Reaching the Pinnacle

High above the village of Sutton-in-Craven there is a stone obelisk known as Wainman’s Pinnacle, built in 1898 as a memorial to the Napoleonic Wars.

Just 200 metres from the roadside, when you arrive at the Pinnacle, the view across the surrounding countryside is truly spectacular.

I had visited the site before as a good friend and fellow photographer lives in the village below but hadn’t managed to grab any noteworthy images.

Conditions on first arriving this time, didn’t look good. The sky was a monotone blanket of grey cloud but within minutes of finding a composition the clouds started to break up and reveal some fantastic light.
God rays came streaming through the gaps in the clouds making for an atmospheric group of images. Using a 4-stop graduated ND filter and braketing exposures allowed be to really bring out the cloud and sun ray detail.

The monument sits on a gritstone crag (Earl Crag), and the rocks have a variety of pools, potholes and puddles that make for some perfect reflections. Add to that the late summer heather in bloom and there was a wealth of compositions on offer.

Further along the crag is Lund’s Tower, easily reached by following the path across the ridge. Together the two towers are know locally as the Salt and Pepper Pots.