long awaited

24th September 2017, Embleton Bay, 7am

I was a bit late getting up so I rushed to get to the beach knowing I was going to be too late for the pre-sunrise light that I love best of all.

I arrived at The Skaith to find that the shot I had thought of (sunrise reflected in the water of The Skaith) was not possible due to two other photographers standing in my picture.  This disappointment lasted a nano second before I realised that instead there was a great 'documentary' shot to be had.

I've waited for this shot for years.  I've talked about it on my training courses.  I've often said I would leave the "sunrise over the sea" shot to others so I could include the line of photographers in the frame.  I'm pretty pleased with these shots.

Meanwhile there were other things to photograph too...

The normally green wave light was orange - a sight I've never seen before.

rock and sea

23rd September 2017, Howick Shore, 7am

After watching the 1929 film 'Drifters' last night with an amazing vocal soundtrack by Jason Singh, I found myself watching the sea differently this morning.

Autumn equinox

22nd September 2017, Embleton Bay, 6:30am

It's equinox today according to the met office but sunrise is at 06:50 and sunset at 19:07.  In fact the closest to a 12 hour day happens on Monday (06:57, 19:59)  This is sometimes known as equilux.

Anyway that's just foibles of human measurement.  Nature's sunrise is always beautiful and it's been around a lot longer than humans and their clocks.

softy

20th September 17, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

All of the beach houses on Embleton Bay are well looked after except this one which is rotting away slowly but aesthetically.

20th September 2017, Newton Point, 4pm

A soft sky above a soft sea.

21st September 2017, Newton Point, 4pm

Nice to see the sun as the day's rain disappears over the sea.

sunrise walk

19th Sept. 17, Dunstanburgh, 6am

Up nice and early for one of us to catch the morning train and one of us to catch the sunrise.

It's one of my greatest pleasures to start my walk in the dark and watch the light change and the new day spread across the land.  I try not to spend all my time staring through a viewfinder and I like to move around as the sunrise develops so that I can see what's to be seen. Rather than trying to create a single image I present a photo essay telling the story of the walk from pre-dawn to long shadows.

little things

18th September 2017, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

An office day for me today so plenty of time on the rainy beach.

When I slow down (and especially on a dull day) I tend to see the little details.

18th September 2017, Newton Point, 4pm

I've walked past this spot a thousand times but today the sky matched the stones.

The horses had their bums to the cold North wind.

cut off

17th September 2017, 7am, Fallodon Woods


The level crossing is shut for maintenance so we're cut off from the sea.

We've come to the woods instead.