The grass was soft under my back. A verdant mattress that cushioned my sore body. My pack lay abandoned a few feet away, balanced neatly against the stone pyramid that marked the summit of the peak, next to my boots. I crossed my arms behind my head, closed my eyes and enjoyed the feel of the breeze as it ruffled my hair and cooled my feet.

In a bit, I told myself, I would open my eyes and take in the view. It was why I was here, after all, why I’d hiked the seven miles with so much photographic equipment.

The view was spectacular, and the day was perfect for capturing it. The sun glinted cheerfully off the lake, far below in the valley, and small coloured triangles of sail darted back and forth, pushing dinghies before the breeze. Small clouds floated in the azure sky, casting dappled shadows over the fields and moorland.

I set up my tripod and camera and selected the perfect lens, set the polariser and graduated filter, and took the first shot.

Then the clouds shifted, and the sun glared off every car.