If there is one place on the face of earth where I wouldn’t hesitate to return is Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument constructed around 3000 BC and is one of the most famous landmarks in the United Kingdom. The site and its surroundings were added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986.
The first time I visited the site was in 2017 while I was on a photography trip to Cornwall with a friend of mine, we made sure to drive down from Bristol airport before heading down to Helston where we were staying in a beautiful house for the duration of the trip.
Stonehenge
When I saw the monument, I felt an immediate connection with the place. It could be the fascination towards the place taking over my emotions, but I could feel there is something magical in the air. The weather complimented the scene nicely with dark nimbostratus clouds over the unique landscape, it was exactly what I hoped for to create an even more dramatic image. The dark atmosphere took me to a prehistoric past, and for some time, all the visitors seemed to vanish, while I was engulfed by the atmosphere of this huge place. When my senses got back on Earth I decided to start with my planned shoot, I did go around the perimeter to try and make some order in my mind by composing the monoliths definable as much as possible without stacking them over each other.
I often emphasize the importance to establish a connection with the location I’m shooting, I feel there is a bond or an emotional connection between me and the place. Some places are more meaningful, and my personal experience evokes memories, which I cannot truly describe, it is almost like a past life memory that flashes in front of my eyes for a fraction of a second and suddenly gets lost in oblivion. This is particularly important for me to create the final image, it is not just about the natural environment, I can feel it even while I am in an urban setting or an abandoned building.
Prior to the visit, Stonehenge was one of a long list of places to visit on my bucket list, I had to go and experience the place for myself to see if it really does live up to the hype surrounding it. I was left asking a lot of questions after leaving. What was its true purpose? Does it have any connections with the metaphysical world? All these questions I kept asking myself without a definite answer, but what I am sure of is the effect it left on me, so much that during another photography trip, this time in Dorset, I made sure to revisit the place, only this time without the camera, I wanted to fully absorb the atmosphere without any distractions.
Visit Stonehenge: https://stonehengevisit.co.uk