have received a fair amount.
As it happened, there was around 2-3 inches of snow at the top of the hills, but before dawn the Beacon was covered in mist - this hung around until well after sunrise, so no spectacular sunny crisp shot to start with.
After an hour or so at the top it was apparent the mist was there to stay, so I ventured to a section of the hills near British Camp. However, making my way back to the car at Wyche Cutting, the pathway splits and I had a mooch around.
By now it was light enough for handheld shots and I took the pic below of the pathway disappearing into the distance under an archway of snowy branches.
It seemed destined to become a black and white those and interestingly, it was this photo which the BBC used as the headline shot for the weather on Tuesday evening this week (Jan 20).
I ended up staying up the hills until around 10.30am, by which time the sun had broken through, lighting up the snow on the hills and the neighbouring fields and woods at lower levels, bathing them in warm winter sunshine.
Was it worth getting out of bed for?
I think so.
You can see the photos in the Malvern Hills section of this website.
Had a great time at St Paul's Church Big Breakfast this morning. Started with a Full English and then met lots of great people - some even bought some photos.
All helps to fund St Paul's CityCare - reaching out and changing lives across Worcester. Thanks a million.