Tech Aids

29th September 2013, Embleton Bay. 6:30am


Down to the beach in time for sunrise. These days I can check the weather, the identity of passing ships and the identity of overhead aircraft all on various apps.

Thus I know that all of these vapour trails were caused by various transatlantic flights converging on Amsterdam.  I don't know why we were on the flight path today.  I'm sure this isn't always the case on a Sunday morning...

In this shot at least 5 vapour trails point the way to show the location of Amsterdam just over the horizon.

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Return visit

28th September 2013, Howick Hall Gardens, 10am


Return to Howick for the previously mentioned miniPhotoTrail around Howick Hall Gardens. It was a very pleasant couple of hours with friends old and new joining our walk.

We had special permission to access the grounds before the public which was a treat.

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As Autumn comes...

26th September 2013, Howick Hall Gardens, 2pm


I have a miniPhotoTrail around Howick Hall Gardens on Saturday morning so I thought I'd have a wee wander around to see what there will be to photograph. Quite a lot is the answer! There are still some flowers out but the autumn colours are on their way too...

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endless summer

22nd September 2013, Newton Links, 8am


This pose lasted about 3 seconds. You have to be quick sometimes...

...but sometimes she stares and stares.

22nd September 2013, Newton Point, 6pm


As the sun set behind the wind turbines the sun reflected off the towers. If you look closely you'll see points of light. They were flashing on and off as the blades spun.

23rd September 2013, Newton Point 4pm


It felt like summer today. Warm, calm. Very pleasant. It would be called an Indian Summer normally except that we've only had a couple of days of chilly weather since the 'summer' ended so it's just like summer 2013 won't go away!

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different skies

18th September 2013, Newton Point, 4pm


A showery day and although I avoided the very localised showers they were falling inland of me and out over the sea.

19th September 2013, Christon Bank, 6:30am

A beautiful colour in the sky made me drag Daisy out of her bed and out to the woods for an early walk before breakfast.

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andy craig photography - Weddings, Kids, Music, Dogs, Creative Photography, Photo Training

Alone again

14th September 2013, Dunstanburgh, 7am

16th September 2013, Embleton Bay, 8am

Monday mornings are often quiet and with a weather forecast like we had before the weekend I'm not surprised there was no-one here. I understand that forecasts now verge on the side of caution after they got so much flak for the "not a hurricane" incident a few years ago but it's now reached sensationalist levels and it doesn't half hurt tourism when we get a doom-laden forecast. I get people wanting to cancel training courses because sensational interpretations of the met office's scientific work and I have to persuade them to turn up. It's often nowhere near as bad as feared.

So today there was little wind here and blue skies from horizon to horizon. Me and Daisy spent an hour-and-a-half wandering on our own on Embleton Bay before we eventually abandoned the empty beach to its own devices leaving only a few footprints and pawprints.

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andy craig photography - Weddings, Kids, Music, Dogs, Creative Photography, Photo Training

The Fabric of a Place

11th September 2013, Embleton Bay, 9am

Some things have been here for a long time such that they are part of the fabric of a place. Not just the big things like the sea and the beach but small things in nature too.

Wild Roses

Another spider - apologies to arachnophobes - scroll down quick is my advice...

12th September 2013, Embleton Bay, 8am

I've been reading a book on the fishing communities of North Northumberland. It's provided a fascinating insight into days gone by when fishing was not just a job but was the entire life of so many people in villages up and down the coast. There are still a hardy few who earn a living from the sea.

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A similar walk for different reasons

8th September 2013, Embleton Bay, 6:30am

Yesterday I met a lovely couple who commissioned me to provide them with a photograph of Dunstanburgh Castle and Embleton Bay on a sunny, blue sky. I went out yesterday evening but the shadows were right across the dunes and the tide was in so it was no good. Nonetheless I was able to tick off a few locations that would produce the composition required.

So I was up and off early this morning and I spent two hours snapping (including a coffee break/review session at 7:30) and I'm happy that I have a dozen variations on the theme for my clients. I also took a few of my own while I was waiting for the blue skies to develop.

As I drove down the road my car binged a 4C warning for the first time this autumn and on arrival at the Golf Club the cold air was drawing a mist from the waters of Embleton Burn.

Compared to yesterday morning the skaith was still and silent reflecting the wee clouds beautifully.

I should have mentioned Daisy was there too...

Up through the soaking ferns we came across this chap blocking our way. I found a safe way past.

Daisy helped me look for the perfect shot from the top of the big dune known locally as "Everest".

Back down on the beach she was in sphinx pose

And so here is my favourite from the set...A nice way to spend a couple of hours.

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andy craig photography - Weddings, Kids, Music, Dogs, Creative Photography, Photo Training

The return of things autumnal

7th September 2013, Embleton Bay, 6:30am

Lots of photographers will tell you that autumn is their favourite time of year. The sun rises at a nice sensible time (6:22 this morning) and yesterday's stormy weather has stirred up the sea and flooded the skaith back to its photogenic best.

Soon the reds and oranges of dawn fade to golds and blues and the receding tide leaves wet sand to reflect the clouds.

Behind the dunes are other signs of autumn.  Brambles are still sharp on the tongue

and these hop cones have not yet ripened to their aromatic best.

Knapweed is providing bright colour amongst the fading foliage.  This is the flower that inspired my logo a few years ago (see below)

Daisy is a patient hound when it comes to a photographically inspiring morning like this but she does like to get in the shot...

Back down to the sand and we're not the first footprints of the day.

Now the tide has receded properly and these giant scale sand ripples have been left by the rough sea.  So nice I photographed them twice.

A last view over the skaith on the way home for breakfast.

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andy craig photography - Weddings, Kids, Music, Dogs, Creative Photography, Photo Training