Trevose Head - An Iconic South West Coast Path Location on the North Cornwall Coast
If there's one place to get light from the setting sun, it's the coast. With such a small gap between the clouds and the horizon, will my trusty friend Trevose Head give me the light I'm looking for?
Trevose Head - I Just Keep Going Back
In my last blog post I talked about how I was going to spend a bit less time on Dartmoor and start reconnecting with the South West Coast Path. Just after writing that though I started a new mini project on Dartmoor! What can I say. When you are inspired, you’re inspired!
The start of a new Dartmoor project however does not mean I’ve decided not to spend more time photographing the coast. Far from it. I’ve just decided to give up on a little sleep!
When I was considering which coastal locations to photograph while I reconnect with the South West Coast Path, one location stood out as one that I must revisit. Trevose Head is probably one of my favourite locations on the South West Coast Path. It’s a dramatic bit of coastline with crashing waves, sharp rocks, cliffs, and a lighthouse. It also shoots well at sunset just about all year round!
With that all said, it wasn’t my original plan to go there, but the weather conditions weren’t favouring my original choice of The Rumps. While I was eating my fish and chips (a mandatory treat when visiting Cornwall), I was trying to think of a location that might work even when the sky was heavy with cloud. It didn’t take long. There was only one choice and that was Trevose Head.
Photographs on Trevose Head on the South West Coast Path
Trevose Head #1, South West Coast Path, North Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 24mm, f/13, 0.4 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Trevose Head #2, South West Coast Path, North Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 19mm, f/11, 5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Trevose Head #3, South West Coast Path, North Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 21mm, f/11, 6 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Photographing and Exploring the Cornwall's South West Coast
To celebrate my recent birthday, I got together with some friends who also happened to be photographers celebrating birthdays and headed to the Land’s End for a weekend of photography.
A Birthday Weekend Away
I recently had what one might call a "significant" birthday and since a couple of my photography friends had their birthdays within a few weeks of mine, we all decided that we should celebrate being older, more mature, wiser, or something like that. Basically, our birthdays just became an excuse to go away for the weekend with our cameras, drink some wine or beer, and eat cake, pizzas and pasties.
The world was our oyster though so we got a globe out, started spinning it, and randomly stopping it with our finger to see where we might go. Back in the real world though we had to be a lot more practical. We only had a couple of days for photography so we wanted to minimise the amount of driving we would undertake. There was also the consideration of the time of year, and the direction of the rising and setting sun.
To cut a long story short we decided that we would go down to very ends of England and go to the south west tip of Cornwall. It's an area that none of use frequently visit so we knew that we'd all get something from it photographically speaking.
Just a few weeks after booking our accommodation we hit the road and started our drive to the end of the world! Well, the end of England anyway.
Porth Nanven, Cornwall
First stop was the stunning beach at Porth Nanven. It's a location I've only visited twice, once in 2015 and then again in 2017, so I was long overdue a return visit. As soon as I arrived, I was reminded of why I love this place so much. The beach is littered with large boulders embedded in the sand. As the tide comes in the sea laps up around the rocks creating channels in the sand. Finding a composition at first can look a bit daunting, but once you get your eye tuned in, it’s a treasure trove of creative possibilities.
Porth Nanven, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 30mm, f/11, 1 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
It was the middle of day when we arrived but there was plenty of cloud cover to help diffuse the light. I had a wonderful time finding different compositions and opting for black & white when I wanted to focus more on contrast and texture. It was a great way to start our photography holiday!
Botallack Mine, Cornwall
Botallack mine was made famous in the Poldark TV series, but for many photographers it was already iconic. Arriving at Botallack we did the most important thing first and head to the café for coffee and cake! Refuelled we headed down to look upon the crown engine houses which seem to precariously built of the edge of a cliff!
But it's the dramatic location of these buildings that make this such a great scene to photograph. Ideally you want some stormy conditions, so the waves crash against the rocky coastline, but we appear to have turned up on very calm day. However, in the right light, it's still well worth photographing. We had hope the light would continue right up to sunset but a heavy covering a cloud prevented any colour appearing in the sky. That wasn't a reason to leave early though, so we kept shooting right up until it got dark.
Botallack, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 37mm, f/11, 10 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Logan Rock, Cornwall
The heavy cloud we had been experiencing on the first day was replaced by blue skies the following morning. There was a little bit of cloud here and there, but not enough to add interest to the compositions we were making from the viewpoint towards Logan Rock.
I wasn't feeling inspired, so I decided to walk along the coast path to get closer to Logan Rock. This proved to be a positive step as photographing Logan Rock from a different angle brought in what little cloud there was into the frame. The downside was that from this different angle there wouldn't be much in the way of light hitting the land. It did however catch a couple of the rocky peaks on Logan Rok.
Logan Rock, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 35mm, f/11, 10 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Though not the greatest morning of photography, it was a real delight to be on the coast watching the sunrise somewhere new.
Logan Rock, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 4 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Walking and Return to Botallack
To fill the time between sunrise and sunset we decided to go on a long walk to look at some new viewpoints. It was a beautiful day. Not great for photography, but for a walk & talk with friends, it was perfect. We ended up back at Botallack for more coffee and cake, and to take a couple more photos of te crown engine houses..
Botallack, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 39mm, f/11, 2 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Land's End, Cornwall
To end the day there really was only one location we wanted to photograph and that was Land's End. With it's unique geology, high cliffs, and dramatic coastline it can be exciting place to photography. However, the clear skies and calm conditions from earlier that day had continued into the evening. With neither crashing waves or clouds to catch the light from the setting sun, I felt it left the photographs without much punch. As always though, despite the conditions not being what I might have wanted, just being there was a treat. There is something about being on the coast at sunset that can fill your heart with joy! And that's exactly how I felt as it got dark, and we headed home.
Land’s End, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 20mm, f/13, 5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
I would very much like to spend more time in this area, but it’s a 2.5 hr drive there so it's not exactly a drive you make on a whim to catch sunset. But it has made me appreciate what a spectacular part of the world I live in for photography. So of course I'll be back. Hopefully with friends again. Hopefully to capture even better photographs!
Land’s End, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 16mm, f/13, 5 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL.
Bite-Size Blog Post #36 - Trevose Head
Does anyone get nervous sometimes about processing their photos? Do you get worried that the feeling of joy you had taking the photographs doesn't carry on into the edit? Learn why I'd been putting off editing these images of Trevose Head in this blog post.
If in Doubt, Trust an Old Friend
Living in the south west of England I am spoilt for choice when it comes to locations to capture landscape photographs. I have Dartmoor National Park, Exmoor National Park and 600 miles or so of the South West Coast Path to photograph. There’s a lifetime worth of locations to visit.
So why is it some locations keep calling you back again and again? Even when you already have a fine portfolio of photographs from that location, you still feel the need to return. Is it because you know you can capture good images there? Or because it’s just a beautiful place to be?
There is one such place in Cornwall that falls into that category for me, and that’s Trevose Head. Looking at my free landscape photography locations map, I can see that I’ve written about Trevose Head at least 6 times here on the blog. But why do I keep going back? Is it because I consistently capture photographs that I like at Trevose Head? Or maybe because it’s a dramatic and stunning section of coastline? Whatever the reason, I like it there.
I built up a bit of a back log of blog posts so the photographs you see in this post are a few months old now, but I’ll be honest with you, I can’t remember the real reason I went back to Trevose Head. It might have been that the weather conditions and tide were going to suit Trevose Head, or I was in a bit of a creative rut, and I felt safe going there, or maybe I just drove there subconsciously! I don’t know, and maybe it doesn’t matter, because the evening I took these photographs was special.
Trevose Head Sunset #1, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 0.5 secs at ISO 640, Kase Filters CPL
I could tell just standing there on the cliffs that the conditions were good for photography and that feeling continued as I captured the photographs. On the long drive home, I knew I had captured some photographs that I would be happy with. When I imported them into Lightroom I could see the raw files had promise.
So why has it taken so long to share them? Yes, I had a backlog of blog posts to write, but the main reason I’ve left it this long to write about them is that I was nervous about processing them. What if I found they weren’t that good after all? I wanted to hold onto to magical time at Trevose Head and I didn’t want it to be spoilt by disappointing photographs. Maybe that’s missing the point of enjoying my time there. Perhaps I should just enjoy the memory of that experience.
As it turns out though, I needn’t have worried. I’m very happy with the photographs I captured that evening. So much so, I want to go back. But that’s no bad thing.
Trevose Head Sunset #1, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 18mm, f/13, 6 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL
Bite-Size Blog Post #27 - Bedruthan
In the blog this week I'm back in Cornwall to see if I can capture a compelling photograph of the thrift along the Cornish coast? Did I succeed? Find out in the blog at
That Pesky Thrift Part 2
Last week in the blog I wrote about the challenges I have with photographing seasonal events such as when the thrift blooms along the coast of Cornwall. While I wasn’t unhappy with my photograph from Trevone, the thrift wasn’t at its peak. A return trip was needed!
One of the best, and most popular locations to photograph the thrift is Bedruthan. For large stretches of the cliff tops at Bedruthan you can find beautiful clumps of flowering thrift, just like you see in the photograph below.
Bedruthan Thrift #1, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 28mm, f/11, 25 secs at ISO 64
While finding clumps of thrift was easy enough, the weather conditions weren’t what you might call inspiring! As is often the case on the Cornish coast, the line between amazing and flat conditions is thin. On one hand the skies had plenty of interesting clouds that if lit up by the setting sun would prove to be very photogenic. But on the other hand, the sun was playing hide and seek behind those lovely clouds.
While the photographs I captured are pleasing enough, what they are really missing is the warm, soft light from a sun low on the horizon. That kind of light can utterly transform a scene as it would light up the cliffs adding contrast and depth, and it would also illuminate the underside of the clouds.
This problem is that when you know the conditions can be better and what that means for your photographs, you aren’t completely happy if you don’t get those conditions. However, I captured the best photographs I could that evening and more than that, I had a great time doing so! There is something special about spending time at the coast. It’s good for the soul!
I’d like to say there is a part 3 to this story and that next week I capture an awe-inspiring photograph of the Cornish thrift, but alas there isn’t. I didn’t make it back in time and thrift season came to an end. Maybe next year I’ll just move to Cornwall for spring. I’ll have no excuses then!
Bedruthan Thrift #2, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S at 14mm, f/13, 20 secs at ISO 64
Bite-Size Blog Post #25 - Bude Sea Pool
Photographers will often say that you need to find the right subject for the conditions. As I briefly discuss in the blog this week, there's an element of truth to it.
And Now for Something Completely Different and Unexpected
My last few blog posts have all featured photographs of Dartmoor. Hardly surprising given that it’s my local area for landscape photography! I do however like to venture further afield, especially to Cornwall, but the driving distances involved normally mean I’ll only go if there is a good reason to. i.e. The conditions are looking favourable for a bit of coastal photography.
The story behind this photograph is a little different though. This wasn’t a planned shoot. In fact, I was only going through to Cornwall to pick up a tripod which I had left in a friend’s car after a long photography trip. I had already checked the weather, and it was looking overcast and flat. But sometimes the forecast is wrong, so I packed my camera anyway. Better to have it and not need it, than the other way around.
Arriving at my friend’s house the weather was indeed a bit rubbish. No chance of an epic sunset over some high cliff tops or over a golden beach. He made a very good suggestion though, and that was to try Bude Sea Pool. I had photographed once before, but without any real success, so a return trip to capture some moody long exposures seemed the perfect thing to do.
And here’s the result. Perhaps not the most original of compositions but there’s only so many angles you can shoot the sea pool when it’s high tide and the waves are crashing in. I rather like it and it’s very different from my recent Dartmoor photographs. So not only did I get my tripod back, but I also bagged a pleasing photograph. Happy days.
Bude Sea Pool, Cornwall - Nikon Z8, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 92mm, f/11, 90 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Boscastle to Bossiney - A Photography Walk Along the Cornish Coast
The north coast of Cornwall is one of the most dramatic stretches of the South West Coast Path. In this blog post I meet up with a friend to see if we can find some new landscape/seascape photography locations on this stretch of stunning coastline.
Photography Is Not Always the Priority
It can be hard as a landscape photographer to not make every walk and outdoor adventure all about taking photographs. The trouble with that approach is that I find myself only going out when there are photographs to capture. I’m therefore not taking enough risks and there is little chance of discovering something new just by going out for a walk.
Last week I met up with a friend (who is also a photographer) and we took a short walk along a stretch of South West Coast Path neither of us had explored before.
Before we met up, we’d both spent lots of time looking at weather forecasts trying to work out where to go, but each forecast told us something different. After much head scratching, we decided we both just needed to get out and be social. Yes, we would take the cameras, but the priority would be getting out for a walk and having a catch up.
We decided to meet in Camelford, not only because it’s an easy place for us to meet but because Peckish Fish and Chips probably does the best fish and chips in Cornwall, if not the south west. All good social meetups should start with some food. No one wants to go on a walk hungry!
Near Boscastle, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 56mm, f/11, 4 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Notes - I like the light in this image but a 4 second exposure has left the white water trails a little messy.
With our bellies full we moved onto Boscastle and started our walk towards Bossiney. The weather was difficult to judge. Sometimes we felt too warm, then it would rain, then we would see blue sky, then it would overcast. It was four seasons in one day. Very Cornwall! But the one constant was the stunning views you get as you walk the high cliffs along that stretch of the South West Coast Path.
Near Boscastle, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 56mm, f/11, 30 secs at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Notes - The longer exposure works more effectively here, but the light has gone and the far headland is no longer visible.
As we meandered along the path we’d stop and take in the view. Sometimes we’d agree that while the view was stunning, it would be difficult to make a visually appealing image. Not all nice viewpoints make for good compositions! If a viewpoint did look like it might have potential, we got the cameras out and take some test shots. Seeing a viewpoint through the viewfinder can make a huge difference on your assessment on the location’s potential.
Three hours later we’d reached Bossiney, tired, refreshed, inspired and still with full bellies thanks to some enroute consumption of doughnuts and chocolate cookies!
Near Boscastle, South West Coast Path, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S at 57mm, f/11, 164 secs at ISO 400, Kase Filters CPL and ND.
Notes - I like this composition but the scene lacks any side light. I’ll just have to come back!
I only released the shutter on my camera four times on that walk, but it was one of the rewarding photo walks I’d been out on. Just giving myself the time and space to relax has paid dividends. I feel mentally refreshed, and I have a couple of new viewpoints that I must go back and photograph.
But probably the best thing, as always, watching catching up with a friend, eating chips and going for a long walk. Happy days.
Viltrox Ultra-Wide 13mm f/1.4 Auto-Focus for Nikon Z Review
There's only one way to review a lens like the new Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 Auto-Focus lens for Nikon Z mount crop (DX / APS-C) cameras and that is to take it out in the real world. In this video, I will be using this lens with my Nikon Z fc to capture landscape photographs from Dartmoor National Park. I've also filmed this video using the lens, so I'll also share my thoughts on how it performs with the Nikon Z fc for video capture.
Filling a Gap in My Lens Collection
I’m lucky enough to own all the lenses that I need for my Nikon Z7 for landscape photography (like the excellent Nikkor Z 24-120mm f/4 S). Anything else that I need to do something specific I will just rent. The lens line up for Nikon’s Z crop sensor family of cameras is a different matter though.
I love my Nikon Z fc, but the range of Nikon Z DX lenses is sparse, to say the least. Fortunately, companies like Viltrox have stepped up and are producing some excellent budget prime lenses for the Nikon Z mount. A firm favourite of mine is the Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 for the Nikon Z fc. I have used this lens extensively, both for creating my videos and for capturing family photographs.
However, I’ve always wanted a wide-angle version of the Viltrox 23mm. So still fast aperture, but a little wider so that video creation on location is a little easier. It would also make for a great lens for those times when I only take the Z fc out to capture landscape photographs.
When Viltrox told me about the 13mm f/1.4 AF lens for Nikon Z fc (and Z50), and they asked if I wanted to review it, I jumped at the chance. And now I’m ready to share my video review with you.
I hope you found this video useful and if you want to see the photos from the video again, you’ll find them just below.
Landscape Photographs with the Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF
Trevose Head, Cornwall
Trevose Head Lighthouse at Sunset #1, Cornwall - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1.6 sec at ISO 320.
Trevose Head Lighthouse at Sunset #2, Cornwall - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 5 sec at ISO 100.
Belstone Tor and Common, Dartmoor
Belstone Sunset #1, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/25 sec at ISO 100.
Belstone Sunset #2, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/8 sec at ISO 100.
Belstone Sunset #3, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/16, 1/10 sec at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.
Irishman’s Wall Sunset #1, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/8 sec at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.
Irishman’s Wall Sunset #2, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/8 sec at ISO 100, 16:9 crop.
Belstone Sunrise #1, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/3 sec at ISO 100.
Belstone Sunrise #2, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 0.6 sec at ISO 100, 4:5 crop.
Belstone Sunrise #3, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/4 sec at ISO 100.
Bowerman’s Nose, Dartmoor
Bowerman’s Nose Sunrise #1, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/3 sec at ISO 100.
Bowerman’s Nose Sunrise #2, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/5 sec at ISO 100.
Bowerman’s Nose Sunrise #3, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/13, 1/6 sec at ISO 100.
Bowerman’s Nose Sunrise #1, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/10 sec at ISO 100.
Bowerman’s Nose #1, Dartmoor - Nikon Z fc, Viltrox 13mm f/1.4 AF, f/11, 1/100 sec at ISO 100.
The Rumps and Sandymouth - Classic Cornwall Coastal Photography Locations
In the blog this week I take you to two of Cornwall’s classic coastal locations.
Sometimes You Just Have to Go for It
Most landscape photographers will tell you that having a plan is a good way of increasing your chances of getting a good shot. I am no different. However, there are times when you just need to put things like the weather forecast to one side and just go for it.
I had been trying to schedule a meet up with a photographer friend in Cornwall but with work conflicts and rubbish weather forecasts, weeks were going by, and we weren’t any closer to meeting up. So, we decided not to worry too much about the weather and just take a chance. At the end of the day, even if the photography wasn’t that great, we will have met up, had a chat and got some chips.
The Rumps
On the first of our recent meetups for chips, chat, and photography we decided to head to a location known as The Rumps. I hadn’t shot The Rumps for a couple of years, so I was excited to be going back. The weather forecast was difficult to judge though. The tide was at a good height but the difference between a good shot and a great shot would very much depend on the light from the setting sun.
As we walked along the southwest coast path, I was reminded why I love photographing the Cornish coast and that in 2022 I should try to photograph it more. Lockdown had forced me to photograph Dartmoor more (which is no bad thing) but there is something special about Cornwall’s coastline.
We did a quick assessment of the light, and while we both felt that walking onto The Rumps themselves would provide us with some different looking photographs, the conditions very much favoured the classic viewpoint. All we needed to do was wait for the light. And wait we did. The time flew by though as we chatted away about photography and Star Wars and everything in between.
As the clouds danced across the sky, they kept tempting us with the chance of brilliant light, and just for a very brief time, it lit up the foreground. It was gone as quick as it arrived, but I was ready and captured this image.
The Rumps, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 at 15mm, f/13, 20 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND. Raw file processed using DxO PureRAW 2.
It might be the only shot from the night, but it still represents a very enjoyable evening. I’m not sure it would have been worth the drive if it hadn’t been for the chips and chat though!
Sandymouth
The following week it was the same again as we started the evening with chips and chat. Hey, why mess with a great formula! This time we decided to head up to Sandymouth where my mate had spotted a potentially good composition a few days before. Never underestimate the power of local knowledge. I was more than happy to trust his judgement so with a belly full of chips we headed up the coast to Sandymouth.
I’ve photographed Sandymouth a few times now. It’s a location that offers a surprisingly varied number of compositions. There are rows of rocks that look like mountain ranges stretching out to sea and on the other side of the beach, you can find some amazing sea pools in the sand (if you get lucky with the conditions).
What made the composition my friend had spotted interesting was the combination of sand and rocks. Of particular interest was the sand though. There were some beautiful ripples in the sand, which, if they caught the light, it could look spectacular.
As we waited for the light, we started to get a little nervous. Not for the reasons you might think. Like most beaches in Cornwall, Sandymouth is open to the public. That means people, dogs, and dragons. OK, I’m joking about the dragons, but you get the point. There is always the risk that a person, or more likely a dog, will run through the pristine sand we were hoping to photograph.
Fortunately for us, the beach was deserted so our precious sand remained untouched allowing us to make the most of the soft light from the setting sun.
Ripples of Time, Sandymouth, Cornwall - Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 at 15mm, f/13, 23 sec at ISO 64, Kase Filters CPL and ND. Raw file processed using DxO PureRAW 2.
As with the photo we took at The Rumps, this was the only composition we properly photographed but I think it was worth hanging out at that spot. Sometimes staying in one spot is the best thing to do.
I hope you enjoyed the photographs from these two Cornish coastal locations. If you are ever in the area, they are both well worth photographing.
Sunrise at Boscastle
The blog this week I head to Boscastle. Though I've visited this location many times before for some landscape photography, this is my visit at dawn.
Dawn at Boscastle
Boscastle has been one of my favourite locations in Cornwall for landscape photography for some time now. Perhaps my favourite Boscastle spot is to be up on Penally Hill around sunset. You get the perfect view up there of the harbour inlet as it snakes its way out to sea. If you are lucky the light from the setting sun lights up the sky and surrounding hills and islands. I have, however, never really considered shooting Boscastle at dawn.
This all changed when I recently visited Boscastle to finish off my video 3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall. I just needed to film the video intro and outro sections but as autumn approached and the number of daylight hours got smaller, it was becoming increasingly difficult to get to Cornwall before the sun set.
While autumn months make sunset photography more challenging for me, it does, however, mean that sunrises are a bit easier to get up for. So I decided that I would give sunrise at Boscastle a go. The priority was to shoot the video, but that didn't need great light, and if I got some photographs, that would just be a bonus.
Wind, Clouds and Running
As usual, I arrived about one hour before sunrise to give myself plenty of time to get to my favourite spot up on Penally Hill. When I got there though I soon decided that this was the perfect time to explore a few other spots. So I descended down Penally Hill towards the sea giving me a much better view of the ocean and the island of Meachard.
The view down there was obviously very different from that up on Penally Hill. Gone was any view of the harbour inlet and of Boscastle itself. I did, however, have excellent views of the ocean, the coastline and surrounding islands. I could also see all the turbulent weather out at sea including some low-level rain clouds, and some towering but beautiful cumulonimbus cloud. I was though getting battered by some very strong winds but the views were worth it.
The first composition that caught my eye was this view of Meachard island. Normally this island appears a lot smaller in compositions from Penally Hill, but down here I could make it my main focus. I really like the mood of the image as it rains just above the island. The image isn't as sharp as it should be because I had a real job keeping the camera stable in the wind, but I think it's worth sharing.
Meachard Rock Standing Strong - Boscastle, Cornwall. Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 56 mm, 5 seconds at ISO 64, f/11, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
As I mentioned earlier, from the location where I was taking this photograph I couldn't see Boscastle or the harbour. As it was getting near to sunrise at this point I was worried that I might be missing some good light so I packed up and moved on. As the harbour came into view it soon became apparent that there was nothing exciting about the view on this morning. I decided that I would maybe start doing the filming I had planned on doing.
As I set up the shot I could see behind that a big cumulonimbus cloud out at sea was turning orange from the morning light. It looked spectacular, but was it worth packing up all the gear again and running back to get the shot?
Storm Rising over Meachard Rock - Boscastle, Cornwall. Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 27 mm, 0.5 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Looking at the image above, I believe that it was indeed worth running back to the coastline. I had to move a little further north along the pathway to get this shot. This is so I could position the cumulonimbus cloud more effectively in the frame. I wish I'd been there a minute or two earlier as the light was slightly better, but I at least still managed to capture some of that orange glow reflected in the water. It was still a tricky shot to get as the path is very narrow where I was and the wind was still strong enough to make getting a sharp image tricky.
Pleased, and somewhat surprised by the photographs I managed to capture I happily returned to my harbour location and shoot the video I needed. I've been doing more exploring recently and I've been finding inspiration in unusual circumstances, but my dawn shoot at Boscastle on further affirmed that this type of exploration is well worth the effort.
So have you photographed Boscastle before? Have you ever tried shooting a favourite location at a new time of day? Let me know in the comments below.
3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall
What are the best locations in Cornwall for landscape photography? In this blog article, I'm going to show you 3 GREAT landscape photography locations in Cornwall that I think will inspire you to photograph Cornwall.
Landscape Photography in Cornwall
When it comes to landscape photography in Cornwall, where do you start? With so many amazing and inspiring locations to pick from it can be a challenge selecting locations to visit. So a few months ago I decided to put together a video of 3 locations that I think you should visit. It's not a top 3 or best 3, but just 3 great locations that I think will inspire your landscape photography.
After driving hundreds of miles, dealing with challenging weather, and hours of editing I'm delighted to be able to share with you my video, 3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall.
A Bonus 4th Location
Gurnard's Head was probably one of the most challenging locations I visited while creating this video. It was so windy that it made shooting video and taking images very difficult. However, I thought it was a great location and worth sharing as your bonus 4th location.
More Information on Those Locations
If you want a bit more information on these amazing locations or the images from the video, then I've already published blog posts on the featured locations:
Sandymouth Beach - this blog post was written before I shot the video, but it still has location information in it plus a couple of photographs to inspire you to visit.
All Those Landscape Photographs
For your viewing pleasure here are all the photographs from all 4 locations:
Even More Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall
If those 4 great Cornish locations weren't enough for you, I've also compiled a playlist of all my other videos that I've made from locations in Cornwall. Enjoy!
What Next?
Though the creation of this video was quite the effort I would like to do more videos like this. I'm already planning one for Dartmoor, but are there any other others in the south-west you would like me to do a similar video on? Or where there any locations in Cornwall that you think I should visit? Let me know in the comments below.