Naked photo shoot

It could only happen to you, said my husband when I rang from Stanage Edge just after sunset. To be fair to me, it had been his idea to pack me off on a surprise visit to the Peak District. September is the month when I normally go away with my camera for a few days, but having spent a week in Scotland back in April, I didn’t expect another trip for at least a year. In fact, until the middle of August, I didn’t even know where I wanted to go. Then, out of the blue, I announced I wanted to go back to Derbyshire, promptly bought a couple of guide books and found the lovely B&B where I stayed seven years ago.

It was when the owner got back to me that I asked hubby if I should go in April or September 2020. He shocked me by asking if I wanted to go next month, which by then was only a few days away. I protested at the lack of time for planning, but as the offer was about to be withdrawn, I made an impulsive decision and asked if the B&B could fit me in at short notice. They could and so began a frantic three weeks of preparations. In the end, I opted to go for five locations I had visited before and five new ones, although most of them were close to Hope Valley where I would be staying.

My first session was at Stanage Edge and I arrived a couple of hours before sunset. I knew exactly where to find the abandoned millstones. Literally, thousands are scattered around the countryside and they have been there since the mid-eighteenth century when the importation of cheaper French millstones spelt the end for the local industry. The weather wasn’t ideal, but having waited for an hour, I finally settled on the image featured above.

Packing up my gear, I decided to make the short climb to the top of the edge, but I didn’t find much to photograph. The rocks were scattered everywhere and it took too much effort to clamber to the edge, only to discover there wasn’t much foreground interest. Before too long I decided to wander back to the highest point to find a good view for sunrise on my last morning. A jogger approached, but as I stepped to one side, he slowed down and warned: “naked photoshoot ahead”. Not knowing what to make of this, I joked that I would be careful where I pointed my camera. However, I had only gone a few yards, when looking to my right I spotted a nude model surrounded by male photographers. I managed to walk past with my eyes fixed firmly to the ground, but then I felt awkward about setting up my gear. In the end, I thought the best solution was to return to the millstones below. I had only descended a few feet when a female voice shouted for me to stop. It was the girl (now wrapped in a tiny dressing gown) and she was heading in my direction. She was concerned I might be leaving because of the shoot and of course, that made me feel awkward, but for a totally different reason.

So we stood there on Stanage Edge, with the sun setting behind and chatted. We chatted about her home in Wales, about my animals at home and about all the stunning locations around the Peak District. Eventually, I had to rush away before the sun finally disappeared, but I left feeling I had made a friend. The sunset shot can be seen below and perhaps my husband was right. It could only happen to me…