Avebury at Sunrise

 Last winter we had only one day where there was enough frost to see it in a photograph, so with clear sky and frost forecast, we planned an early sunrise shoot. We headed with friend Martin and his faithful dog Scamp , to Avebury Circle, which meant getting up at 05.30.... not so good! We had been there in the summer so had a good idea of where to park etc,  which saved precious time when we arrived. The national trust car park was locked.

We arrived with the thermometer reading -4, but with appropriate clothing and gloves, it wasn't so bad.  It was still semi dark when we arrived, the sun glowing over the back of the mound behind the
stones.

07.24

A magical mist began to rise, but lasted no more than 10 mins. I opted to shoot low
in an attempt to exaggerate the mist

07.45  Switched to wide angle for a few minutes. A difficult site to include the whole circle.
Even at 14mm the left hand trees were cut off.

This time, all the trees, but not all the circle.

08.00 and the sun almost over the mound.  Martin chose to shoot from the ridge at this point.
I waved my arms meaning to ask him to move!   He thought I meant "right a bit", but his silhouette turned
out quite useful. 

Moving outside of the circle further. I liked the bird sitting on the stone, and
one man and his dog on the ridge

08.23 Climbed up onto the ridge to see beyond, the sun now risen over the frosty fields beyond.
The inevitable lens flare.

The tree which proved to be a huge asset with the morning sun, and the stones to the
west just starting to catch the suns rays

Lovely light on the stones

Looking south east over the ridge

The little church alight with the suns rays.

Hard frost 

08.34 The large stone now almost  half lit. The light was changing every second.

08.44 time for breakfast

9.09 and the large stones now fully lit

More stones extend to a separate circle across the main road

A few more photographers arrive

09.14

09.20 The sun a little  higher and fabulous shadows a from that very useful tree

Across the road, and another circle

Scamp cant believe we have not yet finished

On this side of the road, a moat allows below ground level shots

Loved the rim lighting here

09.51 and the light now further round lights the stones in this other field.
I also loved the tufts of frosty grass so back down again on my knees!

One man and his dog in the distance

10.16 Time to go. Bacon calling


A boring featureless sky, but I guess that comes with frost.
A wonderful venue with plenty of photographic opportunities. Important to revisit some of the stones
over the course of the visit, as the light kept changing,