Spring, and spring tide

It's Spring in the northern hemisphere (the vernal equinox was yesterday), and a spring tide - they have nothing to do with the season; they happen every month - at sunrise lures me to the beach. For the most part I try to avoid contrails in images, but this morning they add some much needed detail to the sky.

© 2026

Making it work

The visual transition into spring is well established now, but winter appears to be doing its best to reprise its role. The wind is gusting, and temperatures are just a couple of degrees celsius above freezing as I leave home in the pre-dawn gloom.

There's no cloud whatsoever this morning when I arrive at the beach. Photographing the sun rising into a clear blue sky never really works it for me, so today I look to shoot something that's more evocative than depictive.

© 2026

Seasonal change

It's just under three weeks until the clocks are put forward an hour, and British Summer Time (BST) begins. I'm already beginning to lose the sunrise over the sea as the seasons change - as well as the event happening earlier and earlier. Soon, seascape photography for me will be over until the autumn.

On the plus side the beaches are virtually deserted at this time of day, so I don't have to worry about any unwanted elements drifting into shot.

© 2026

Ad nauseum (well, not strictly true)

Every sky you see is unique; the sea never looks the same two days running. I will never get tired of photographing such mornings. 

 © 2026