Paul Moon

I live and work in the East Riding of Yorkshire and have been photographing the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds for many years. I’m very passionate about my local landscape and love the variety of subject matter on offer, from wide expansive views across twisting chalk dales to intimate details of plants and trees.

The Yorkshire Wolds is the most northerly chalk outcrop on the UK mainland and covers an area from the edge of the river Humber to the tall seabird cliffs at Flamborough and Bempton. Along its northern edge are views over the Vale of Pickering and its western edge rises steeply from the Vale of York.

It has unique deep-cut dry valleys which were formed when huge rivers of melt water from a previous ice age eroded the frozen chalk. Since their formation, these valleys have remained intact and provide havens for wildlife and rare chalk land habitats of wildflower meadows. Many of these valleys are open access land or are criss-crossed by local and national footpaths including the Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail, Chalkland Way and Minster Way.

Most of the images you’ll see on my website were taken within and around the open access chalk valleys over many years. These areas are made up of rich rough grassland, dense gorse and hawthorn scrub, small copses and ancient woodlands including Millington Wood Nature Reserve. Because of their steep sides they are mostly used as grazing land for sheep and cattle. It is a dry landscape with very little surface water although small springs at the valley depths create crystal clear chalk streams.

I’m a great believer in the power of photography to educate and to inspire people to look closely, and with a sense of wonder, at the beauty and variety of our wonderful English countryside.

I do hope you enjoy looking at my portfolio.