Chris Drabble explores the impressive remains of Magpie Mine to find that its atmospheric ruins and vivid outline provide a fabulously compelling subject for landscape photography especially on a summer’s evening when silhouetted against a dramatic sky.
DURING the summer months, my attention inherently turns to the latter part of the day when the setting sun casts long, evening shadows across the landscape.
At this time of year, skies become a more prominent feature in my landscape photography and I find myself looking for subjects that can be incorporated into an expansive sky.
A focal point on the ground helps to give sunset photographs a sense of scale and a visual reference. Manoeuvring your viewpoint to a position where the light strikes the subject at an oblique angle also helps to enhance the three dimensional aspect of trees and buildings. These simple compositional techniques help to create a sense of depth and structure in the photograph.
The Magpie Mine
Clouds are essential. Clouds can create a sense of drama or provide layers of light and shade that emphasise the recession and contours of the land.
At sunset, clouds reflect the dappled golden tones of the sun which in contrast to the natural cool blue of the sky creates a captivating and vivid contrast between these primary and complimentary colours. A kaleidoscope of pink, yellow, red, magenta and amber tones are also often blended into the mix of colours.
Magpie Mine is a fabulous place to explore for photographic compositions. The most impressive features are its Cornish style Engine House and the adjacent circular chimney. These two towering features puncture the sky and make wonderfully defined silhouettes when photographed directly into sun.
The Magpie Mine in silhouette
I have found that there are occasionally young cattle wondering the site. I can’t say that I’ve never encountered a problem with them and they don’t seem to be particularly unnerved by visitors. However, they can be a little inquisitive and so I would always advise that visitors are mindful of their whereabouts.
The Magpie Mine at sunset
Magpie Mine is open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This lack of any time restriction makes it perfect for taking photographs of night skies and summer sunsets.
Magpie Mine was the last working lead mine in Derbyshire and it is also one of the oldest lead mines in the Peak District dating from 1740 until its closure due to the price of cheaper imported lead in the 1950’s.
The best place to gain access to the site is probably the road side spaces at the crest of the Grin Low on the Bakewell to Flagg Road. Visitors are asked to take care not to block the gateway and I would advise that you always try to tuck your car in as close to the verge as possible in case a farm vehicle needs to get by.
Magpie Mine was listed as a Scheduled Monument in 1974.
An excellent resource for information about the history of Magpie Mine can be found on the website of the Peak District Mines Historical Society.
I have returned to Magpie Mine many times over the years and I have always found it to be superbly reliable in terms of its photographic potential and perfectly adept at complimenting stormy skies.
Magpie Mine under storm clouds
Editor’s Note: Chris Drabble is a writer and photographer. He is also a member of Bassetlaw Hill and Mountain Club (BHMC) and the Over the Hill Photographers Club. More of his Peak District photographs can be found at photo4me.com, Alamy and 500PX