Later that same day...

Not content with photographing the solstice dawn, I take a morning trip to the Purbeck hills, primarily because the sky looks so interesting and I might get something good.

This lone tree on Nine Barrow Down is echoed by the cloud formation above it. I use a polarising filter to increase the contrast, knowing full well I will convert the image to black and white when I get home.

© 2022

Solstice dawn: 4:46 a.m.

The alarm on my phone wakes me up at 3:30 a.m. and I'm up shortly afterwards, peering out of the window at the approaching dawn. Having made a swift appraisal of the weather conditions - there's some high-level cloud to the east, but otherwise clear - I grab my Lowepro and travel no further than my local park to photograph the solstice sunrise.

 © 2022

White Cliffs Country

Looking west towards Port of Dover

South Foreland Lighthouse.

This morning should have featured a hot air balloon flight, but for the umpteenth time since the start of the Covid pandemic it has been cancelled; this time due to poor weather. 

Intent on not wasting what are still decent conditions, Nic and I visit the South Foreland Lighthouse - situated near St Margaret's Bay - and walk the cliff path to Fan Bay Deep Shelter.*

The route provides panoramic views of the English Channel - and on a clear day to France - as well as the famous White Cliffs.

*Tunnels constructed 23 metres below the chalk cliffs to provide shelter and accommodation for the artillery battery during World War II.

© 2022

 
 

The last day of Spring.

The last day of Spring, and quite possibly the last day walking in the surrounding hills... at least until autumn. 

© 2022

Knocking-off time

Although the holiday season is yet to get into full swing, the local beaches are notably deserted. Showery weather is the most likely cause, and after a second afternoon downpour the on-site lifeguard decides he's had enough for one day.

© 2022

St James church

 

Late spring, and nature is back in full swing on the Isle of Purbeck

© 2022

Red

                                                                                                Bus stop wall.

© 2022

The urban micro landscape

                                                                                                  City leaf.

© 2020

Fresh

 

Newly painted sign detail, Bournemouth beach.

© 2022

Something that caught my eye

 

Beach kiosk, Portman Ravine, Dorset

© 2022

Blue and red

Branksome Chine beach.

© 2022

Monochrome

Top: Café window, Boscombe beach.

Below: CCTV mast, Canford Cliffs.

                                                                           

© 2022

The last sunrise of winter

I'm sure I've used that title before, but it is what it is. 

© 2022

My favourite trees

Corfe Castle, Isle of Purbeck, is at the end of today's 8 mile ramble with my camera through the Dorset countryside. The weather has been very good all the way, and the ever changing sky has produced some wonderful light for landscape photography.

It looked like the heavens were about to open as I arrived, but the rain held off and after thirty minutes or so the sun broke through the clouds once more.

© 2022 

Just after sunrise

                                                                            Branksome Chine beach, Poole Bay.

© 2022 

What more can I say?

                                                                                           Low tide at sunset.

© 2022

I give up

Sea and landscape photography is all about the light. Stating the obvious, I fancy, but being able to accurately predict weather conditions plays a major part in the success or failure of a shoot. I'm currently using two web sites in an attempt to get reliable forecasts: the UK's Met Office, and more recently, AccuWeather. 

Today they contradict each other (as is often the case); one advises me of 95% cloud cover all day, the other indicates sun and showers, but during late afternoon. Both, as it turns out, are wrong for the most part.

Unable to garner any useful information from what's on offer I set out before dawn regardless, if only for the enjoyment of the walk, and am presented with the above scene about an hour after sunrise.

© 2022

Tearing it up

An unexpected break in the cloud cover on a morning walk gives me shifting pools of light to work with. Two exuberant dogs complete the scene.

© 2022 

Going viral

It's a phenomenon I've been aware of for many years, and it usually goes as follows: You think you're producing good work but it gets little recognition, but when you just know a performance is mediocre it gets mass acceptance and praise. It's frustrating, but it is exactly what has happened regarding this image.

I took the photograph more or less as a casual snap once I had arrived at the water's edge, and although there was the usual degree of care with the composition, I thought little of it at the time. Processing the file later in the evening, I offhandedly posted it on a local social media site... and it went viral.

Granted, the scene has a bit drama in it, but personally I don't see what all the fuss was about.

© 2022

Echo

Almost three weeks into the year and I haven't taken a photograph that I'm pleased with. It's not for the want of trying, but numerous visits to beaches and hikes in the hills haven't produced the goods... until today.

Sunrise at 8am wasn't anything special because of too much cloud cover, but after an hour or so the clouds parted for long enough to give me some fleeting light before rain rolled in from the west.

I particularly like the way the shapes in the wet sand echo those of the sky.

© 2022