Weeping willow overhanging the lake at Harewood House

I visited Harewood House in Leeds for the first time in August this year. The lake, house and gardens are lovely and I'll definitely go back (especially for the afternoon tea overlooking the terrace!). The bright sunlight was just breaking through these thick weeping willow branches on the edge of the lake creating shadows, reflections and shimmering colours on the water.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/5, 1/125s, 35mm, hand held.

Tiny spiky pink flower covered in raindrops

This is a weed growing amongst the plants in my flower beds - I've no idea what it is. I'll be pulling it out with the dandelions etc when it finally stops raining, but in the mean time it looks brilliant covered in tiny raindrops!

I've posted 2 versions of the photo here for you to decide which you like best - the only difference is the depth of field.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200; 1/10s at f/16 / 1/80s at f/6.3; 90mm; tripod & cable release.

Little flower in woodland

A little purple flower standing out against a backdrop of green leaves beneath the trees at Hardcastle Crags.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/3.5, 1/400s, -1 step exp bias, 90mm, hand held.

Summer woodland scene.

This one's from August last year, in woodland on the shores of Derwentwater, near Portinscale. I love how thick and lush the greenery is, both on the ground and above.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 800, f/11, 1/160s, 24mm, hand held.

Winter trees silhouetted in fog.

I took this photo last Monday not far from where I live in Halifax. Having had to go to an early morning appointment, I was lucky to reach this favourite group of trees before the fog lifted - I just had chance to walk round them once, then it cleared.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/2, 1/160s, 35mm, hand held.

Exposed roots and leaves on the woodland floor.

This area of woodland is just above Mytholmroyd - I took the photo on the way back from a walk to Stoodley Pike in July this year.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/2.2, 1/60s, 35mm, hand held.

Winter trees at Hardcastle Crags.

This is from February this year - I love how the silver birch tree trunks and coppery leaves stand out from the dark greens.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/2.5, 1/250s, 35mm, hand held.

River flowing around mossy rocks and autumn leaves.

This is at Hardcastle Crags, photographed about this time last year. I took 3 different exposures - one fast, one very long and this one, which I think captures the best of both - the darker water is smoothed out to simplify the scene, but there's still an element of movement in the white water.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/18, 5s, 38mm, tripod & cable release.

Autumn leaves on a wooden bridge at Hardcastle Crags.

Another one from my walk around the Crags this week. I've photographed this bridge before, but with a greater depth of field. I thought a shallow depth of field would work well this time with the colourful fallen leaves.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/2.5, 1/60s, -1 step exp bias, 35mm, hand held.

Raindrops on a fallen oak leaf.

Here's another macro shot from last week's walk round Hardcastle Crags.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/100s, 90mm, hand held.

Autumn leaves.

Another one from yesterday's walk at Hardcastle Crags - a beautiful mixture of autumn colours.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/2.8, 1/160s, 35mm, hand held.

Fern amidst moss and decaying leaves.

I found this little fern at Hardcastle Crags in February this year - a lovely mixture of colours and textures.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/4, 1/125s, 35mm, hand held.

Bramble growing up a tree trunk.

This one's from a walk around the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in June this year. The brambles were growing around the base of the tree, but this branch had managed to creep its way right up the trunk.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/4, 1/60s, 35mm, hand held.

Light and shade under the trees at Hardcastle Crags.

I took this one in June last year - you can see the bright midday sunshine just managing to break through the branches into the shadows beneath.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 1600, f/9, 1/80s, 35mm, hand held.

Copper-coloured leaves and tree trunks at Eaves Wood.

I took this one in March this year, whilst walking along the top of Eaves Wood above Mytholm. I added a split tone to the shadows after being inspired by Mark Littlejohn, who uses this to great effect in some of his woodland photos. This enhances the contrast with the coppery leaves in the foreground.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/250s, 35mm, hand held.

Foggy autumn woodland.

Another one from early November last year at Hardcastle Crags. This is one of my favourite times of year at the Crags - the colours and light are gorgeous.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/7.1, 1/40s, 18mm, hand held.

Poppy plant in the sunshine.

I took this yesterday in my mum's garden. The big red flowers were begging to be photographed, but on closer inspection I realised how lovely the 'hairy' leaves and buds were too. I decided to get some shots using the flowers as a blurred back and foreground and focusing instead on the foliage.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/4, 1/640s, 35mm, hand held.

Multi-coloured fern amongst fallen leaves.

I spotted this unusually coloured fern at Hardcastle Crags early in November last year. I love the textures and patterns too.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/5.3, 1/50s, 42mm, hand held.

Woodland in Autumn.

Today's photo is from Hardcastle Crags on a slightly misty morning early in November last year. The light and colours were beautiful.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/50s, 34mm, hand held.

Contrasting tree lines in autumn woodland.

I love the mixture of colours in this photo from November last year. The main reason I took it, though, was to show the contrast between the crooked, horizontal foreground branches and the straight, vertical trunks in the background - they almost look like they're trying to hide them.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/30s, 55mm, hand held.