inspiration is worth more than megapixels

29th December 2015, Newton Point and Embleton Bay, 8am

At 8am all was grey and dull and I nearly didn't take the camera but after watching a photography documentary yesterday about Jimmy Jarché  (David Suchet's grandfather and great documentary photographer) I was suitably inspired.

So I started with a black and white portrait of my walking companion under dull skies.

The grey weather cleared to the East leaving clear skies - a mixture of blue and gold that prevented any further thoughts of black and white photography...

Our route back was hindered by a wet path - fortunately just below welly height!

seasonal wanderings

27th Dec 2015, Howick Gardens, 3pm

At this time of year we like to wander through Howick Gardens while it's closed to the public.

Anyway there was nowhere else to park on the Northumberland Coast it was so busy so we had to use all our local knowledge to find a quiet spot!

nice

27th December 2015, Embleton Bay, 8am

Nice to be back on the coast after an inland Christmas.

Nice to see the clear sky after days of rain which has flooded out a lot of people in the North of England.

Nice to be out with Daisy doing what we do and having all the time in the world to do it.

solstice watching

22nd December 2015, Embleton Bay, 5pm

Daisy and me marked the solstice by hanging out on the beach by moonlight. Once your eyes adjust to the bright moonlight, new details appear. Shadows, textures, shapes and reflections: All unique to the hours of darkness.

Last night I sat on Embleton Bay for a while while Daisy dug a hole.

Tonight we wandered along watching the moonlight and being happy.

windswept

20th Dec 2015, Football Hole, 3pm

Chilly, windswept, but beautiful

favourites

20th Dec 2015, Newton Point, 8am

Lovely, quiet morning back in one of my favourite spots at my favourite time of day...

stormy dog-walk

17th Dec 2015, Embleton Bay, 5pm

A stormy dog-walk on Embleton Bay

Some would call this dog-walk rash
As winds blow and rains lash
Drowning out the waves' splash
On torchlit sands

 What if I was sailor brave?
From crest to trough and wave to wave
Hanging on through closest shave
Or having fun?

Time to turn for where we bide
Man and dog, wet down one side
Time to find a place to hide
That's warm and dry

But I will miss the stormy foam
The masochistic pleasure dome
Of knowing you're not far from home
Nor all at sea

up with the birds

13th December 2015, Newton Point, 7:30 am

Our dog-walk this morning.

What sunrise?

12th Dec 15, Embleton Bay, 8am

It was very grey at home so I left the camera in the house. 

Down on the beach there were a few minutes of beautiful colour before it faded once again to grey.

As I got back to the car, I met a photographer with a huge bag and big tripod arriving back after her photo trip. I said "lovely colour for you this morning"  and she replied grumpily "Oh, not as nice as I'd hoped".  I told her she was fussy and walked on. How sad for a 'photographer' to fail to see the beauty of the morning and to fail to find a photograph on a morning such as this one.  Time for a new hobby perhaps?   

I stopped at the village shop on the way home. Norma said "Did you see the sunrise?"  "Yes", I said, "I did".

Here are a few subtly different views taken on the phone.

brief colour

6th December 2015, Embleton Bay, 8am

As we left the house we were met by the sight of a beautiful dawn sky and crescent moon.

Most of the colour had left the landscape by the time we reached the beach though...

Desmond's here for the weekend

5th Dec 2015, Embleton Bay,

There aren't many opportunities for photography during the week as it's dark for the morning and afternoon dog-walks.

Someone has decided to name UK storms and this weekend we're on 'Storm Desmond'!

It's bleak on the beach and we sheltered from the wind in among the grasses.

blue to gold

26th Nov 15, Newton Point, 2 - 3:30pm

A lovely walk thanks to a half-day from work.  Catching some Vitamin D after so many dark walks at this time of year.

As the afternoon wore on the light changed from blue to gold.

We're off to Copenhagen for a few days.  Back soon...

moon's up

24th Nov 2015, Embleton Bay, 4:30pm

The moon rose as I drove home and was hanging nicely over the sea by the time we got to the beach...

Daisy was unimpressed

not just the sea, not just the dog

21st November 2015, Howick shore, 2pm

So much going on this evening so I photographed it all.

The sea was tempestuous...

...but inland this morning's gale had died to nothing and all was calm.

Daisy stood and posed at the Howick hole which I still think will be gone this winter sometime.  It looks very precarious.  With it will go the little sandy cliff and a fair few sand martins' nests.  They'll find another home soon enough.

night in the city

20th Nov 2015, Dunstanburgh, 3pm

A day in the big city was enough for me and it was nice to be back home for a daylight dog-walk.

new moon, old words

19th Nov 2015, Embleton Bay, 

We had a beautiful starry walk this morning and then a clear, calm walk under a half moon this afternoon.  The moon lit up the sea from behind a cloud. 

Daisy didn't want to go home as the afternoon turned to twilight. Last year year I wrote these words after a similar walk...

A walk by Moonlight

I’d rather walk by starlight
When the sun is yet to rise
When nothing stirs and all is still
But distant night-time cries

Or wander here by moonlight
When the sun has newly set
Eyes adjust to gathering dark
No moonlight shadows yet

Winter means the dark will fall
When usually it’s day
We rush to switch on lamps and lights
To keep the dark at bay

But venture out, don’t be afraid
To feel the dark embrace
The wide-eyed seek the shadows out
Let senses set the pace.

Familiar landscapes set anew
Lie just beyond your door
Sights and sounds are waiting
Let your inner child explore