Composed: March 2026

Studies in mist, light and early spring landscapes

March was a more fruitful month for my photography. Several trips into the woods and along the Suffolk coast proved deeply rewarding. With the spring equinox arriving later in the month, there were clear signs of the seasonal shift, a quiet emergence from the hibernation of winter.

Misty mornings defined much of early spring. I made a couple of trips to photograph local woodland shrouded in fog, spent time along the promenade at Felixstowe and made an early visit to Aldeburgh before work. A particularly successful trip to Constable Country became one of the highlights of the month. I also headed out on the final weekend to capture sunrise at Felixstowe, which felt like a fitting way to close out March

Work has been busy as well, with photoshoots for new menus across three hotels, including two separate afternoon tea shoots. Alongside this, I am close to finishing a video project that has been in progress for the past few months.

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A Woodland with Potential

I returned to a small woodland and nature reserve with the intention of finding new compositions. There was hope of mist that morning. While the surrounding area was covered, it did not fully break through the canopy. I made a few images, but more importantly, it became a valuable scouting trip for the future.

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Mist Amongst the Ancients

This was a moment where timing and conditions aligned. I had a few days off at the start of the month and kept a close eye on the weather. There was a possibility of mist and fog, though nothing guaranteed. I have a number of locations in mind for these conditions and this woodland is one of them, though this visit felt different.

The wood is dense with ancient oaks, some of which may have stood for over 400 years. The canopy is heavy, and it is rare to see fog settle within it. After seeing how the conditions had developed near home, I knew it was worth heading out.

I began in the main section of the woodland, revisiting compositions that had never quite worked without mist. From there, I followed the path toward the edge of the oaks, exploring both familiar and new perspectives.

This is a place I will return to and a full post on this trip will follow.

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Mist on the Promenade

Later that same day, I walked along the promenade at Felixstowe. Still wrapped in mist, it felt like an entirely different place. Familiar surroundings took on an almost otherworldly quality, softened and simplified by the conditions.

Wandering in Aldeburgh

As with many of my visits tied to work, I begin by wandering. I take images both for the hotels and for myself. On this occasion, I found myself drawn again to a developing personal project I call Portals. Doorways and windows continue to catch my attention across the different places I visit, and this collection is steadily growing.

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A Misty Morning in Constable Country

With part of the A12 closed in north Suffolk, I headed south toward Essex and on to Flatford, on the border. This area is better known as Constable Country. With the 250th anniversary of John Constable’s birth this year, I wanted to spend time exploring the landscape that shaped his work.

I made my way to Willy Lott’s Cottage, made famous by Constable’s 1821 painting The Haywain. I spent time photographing along the river, capturing the cottage and the mill buildings beyond, before moving out into the surrounding vale.

Once again, the mist settled in. Moving through it, I stayed close to the river, using it as a guide. Visibility was limited, which made the experience feel more focused and intentional. As the sun began to break through, the light caught the moisture in the air, creating a soft glow across the landscape.

Moments like this reward patience. It is easy to be overwhelmed, but slowing down allows the subjects to reveal themselves more clearly.

I will return here again this year and hope to visit some of the exhibitions marking Constable’s anniversary. I may share more from those experiences in time.

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Felixstowe Pier and the Waves

On the final weekend of the month, I returned to the coast for sunrise at Felixstowe. The pier was my main focus. I have photographed it before, but this time I spent longer exploring both sides with a good friend.

I worked with long exposures using ND filters to smooth the water, and also spent time capturing the movement at the shoreline. The patterns in the water continue to draw me in, the ripples, swirls and reflections of light shifting constantly.

Focusing closely on the surface reveals a quieter, more abstract side of the sea. It is something I used to return to often at sunrise and it felt good to revisit that approach.

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Commercial Work

The past few weeks have been busy at The Hotel Folk as we roll out new spring menus across the hotels, with more still to come. There are additional shoots planned in the coming weeks as we continue developing upcoming launches.

I have captured a range of images over the past month. Some are tied to projects that have yet to be released, so I will share those at a later date.

Video

Over the past few months, I have really enjoyed filming and editing across several projects at work. Toward the end of last year, we began producing a short documentary-style film focused on the new afternoon tea crockery for The Swan. Alongside this, I have been working on an internal video that I am unable to share, but it has been a rewarding process.

I’m looking forward to sharing the finished documentary in the coming weeks once it is released.

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Monthly Listening

Continuing my favourites again, with the music that has shaped my daily work and caught my attention over March.

• Under Pressure — Queen

• Once — Liam Gallagher

• Heroes — David Bowie

• Banjo Song — Mumford and Sons

• We Didn’t Start the Fire — Billy Joel

• Refuge — Dermot Kennedy

• Politik — Coldplay

• Rooting for You — London Grammar

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As winter gave way to spring, March offered moments of stillness, softness, and change. It’s a month I’ll remember for its atmosphere as much as the images themselves, and a reminder that the quietest conditions often leave the strongest impression.

Thank you for reading. I would love to hear your thoughts and which images stood out. If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

You can also follow my recent work on Instagram at @mattt_finch.

Matt

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