The Hardy Tree
Tucked into the corner of St Pancras Old Church's churchyard, the Hardy Tree is one of London's most quietly atmospheric photo subjects, an ancient ash tree ringed by hundreds of weathered Georgian headstones arranged in tight concentric rows around its base. The interplay between the gnarled roots, moss-covered stone, and layered grave markers gives you strong textural compositions at almost any angle. Get low and shoot upward through the stones to emphasize their density and the tree's reach, or come in close with a 35mm or 50mm lens to isolate individual headstone faces against the bark. Overcast days work best here, as dappled sunlight creates harsh contrast and the flat, even light of a cloudy afternoon brings out the texture and tone of the stone. The churchyard is free to enter and quiet on weekday mornings, giving you the best chance to shoot without visitors in frame. (London, England, United Kingdom)
