England has long been a haven for rich woodlands of oak, birch, hazel, and pine, chronicled in famous stories like Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest. In British photographer Neil Burnell‘s ongoing series Mystical, he takes a look at the fairytale-like atmosphere created by the thick fog, gnarled trees, and moss-covered stones of Wistman’s woods in Dartmoor, Devon, England. And this particular wood has long been the subject of folklore and myth, with many writers describing it as the most haunted location in Dartmoor.
Despite the supernatural tales, Burnell is attracted to the atmosphere and photographic challenge of the English forest.
I have probably visited the woodland around 20 times in the last year, but unfortunately it has only had the required mist on two occasions,” Burnell explains to Colossal. “Photographing it without the mist/fog is a hard task and almost impossible to make images with the atmosphere I am looking for.
Besides Dartmoor, Burnell also visits dense stands of conifers, with canopies that create dreamlike effects as they block the sunlight from reaching the ground below. Here are some stunning woods pictures captured by Burnell and you can also find more of his work on Behance.
h/t: colossal
