Penn Wood nearly became a golf course. Burnham Beeches hid 100,000 military vehicles under its canopy before D-Day. Two heavyweight ancient woodlands, two very different characters, and between them some of the finest woodland photography conditions in the Chiltern Hills.

There are over a thousand named woodlands in the Chiltern Hills. Ancient, atmospheric, and free to walk into on any given morning with a camera and a dog. This is where the series starts — two of Buckinghamshire's finest bluebell woods, and why woodland photography will test your patience and reward it in equal measure.

I’ve spent years refining what I carry on a photography walk, slowly stripping things back until the gear stopped dictating the experience. This post isn’t about the latest cameras or must-have accessories, but about finding a setup that allows walking and photography to coexist naturally. From my Sony A350 on general photowalks to the more deliberate Sony A700 for book and print work, this is a reflection on simplicity, comfort, and learning to carry only what genuinely earns its place.

Can you really do photography on a budget and still get good images? I put that idea to the test with a £110 Sony A-350 from 2008 — proof that you don’t need the latest gear to capture something worth keeping.