A Return to Coastal Photography in Cornwall
After a long break, I return to Cornwall for some seascape photography. It’s also an excellent opportunity to catch up with a mate.
A Day Out in Cornwall
Looking through my Lightroom catalogue I was surprised to see that I hadn’t been to Cornwall or done any seascape photography since June. As part of my long-term photography project, I have been focusing my efforts on capturing images of Dartmoor. While there’s no doubt that this focus has paid dividends for my project, it has left me missing the coast.
There is also the cost of driving to Cornwall to consider. With fuel being so expensive it can be hard to justify burning through £25 of fuel on the off chance you might capture something new, unique, or special. However, there is one reason I will always head to Cornwall no matter what the cost of fuel is and that is to spend the day with my mate (who is also a photographer).
We hadn’t seen each other since my last trip in June and despite trying to organise something we found it impossible to align our availability and a half-decent weather forecast. Finally, when things did align, we just decided that we would make it a proper day out. Dawn to dusk.
Padstow Lifeboat Station
The first stop on our day out was Padstow Lifeboat Station near Trevose Head. When we arrived, we could sense the conditions might be favourable for us. Our first viewpoint was what you might call the classic viewpoint, close, and looking down on the lifeboat station. It’s a photograph we’ve both taken before and given that access is even more restricted these days, we decided to head along the coast to see if we could find a different angle.
Padstow Lifeboat Station at Trevose #1, Cornwall, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/11, 30 sec at ISO 64.
As we approached our alternative viewpoint the warm light from the rising sun started to illuminate the scene. While the sky lacked some contrast in the clouds, the rest of the view was a joy to shoot. I spent a bit of time wandering from one rocky outcrop to another and adjusting my focal length trying to decide whether to include the beach or not.
Padstow Lifeboat Station at Trevose #2, Cornwall, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 10 sec at ISO 64.
Padstow Lifeboat Station at Trevose #3, Cornwall, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 10 sec at ISO 64.
Padstow Lifeboat Station at Trevose #4, Cornwall, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 25mm, f/13, 3 sec at ISO 64.
Padstow Lifeboat Station at Trevose #5, Cornwall, South West Coast Path - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 13 sec at ISO 64.
In the end, I think both the wider and slightly tighter shots work well. I think we were both happy with our efforts. However, not happy enough that we didn’t think we ought to shoot those viewpoints again!
Snacks, Chat and Walking
I’ve never been much for capturing landscape photographs during the day unless the conditions are particularly special. Unfortunately for us, the conditions were less than special. So, what do you do then to fill the time until sunset? Easy! Eat, chat, and walk.
Things started with a cooked breakfast and coffee. This was followed by a bit of a walk. As photographers though, our walk still had a purpose. We used this valuable time to scope out new locations and discuss ideas for compositions. It wasn’t all photography chat though. We also covered other life critical issues such as the various Star Wars TV series and the new GoT show. Much was said on those two items.
It was then time for a cake stop, another walk, lunch somewhere, an ice cream, and another walk looking for new locations and viewpoints. Despite not taking any photos since sunrise, it was a most enjoyable way to spend the day.
Holywell Bay
The weather forecast for sunrise is what I might have called, inconclusive. It was hard to tell what was going to happen when comparing what we could see in the sky, and what the forecast was telling us. We ultimately decided to go to Holywell Bay. While my mate has shot this location many times, this was my first visit.
Arriving at Holywell Bay we wandered up and down the beach for a while, looking for compositions. Because of the settled conditions, the outgoing tide hadn’t created as many ripples and textures in the sand as we might have liked, but we did eventually find a composition we thought might work.
It had some of the elements we were looking for. Rippled sand, a pool of water, and a view directly out to Gull Rocks. There was even a chance that the sun might set between the two islands that make up Gull Rocks.
The only problem with shooting Cornwall’s beaches in peak season is that they are busy. Naturally, a calm, somewhat sunny evening means that the beaches can be full of people, even near sunset. There’s not a lot you can do about that, and people wandering in front of your beautifully crafted composition is just part of sharing the beach. I don’t get upset about it I just get the clone tool out!
Holywell Bay #1, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 27mm, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Holywell Bay #2, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 27mm, f/13, 3 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
With our day coming to an end, we looked back and concluded it was a successful day out. Though we’d captured some photographs, our primary goal, the highlight of day was catching up with a mate. Well, almost the highlight. We did get some chips on the way home from our favourite chippy. After all, we’d barely eaten anything all day!
Sharing the Joy of Printing
What's the best way to show someone the benefits of printing their landscape photographs? Simple. Take your Canon imagePROGRAF Pro-300 and some Fotospeed papers to Boscastle in Cornwall, meet a friend, take some photos, and then print them from your car!
From Discovery to Sharing
I first started printing my landscape photographs back in 2017. Since discovering the joy of printing, I have been sharing my passion for printing photographs at home on my blog, YouTube channel, and by talking about it at The Photography Show. I’ve even got this handy “playlist” of blog posts of my printing-related content here.
Over the years, I have been rather evangelical about printing but sometimes the only way to really get the message across is with a practical demonstration. Even better than that, why not take a printer on location with you, capture some photographs, and then print them! What could be more satisfying and exciting than capturing a photograph and then making a print all before breakfast?
This is exactly what I do in the video below. I’m joined by friend and fellow photographer Chris Sale as we both attempt to battle the thick fog of Boscastle harbour to capture a photograph that we can take back to the car and print.
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I hope you enjoyed this video. Chris might not be rushing out to buy his own printer, but he certainly appreciated the quality of the print and the experience of making one. It was a real pleasure being able to share my passion for printing in such a beautiful location and with such a good mate. It’s mornings like that one that makes photography such a rewarding thing to do.
Boscastle Coastline Photographs
Tides and Tempests by Rachael Talibart and Published by Kozu Books - On My Bookshelf S03E11
In this episode of On My Bookshelf I take a look at Rachael Talibart’s Tides and Tempests.
Sirens
Though I was familiar with Rachael’s work, it wasn’t until I saw her talk at The Photography Show in 2019 that I became a bit of a fan. Listening to her talk about her life, her journey from solicitor to photographer and most importantly her photographs, changed the way I viewed her work. Sometimes there is nothing like engaging with a photographer on a personal level to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for their work.
In the presentation, Rachael talked a lot about her body of work called Sirens. Though these aren’t the type of photographs I might capture, I found them fascinating. There is always something to learn from other people’s work. One of the things Rachael talked about was how her pictures lacked a sense of place. In other words, they could have been taken anywhere. This is perhaps why Rachael’s photographs have such a wide appeal. This is a complete contrast to my work which is very much about where the photograph was taken.
With my interest in Sirens very much sparked I decided to purchase a copy of the book. Unfortunately for me I was a little late to the party as it was completely sold out. I was disappointed for sure, but I had a feeling that since Sirens had been such a success Rachael would look to publish another book in the future. Fortunately for me I wouldn’t have to wait too long.
Tides and Tempests
Fast forward to December 2020 and my pre-ordered copy of Rachael’s new book Tides and Tempest has finally arrived. This book and Neil Burnell’s Mystical are the two books I have been most excited about getting this year. Was Rachael’s book worth the wait? Is it a book for your bookshelf? Let’s find out.
I do hope you enjoyed this episode of On My Bookshelf. If you’d like to purchase a copy of Tides and Tempests you can do so directly from Kozu Books here. Go on, treat yourself!
Exploring More of Start Point
I'm no stranger to Start Point but I thought it was about time to explore the area to see if I could find some new compositions.
Discovering More
I'm spoilt for choice when it comes to locations on the south Devon coast to watch and photograph the sunrise. One of my favourites is Start Point and I've captured numerous photographs from this distinctive coastal location. While the photographs I've captured feature a variety of different weather conditions, most of them all have one thing in common. They've all be taken from roughly the same spot.
The view that I normally capture at Start Point. Read the blog post for this image here.
The spot I like is high up on the peninsula looking down towards the lighthouse and out to sea. This is a great view, but I've always believed that there are other compositions to be found. I did make one brief trip further south-west along the coast one evening and I really liked the side-on view of the peninsula and the lighthouse. I've been meaning to go back for some time.
I would go to Start Point more often but it is a bit of a trek to get there. As the crow flies it's not far but by car, it's about an 80-minute drive from home and not always on the greatest of roads. As part of my personal commitment to do more exploring in 2020, I decided that I would make the effort to not only explore the views further down the coast but to also check out Mattiscombe Sands (which is only a short walk from Start Point).
At this time of year, the sunrise time isn't too late in the morning but also not too early that you need to get up at 3 am. With the weather conditions looking OK I decided that it was time to head back to Start Point. I contacted with my friend and super talented photographer Andy Campbell who was more than happy to join me on my latest adventure.
Old Location, New Views
Arriving at Start Point on the 21st of February, I was tempted to head straight to my favourite viewpoint and bag a safety shot but I managed to pull myself away and move further down the coast. I soon found a viewpoint I liked and started taking some photographs. The view gave me a side-on look at the peninsula and lighthouse and it looked dramatic. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photographs to share with you from that viewpoint as the light was pretty dull and none of the resulting images processed particularly well. It is a viewpoint I will be back to though so expect to see an image from there soon!
I then took a walk a little further down the coast again and though it is a similar view to the previous one I just described, this view has the addition of some jaggy foreground rocks which I like. I am happy to share a couple of those photographs but for me, that viewpoint will come alive as a sunset location when the light hits that peninsula and the rocks. I will be coming back to photograph that spot again as well.
Start Point Sunrise #1, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S at 36mm, f/13, 0.6 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL and ND Grad.
With my recce mission of Start Point complete, me and Andy took a walk along to Mattiscombe Sands. The sunrise had been long gone by then so we weren't going to be taking any photos but from what we could see there is a lot of potential at that location given the right tide. Another location marked for a future visit!
Start Point Sunrise #2, Devon - Nikon Z7, Nikkor 24-70mm f/4 S at 28mm, f/13, 0.8 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters K9 CPL and ND Grad.
Though my visit to Start Point was a short one it was a successful one. I wasn't expecting to get great images that morning, but I did want to check out some new viewpoints of Start Point and Mattiscombe Sands for future visits. So, in that sense, it was time well spent. Plus, I got to catch up with my friend Andi. Even when the conditions aren't great, if you've got a friend along with you it can still be a lot of fun.
I'll be heading back to Start Point again as soon as I can so stay tuned to my blog for more photos, blog posts and even a video!
Are there any locations you are planning to photograph this year that you haven't before? Let me know what is on your hit list in the comments below.
Windy Wheal Coates
In the blog this week I head to a windy Wheal Coates tin mine on the coast of Cornwall. With the weather forecast being less than favourable, would I be able to capture an image? Read on to find out if my creativity beat the windy conditions.
A Return to Wheal Coates in Cornwall
It doesn't seem that long ago that I last photographed Wheal Coates tin mine on the coast of Cornwall. When I looked in my Lightroom catalogue to find my last photograph from Wheal Coates I was shocked to see that it had been nearly two years to the day since I had last visited this great Cornish coastal location. Where does all the time go?
It's not as if I had forgotten about it. There's a pin for it on my custom Google map but for some reason, I just haven't been back. It was time to go back that was for sure.
If you read my blog on a regular basis you may remember reading my recent post on Dartmoor. In that post, I tell you why I headed up onto the moor when the weather forecast said I should really be at home. My most recent visit to Wheal Coates was in a similar situation. Any sane photographer wouldn't have even considered the 4-hour round trip if they'd looked at the weather forecast. But there was a small gap in the clouds predicated and given that I had the evening free, I thought it was worth a punt.
Typically Cornish Weather
As I drove along the A30 from Devon to Cornwall, I really started to question if I had done the right thing. Unlike my trip to Dartmoor the previous week which only involved a small drive, the drive to Wheal Coates was significantly longer. The further I drove into Cornwall the worst the weather got. At one point my windscreen wipers were on full and I was driving through a low-level cloud.
However, I was still clinging onto that predicated break in the cloud. It is well known that you can get some amazing light from cloud breaks after a storm passes by, so I just kept thinking about how pleased I would be with myself if I got a really nice shot.
As I pulled into the National Trust car park for Wheal Coates I looked out to the sea where I could see broken cloud, bits of blue sky and even the sun. I though that maybe this could turn out to be an amazing evening of photography.
Windy Wheal Coates
As I wandered down from the car park and onto the slopes, I was pleased to see that there was still a lot of heather about. Unfortunately, I was probably about two weeks too late to get it at its best, but it was still a wonderful sight to see.
You would, of course, think that with so much heather on the slopes that picking a composition is easy. It can however be a little more tricky than just sticking your tripod on the ground and snapping away. The slopes are a complex mesh of paths, gorse, heather and unsightly dead vegetation. So it's worth taking a little time to wander about and finding a nice clump of heather that also doesn't have too many unwanted distractions around it.
While I was wandering about looking for my composition I noticed the wind was picking up. I looked out to sea to see a very large bank of cloud heading my way. Well, there goes my sunset I thought! So I quickly got set up and took my first composition of the evening:
A Splash of Colour on a Grey Day at Wheal Coates #2, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 26 mm, 3 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
As you see in the image above I had already lost much of the light and clear sky. The cloud appeared very quickly and anyone who photographs Cornwall a lot will tell you that even in the summer the weather can change rapidly.
While I would have loved some light from the setting sun on the slopes I decided that I would #EmbraceTheGrey and make the most of the moody skies. For the next shot, I headed a little further down the slopes and closer to one of the old mine buildings.
A Splash of Colour on a Grey Day at Wheal Coates #1, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 20 mm, 2 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
As I looked back out to sea all I could see was cloud and the light was fading fast. I decided that I'd probably had the best of the conditions and it was time to head home, happy that I'd managed to capture a couple of images.
I mentioned in my post from Godrevy a few weeks back that I was producing a video on photographing Cornwall for my YouTube channel. I'm pleased to say that I also did some filming for that video on my visit to Wheal Coates. So be sure to say tuned to the blog and make sure you are subscribed to my YouTube channel.
I do hope you enjoyed this blog. Which of the two images was your favourite? Have you photographed Wheal Coates before? Let me know in the comments below.
Creating Coastal, Long Exposure, Panoramic Images with the Nikon D850
Have you ever taken a coastal, long exposure, panoramic image before? Well, that's just what I did in my latest video. Sometimes you need to see a scene a little differently to get inspired in a big way.
Getting Inspired
Over the years I've visited Froward Point on the south Devon coast a few times. Despite many attempts I've never really captured an image from that location that I'd really been happy with. In fact, I'd just about given up on it as a location.
However, after being inspired by the work of another local photographer, I thought Froward Point might be worth another visit. This time though, I would leave most of my gear behind, travel light, and wander along the coast path a bit more. Rather than go back to the same spot I always end up going to, I would see what other viewpoints there might be.
Sure enough, as I walked along the coast path I got to see a view of rocks near Froward Point in a totally new way! My creative brain got all excited by the new compositions that I could make photographs from. For me, the scene instantly said that this coastal image would be a long exposure, and would be best suited to the panoramic format. I even thought it would work best on a grey and overcast day.
With a clear vision of what I wanted to photograph, I just needed to return at the right time when I had the weather conditions were right and the tide was high. Here is what happened when I did finally return:
As you'll have seen this video was a bit longer than normal, but I wanted to take you through my thought process, how I set up the camera, and how I eventually captured then printed the final image.
So have you ever captured a coastal, long exposure, panoramic image before? What photography techniques have you combined before? Let me know in the comments below.
The Photographs
A Coastal Long Exposure Panorama - Froward Point, Devon: Nikon D850, Nikkor 70-200 mm f/2.8 at 70 mm, 20 secs at f/11, ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser. 5 Image stitch.
On an Island - Froward Point, Devon: Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 58 mm, 105 secs at f/6.3, ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser. 5 Image stitch.
Islands in the Blue - Froward Point, Devon: Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 29 mm, 40 secs at f/11, ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
I Missed Spring but Hello Summer!
In the blog this week, I share with you my disappointing experience of photographing spring this year. However, I remain in a positive mood as the first shoot of summer goes a little better.
Spring, My Favourite Season
As a landscape photographer and general fan of the outdoors, I like all of the seasons. Each one has its own unique characteristics and they can transform how you view and photograph locations. For me though, there is something special about spring. It could be the improving weather, the changing colour of the landscape, or simply the longer hours of daylight.
Spring officially started on the 20th of March this year and I was determined to make the most of it. The short days of winter were at an end and it would soon be possible to start heading out weekday evenings. I was hoping to spend a few months being busy with the camera.
Now that the spring season has officially ended (21st June), I'm looking back on the photographs I have taken and I can't help but feel a little disappointed. It's not that I didn't get out with the camera, it's just that I can't really pick out a photo and say "I nailed it". Somehow, it seems that spring has passed me by this year.
The problem doesn't appear to be lack of commitment on my part, it's just I haven't been out when the conditions have been at their best. As a photographer with a full-time job and a young family, time is very much at a premium. The times I get to go out with the camera aren't dictated by the weather conditions, but when I have spare time between my other commitments. So if Tuesday evening is the time I am able to go out with the camera, but the conditions will be better on Wednesday, I either go out on Tuesday or not all.
It's not been all bad. Spring at Venford Falls (Dartmoor, Devon) is always worth a visit.
Don't get me wrong, spring hasn't been a total disaster. I managed to create a bunch of videos for my YouTube channel:
I have been busy but I just haven't created an image that has captured the essence of spring. One of the key shots I wanted to get was of the coastal thrift in Cornwall. While I did capture an image of the thrift, the conditions were far from ideal. Unfortunately, the thrift is only at its best for a couple of weeks, and I simply didn't get a chance to get back and try again.
I created this image for my Focus Stacking with the D850 video. If only the light had been better. (Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall)
However, I need to put things into perspective. While I didn't get my "spring" image, I did get out with the camera. For me, anytime out with the camera is a good time, and being able to practice will mean my camera skills will be sharp the next time to conditions are better.
Summer is Here!
Anyway, spring has gone, and summer is here so time to start capturing the delights of a new season. For one of my first shoots of summer, I decided to head to The Rumps in Cornwall with my friend (who is also a photographer and a bit of a lucky charm!).
It was a tricky decision to head out that evening or not. I was already very, very tired after a 3 am start that morning for a dawn shoot, but even though the forecast was for clear skies, we could see enough clouds in the sky to justify giving it a punt. To help us on our way we had some fish and chips, and a coke, and we instantly felt more optimistic.
It was a really nice evening at The Rumps. Unfortunately, there was only a little cloud in the sky, and what cloud there was, was difficult to frame effectively. It was however, a good start to a summer of photography and I captured this image:
Summer at The Rumps #3 - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18mm, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser. (The Rumps, Cornwall)
As the sun dipped below the horizon a band of deep orange appeared along the horizon. It was spectacular to look at but it was one of those views that was best looked at than photographed. Sometimes you just need to sit there and soak up mother natures show with your own eyes.
Did you manage to capture any good photos from spring? Are you looking forward to photographing summer? Let me know in the comments below.
Something Old, Something New
In the blog this week I get something new from one of my favourite locations, Dawlish Warren beach on the south Devon coast. I also visit Teignmouth Pier and discover that good photographs don't have to be taken during the golden hours.
An Old Friend is a Best Friend
I have photographed the beach at Dawlish Warren a lot. It's probably my most visited location. Since I started this blog I've written about it several times and I'm made several videos for my YouTube channel there. You can read why I keep going back and watch my latest video from there in my blog article Shoot, Print, Surprise!
However, the more I photograph Dawlish Warren the better I get to know it. As my knowledge of the location increases, I need to think less about where I am, freeing up my brain to focus on the creative and composition aspects of my photography. Rather than repeat visits becoming boring they do in fact become more productive. An old friend is indeed a best friend.
Something Old, Something Special
The trip to Dawlish Warren for this blog article was actually postponed several times due to poor weather. It's not that you can't put the bad weather to good use. Just have a look at my articles on Bad Weather Photography and Let's All #EmbraceTheGrey. However, for this particular trip, the conditions needed to be a little more forgiving.
My father-in-law, who is a keen amateur photographer, had managed to score himself a day out with a professional photographer as part of a magazine feature. Fortunately for me, I was asked if I wanted to tag along. I could do my own thing at each location, but I would also have the added benefit of some good company.
After what felt like weeks of poor weather we finally got a break and we all met up at Dawlish Warren car park. The conditions looked good and we all felt very positive. In fact, it turned out to be one of the best mornings I've had at Dawlish Warren.
It was one of those mornings that you look forward to as a landscape photographer on the coast. We were treated to some beautiful morning light, calm winds and a gentle sea. It was one of those mornings where you think that if this is the only image I get today I'll be happy.
I took a number of images that morning using varying shutter speeds. Here a couple of my favourites.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 18mm, f/11, 3 seconds at ISO 64.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 32mm, f/11, 8 seconds at ISO 64.
You can see how my father-in-law got on with his photographs by checking out this months issue of Digital SLR Magazine (April 2018).
Something New
I'm not much of a daytime shooter. I much prefer dawn and dusk than midday. As we headed to Teignmouth to photograph the pier I had already decided that I probably wouldn't shoot it. I've only photographed Teignmouth pier once before and while I liked the location, it was at dawn when the light was better. I wasn't sure that shooting it during the day would suit my personal style.
When we got there about 11 am, it all looked a bit different than I had envisaged. The sky had a good coverage of clouds and the outgoing tide was leaving some nice white lines in the sand as the waves pulled back. So I thought stuff personal style and got the camera out!
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 19mm, f/11, 2 seconds at ISO 64.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 19mm, f/11, 2 seconds at ISO 64.
As it turned out I would have missed out on creating some pleasing images if I had just left my camera in its bag. Yes, I much prefer the light at dawn and dusk, but taking those images did show me that these aren't the only times I should be looking to take landscape images. It appears it wasn't just my father-in-law that was learning something new that day!
So what are your favourite times of day to shoot? Do you have a favourite local location? What location have you discovered recently? Let me know in the comments below.
The Best of the Rest
It was hard to pick just a couple of photographs to feature in this blog article. So rather than leave the other images out of the blog, here they are in a gallery. Enjoy!
