A nine-and-a-half-mile walk, only to come home with this?

It could have been worse. It's the last day of the year, and I'm out early in a bid to see it out with a photograph. The sky didn't look encouraging from the off, and the weather forecast was more or less spot-on. The tinge of warmth that did materialise in the cloud as the sun rose disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and I was left with endless grey.

Still, at least it was good exercise.

© 2024

In one sixth of an hour

I've been at this photography game for quite some time now, but it still amazes me as to how quickly conditions can change. 10 minutes before this shot was taken it was raining, and the sky was heavily overcast.

© 2024

Good times, not so good times

There are the (admittedly) rare times when all that's necessary is to wave the camera about at arm's length to get good images, whilst at other times it's hard work to get anything usable. Okay, hyperbole regarding that first remark, but today's shoot definitely applies to the second.

All the elements are in place for something memorable to happen as the sun rises over the ocean, but the reality is quite different, and I'm left scratching about making the most of what's available.

© 2024 

Target fixation

It's a calm morning on the coast, with temperatures slightly below average, and although the sky is in a state of flux I'm struggling to find a composition. I'm trying to make something of the tubular framework that sits over the concrete outfall that deals with heavy rainfall in the area, but it's not working. 

The pool of still seawater in the foreground doesn't extend far enough so that I can isolate the structure and make use of the reflection, so I opt to include the pier. I had been so preoccupied with one angle that I almost missed this one. A few minutes later and the cloud cover returned.

© 2024

Gritty day; gritty picture

The beauty of monochrome is that a scene can be photographed under any conditions. It's what you do afterwards that makes the difference. It's an average winter's day, and low cloud rules out any chance of spectacular light as the sun barely creeps into the sky at this time of year. With that in mind, I'm on the lookout for shape and form, and find it with this clump of Marram grass at Branksome Dene beach. 

I gave the image a blue tint and applied a generous amount of "film grain" in post processing, to add to the grittiness of the day.

© 2024 

The tree on the beach

I'm always on the lookout for this kind of thing, especially when dealing with flat light. Looking directly downwards, water that has drained onto the beach has created a shape on the sand that resembles a tree. How nature has the habit of repeating itself.

© 2024

L'heure bleue revisited

I'm becoming quite a fan of shooting in the blue hour, as the hues on display before the sun breaks the horizon at either end of the day can be stunning.

© 2024