English Bluebells: Photography Tips

Every spring, Brampton Wood in Cambridgeshire comes alive with a stunning display of wild English bluebells, creating the perfect setting for photographers eager to capture their beauty.

As one of the county's oldest woodlands, Brampton Wood offers a natural environment that enhances the charm of these delicate flowers.

The wood's history, stretching back over 900 years, only adds to the sense of timeless beauty you’ll experience when photographing here.

From the moment you enter, bluebells appear in small clusters, but the true spectacle awaits at a corner of the wood, where vast patches of blue blanket the ground.

This spot is ideal for creating woodland shots or intimate close-ups, all in the heart of nature's finest spring show.

Here's how you can make the most of this brief yet stunning season of wild English bluebells.

Finding the bluebells

The information centre at Brampton Wood

You can reach the bluebells by either of the following routes:

From the main gate near the small car park, go to the information centre and take the right pathway behind it, following the wood's edge. Note that this route can be very muddy and sometimes impassable in April.
Alternatively, take the wide grassy Main Ride pathway, turn right at the Cross Ride, and follow the slope until it flattens out, reaching the same corner of the wood.

Heading for the Main Ride

Looking back down Cross Ride from the corner where the bluebells bloom

The best time to photograph bluebells

Timing is essential to capturing bluebells at their peak.

The early morning or late afternoon light filters beautifully through the woodland canopy, creating the soft, diffused lighting that enhances the rich colours of the bluebells and surrounding greenery.

Photography Tip: If rain is in the forecast, don’t cancel your shoot—light drizzle or morning dew can enhance the natural colour of bluebells, giving your photos a fresh, moody atmosphere.

But heavy rainfall may wash out colours and make woodland pathways muddy and treacherous.

The muddy path through the bluebell woods

Photographing bluebells

Equipment and settings

The following gear will help you capture the best photos of english bluebells.

Camera: Any DSLR or mirrorless camera with manual settings works well. Aim for something that performs well in low light, as woodlands are often dim.
Lens: A 50mm prime lens or macro lens is perfect for isolating individual flowers, while a wide-angle lens lets you capture the full expanse of a bluebell carpet.
Tripod: A must-have for shooting in low light. It helps stabilise your camera when using slower shutter speeds, which is important for artistic, soft-focus shots.
Lensbaby Velvet: For a dreamy, soft-focus effect, consider using a Lensbaby Velvet lens. This allows you to create ethereal, creative shots, perfect for highlighting the delicate structure of bluebells.

Photography Tip: Use a small aperture (f/8 or smaller) for detailed shots of individual flowers. For artistic, soft-focus effects, experiment with a wide aperture (f/1.8).

Creative Composition Ideas

When composing your bluebell shots, consider these creative approaches to make your images stand out:

Use leading lines: Woodland paths or streams make excellent leading lines, guiding the viewer's eye through a sea of bluebells toward a focal point like a tree or sunset.
Foreground, Middle Ground, Background: Create depth by placing a close-up of a single bluebell in the foreground while capturing a larger expanse of flowers and trees in the middle and background.
Low Angles: Get down to ground level to capture bluebells from a bug’s-eye view. A wide aperture can blur the background while keeping the flower in sharp focus.

Photography Tip: Carry a plastic sheet to lay on when getting low-angle shots, which protects your gear and keeps you clean.

I also try to be vigilant about stray branches or elements that can be a distraction in the frame. In the photo below you can see a light coloured piece of dried grass in the lower left corner which I would rather was missing.

English bluebells in the wood

Spanish or English Bluebells?

Wild English bluebells and Spanish bluebells are often confused but have key differences:

Leaves: The Spanish bluebell has wider leaves than the English (see the photos below)

Stems: Wild English bluebell stems gracefully droop; Spanish sit on straighter stems

Flower colour: Native English are darker blue/purple; Spanish can be paler or pinky mauve

Petal tips: Native bluebell flowers have curled tips; Spanish do not.

Spanish bluebells

English Bluebells

Why should we be concerned?

The Spanish plants are more vigorous and can outcompete or hybridise with native flowers, threatening the conservation of wild English bluebells.

Post-Processing Bluebell Photos

After your shoot, use Lightroom or Photoshop to fine-tune your images and bring out the natural beauty of the bluebells without making them look overly processed.

Consider these tips:

Boost colour saturation: Increase the vibrancy of the blues and greens slightly to make the flowers and surrounding foliage pop, but avoid over-editing.
Adjust exposure: Woodland settings can lead to dark images, so you may need to use exposure adjustments to brighten your shots without losing detail in the highlights.
Sharpening: Enhance the details of the delicate flowers by applying subtle sharpening, especially for close-up or macro shots.

Links to other pages you might find helpful:

Make a dark photo brighter

Sharpening a photo