Berghaus
The shoot for the new Berghaus Spring/Summer Collection was not just about capturing the latest gear, but also about telling a compelling story that would resonate with the audience and inspire them to get out and explore the great outdoors. With the goal of appealing to the UK hiking scene, I planned and prepared for an intense two-day shoot in the Lake District. To achieve a greater diversity of content, I partnered with Sarah Rodgers for the shoot, taking turns behind the camera and setting up the tripod and remote trigger to capture even more options, with both of us featuring in the images.
The first morning’s sunrise was a beautiful typical autumn day in the Lakes, with temperature inversions flooding the valleys below us with clouds. These unique conditions are rare but occur on calm clear mornings after a chilly night, making for some of the most magical scenes in the mountains. We had hiked up through Whinlatter Forest to the small summit of Seat How and could now look out across Keswick, seeing most of the Northern Fells, Derwentwater, and Bassenthwaite Lake (the only actual ‘lake’ in the Lake District; all others are meres, waters, or tarns). The trees of the forest below us were still holding their leaves; the cold of autumn hadn’t quite forced the colors to turn. As is often the case with seasonal collections, shooting out-of-season is necessary, but luckily these scenes could have been on a fine spring morning, which would save a lot of time in post-processing. We busied ourselves with a morning coffee, brewing up a drink on the stove, and shot the scene of us taking in the view before shooting and walking our way back down through the forests.
After relocating to the eastern shores of Thirlmere, with a quick lunch in Keswick on the way, we packed up our overnight bags ready for the main highlight of the shoot. I’d spotted a great spot to wild camp just down from the summit of Helvellyn, and with another optimistic weather forecast, we looked set for some perfect conditions. Taking the less scenic but shorter route up the famous mountain, we captured the story of our ascent and took an opportunistic diversion down the opposite ridgeline towards Catstye Cam to make the most of some great light. After finally making it to our final campsite on the slopes to the south of Helvellyn, we set up the tent, taking our time to capture engaging content while keeping an eye on the clock, before eating dinner and getting an early night.
The following morning, we awoke to a beautiful sunrise, casting rich golden light across the mountains. I’d chosen this camp spot for its brilliant view over Striding Edge, and in this low morning light, it looked amazing. Contrasted against the bright sky and a slight layer of mist catching light and adding depth to the landscape, there was so much atmosphere. Hiking back down after a successful shoot, I was pleased to have captured the clothes in a compelling story of adventure, exploration, and connection with nature.
