Thursday 30 August 2018

summer breeze

30th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

Warm and sunny on the beach despite the 10 C indicated on the car.



I was starting to overheat so climbed up to the dunes where the wind was blowing.


I lay down in the cool breeze and Daisy came and stood over me.







Wednesday 29 August 2018

choices

29th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

In two minds about which angle I prefer so two similar photographs.



A minute later she exploded in a flurry of energy and the sand was flying from her heels...


29th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 10am

Out for my Wednesday PhotoWalk watching the landscape and the people within it.


wait and see

28th August 2018, Dunstanburgh, 8am

A quick walk up to the castle.

Daisy sat in her favourite spot and watched the newly harvested fields


Meanwhile I was struck by the light over the sea.

It was impressive enough, but then a yacht came into view and added a certain something to the composition.



Sunday 26 August 2018

many words

25th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 8am

We sat up here for a while and, when the beach was empty, we dropped down to play on the sand.



As I walked along the beach listening to a podcast I heard this quote from Sir Walter Scott’s ‘Breathes There The Man’.

Breathes there the man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd,
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd,
From wandering on a foreign strand!


25th August 2018, Newton Point, 6pm

We were in no hurry so we stood and watched the sea,
listened to the waves,
felt the wind on our faces
and made plans for tomorrow...





Friday 24 August 2018

showery

24th August 2018, Low Newton, 4pm

Some fine clouds around this afternoon.  Glad we avoided the showers...




Thursday 23 August 2018

Happy birthday to me

23rd August 2018, Embleton Bay, 7am

What better way to start a birthday than a walk on my favourite beach with my favourite dog...




Tuesday 21 August 2018

curiosities

21st August 2018, nr Chatton, 10am

Inland for a guided walk and one my walking companions noticed these 'spoon' like shapes in the rock.  I've never seen these before.  This rock panel is covered with many 'cup and ring' marks and these could well be cups with grooves.  Intriguing


The lichen on the local sandstone has red patches.  I presume this is a 'flowering' phase but I've never seen this before either.


damp

19th August, Dunstanburgh, 8am

Our long hot summer seems but a distant memory as i trudge along through heavy mist towards where I know the castle should be!



Meanwhile eyes are cast downward away from the leaden skies and beauty is found at my feet.  This Oyster catcher feather is bejewelled with raindrops that magnify the feather's intricate structures.


Friday 17 August 2018

running along

17th August 2018, Beadnell Bay, 7am

An early run with Daisy.  She can easily keep up with me and often accelerates away, stops for a bit of a sniff and waits for me to shuffle along and catch her up.


This is samphire season and the morning shadows look like mexican desert mini-cacti!





Thursday 16 August 2018

light and dark

16th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 8am

The sun was bright high in the morning sky but between the sun and the horizon was a line of dark cloud from yesterday's rain heading away over the sea.




The latest in my current obsession of little ships from things found on the beach.


16th August 2018, Newton Point, 5pm

For the 2nd day in a row our sunbathing was rudely interrupted by a black cloud closing in over the Cheviots...


Wednesday 15 August 2018

middle of the day

15th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 10:30am

It's not always easy to find photographs in the middle of the day.

The sun is high in the sky rather than rising from the sea and the beach is a recreational area rather than a place of peace and nature.

Still that is the challenge of photography and today's PhotoWalk was with a nice group (including some younger photographers which is always good) and after talking about photography for an hour or so the photographs start to appear even if the light is more blue than golden.







15th August 2018, Newton Point, 4pm

Later and time is my own so I played with some stones and seaglass while Daisy watched the view.



Then we noticed the coming rain clouds and headed for home as the sun was swallowed up.



Monday 13 August 2018

rainy day blues

13th August 2018, Dunstanburgh, 8am

At my show last Thursday someone asked me if I could find photographs in the landscape when it’s grey and wet and uninspiring? (Something they struggled with). Well I like a challenge and today has suitable weather... There’s always something if you take the time to see.



13th August 2018, Howick Shore, 10am

A very interesting morning. I met this lovely couple from Portland, Oregon cycling up the East coast of Britain on their awesome semi-recumbent tandem. We rode along chatting for a while and everything in the world was just fine.


Thursday 9 August 2018

on the road

9th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 8am

Though dawn chased the shadows from the land
They return in the heat of the day
Will I find somewhere shady to stand
Or let in the sunlight to play?




9th August 2018, Embleton Bay, 8am

It's really too hot to run by mid-morning just now so I took the bike and a flask with my morning coffee and headed 12Km down Route 1 to Howick Bay.  Past ripening wheat and barley and along quiet roads and farm tracks to sit on the rocks and watch the sea for a while.