Autumn evening at Grafham Water

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A couple of weeks ago I took a trip over to Grafham Water in the hope that I would get a decent sunset, and find a few shots of the autumn colours that line the reservoir. Thankfully I managed to get both, which was a nice bonus.

Grafham Water is a reservoir with a circumference of about 10 miles. It is the eighth largest reservoir in England by volume and the third largest by area at 1,550 acres. The lake was created by filling a valley full of water which is retained by an earth and concrete dam. 

A section of relatively young woodland, it's yellow carpeted floor lit up by the late afternoon sunshine.

Since its conception in the mid 1960s, Grafham Water has evolved into a nationally important wildlife haven, which culminated in its designation as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1986. The reservoir was immediately colonised by wildlife and a nature reserve surrounding the western side of the reservoir was soon created to help maintain and enhance the site's potential. 

Some golden autumn hues under a clear blue sky.

The nature reserve contains semi-natural ancient (at least 400 years old) woodlands and more recent plantation woodlands, grasslands and wetland habitats such as reedbeds, willow and open water. As of January 2011, it was the only site in England, and the first in the UK, to harbour the invasive killer shrimp!

Looking along the shore of the reservoir, lined with autumn colour.

Regimented lines of trees in the sun.

Blue and gold.

A local resident floats past a wall of autumn foliage.

As afternoon began to turn into dusk, a blush of colour appeared on the horizon.

In this long exposure image, the sun lays a beam of light over the glass smooth lake.

The colour in the sky started to get going as the sun sank below the horizon.

Looking away from the setting sun, the clouds took on a delicate magenta tone.

With the twilight in full bloom, what clouds there were became suitably vibrant.

The surface of the reservoir took on the lively colours of the sky, as the surrounding view was suffused with
a warm amethyst atmosphere. 

The last of the light before it began give way to the gloaming of the night.