Wistman’s Wood, an old woodland that seems like something out of a storybook, is hidden deep among the woodlands of Dartmoor, England. It’s little wonder that the spooky region is connected with a variety of strange folklore tales, with moss-covered stones and a tangled network of twisted trees—many writers have even labeled the woods as “the most haunted place on Dartmoor.” This terrifying reputation didn’t deter fine art photographer Neil Burnell, who braved the misty woodland to capture its allure.
Burnell’s continuous series, aptly dubbed Mystical, brings viewers to an unusual setting that has been mainly let to grow wild. His photographs show how old trees have twisted their roots and stretched their branches over massive granite rocks, while a thick carpet of moss covers the whole forest floor.
Burnell told My Modern Met, “I love to try to create an atmosphere in my images, and Wistman’s is one of the most atmospheric locations I’ve seen.” “Woodland photography is notoriously difficult, and I enjoy a challenge.” Burnell visited the region roughly 20 times in the last year to shoot his photographs, seeking to catch the right shot. The greatest time to visit, according to the photographer, is during “blue hour,” the hour shortly before sunrise. Burnell was able to capture the woodland at this moment by enveloping it in a veil of hazy, mystical mist.
In his series Mystical, fine art photographer Neil Burnell depicts the lovely Wistman’s Wood.
The creepy area, which has moss-covered rocks and a tangled network of twisted trees, is linked to a number of strange stories.
Burnell’s continuous series transports viewers to a fantastical universe that has been largely left to its own devices.
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