Mystical Photos of the Enchanting English Forests of Wistman’s Wood

Wistman’s Wood Mystical Photos by Neil Burnell

Deep within the forests of Dartmoor, England is Wistman’s Wood, an ancient woodland that looks like something from a fairytale. Featuring moss-covered boulders and tangled web of twisted trees, it’s no surprise that the eerie location is associated with a number of supernatural folklore tales—many writers have even described the woodland as “the most haunted place on Dartmoor.” However, this fearful reputation didn’t scare away fine art photographer Neil Burnell, who braved the foggy forest to capture its enchanting charm.

Aptly titled Mystical, Burnell’s ongoing series transports the viewer to an extraordinary world that’s largely been left to grow wild. His images show how the ancient trees have spread their branches and twisted their roots around giant granite boulders, while a thick carpet of moss covers the entire forest floor.

“I love to try and produce an atmosphere in my images and Wistman’s is one of the most atmospheric places I've visited,” Burnell told My Modern Met. “The woodland is also notoriously difficult to photograph and I love a challenge.” To capture his images, Burnell visited the area around 20 times over the last year, trying to capture the perfect image. The photographer reveals that the best time to visit is at “blue hour,” the hour just before sunrise. At this time, Burnell was able to capture the forest when enveloped in a layer of hazy, magical mist.

Fine art photographer Neil Burnell captures the enchanting Wistman’s Wood in his series, Mystical.

Wistman’s Wood Mystical Photos by Neil Burnell

Featuring moss-covered boulders and tangled web of twisted trees, the eerie location is associated with a number of supernatural tales.

Wistman’s Wood Mystical Photos by Neil Burnell

Burnell’s ongoing series transports the viewer to an extraordinary world that’s largely been left to grow wild.

Wistman’s Wood Mystical Photos by Neil Burnell

Neil Burnell: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Behance

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Neil Burnell.

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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