separate

28th December 2016, Howick Gardens, 2pm

The trees and leaves have separated for the winter and they make two photographic subjects where there is only one in the summer.

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lovers

27th December 2016, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

Christmas in love
On a beach in Northumberland
Standing on the sand
Waiting for the sunrise that they both hope
They will never forget

They hold hands
They cuddle
They take selfies
But though the dawn sky
Is bright with pastel hues
It is still 30 minutes until sunrise
And I wonder how long they'll last.

The crescent moon, the castle and the reflections were beautiful but required a 4 second exposure to achieve and I don't carry a tripod on my dog-walks!  This is the best I could do with the camera balanced on the dog's lead on a tussock.  Daisy tried to help by joining in the composition...

27th December 2016, Christon Bank, 3pm

The sun setting behind my favourite row of four ash trees.

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multi-purpose

22nd December 2016, Newton Point, 3pm

Chilly out and about but lovely afternoon light...

I was wrapped up in full winter gear, Daisy was in her usual multi-purpose fur...

Low to High

19th December 2016, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

An hour before sunrise and the sky was full of colour already but which way to go?

Down by the skaith the colours were double in their reflections.  To get the castle reflection I bent down, then kneeled down, then lay flat across the wet sand.  All in a good cause.

We headed up the dune to see what we could see and the pre-sunrise light was bright enough to light up the dune grasses.

Back down for a play and a walk along the beach as the sunrise blossomed over our shoulder.

Can you see a crow in the distance?  Daisy can...

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wait for it...

17th December 2016, Embleton Bay, 8am

We climbed to the top of the big dune to wait for the sun...

After seeing yesterday's alignment of the midwinter sunrise with the castle (something I've not specifically photographed before) I decided to drop down to the empty beach to see how it looked today.

I wandered around with wet feet and an impatient hound.  I was snapping away while we waited and tried to anticipate my angle...

As the sunrise got closer I was able to narrow down the location I needed to find.  I was glad it was low tide as I needed to be right down by the waves.

Then suddenly there it was and I got the shot I wanted.  You don't get long when the sky is this clear. The sun rises very quickly, the moment is gone and the sun is soon too bright to look at or photograph.  After about 40 minutes of waiting the moment lasted for 30 seconds or so.  Well worth it though.

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castle + mist + sun = ?

16th December 2017, The Skaith, 8:30am

Sunrise was 8:29am but there was no sign of the sun just a pinky glow above grey clouds.

Then as we walked back past the skaith and Daisy had a bit play with Cassie her lurcher/whippet pal, I noticed the sun appearing from the low mist right above the castle ramparts.

It was a beautiful if ephemeral sight as the sun all too soon rose into clear sky and got too bright too look at.

A zoom lens would have been nice but the best camera is the one you have with you...

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guesswork

15th December 2016, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

I thought the grey cloud would hide the sunrise but the colours shone through beautifully.

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profile pic

14th December 2016, Dunstanburgh, 3pm

The light fades very early at this time of year so our afternoon walks are sunset walks.

Daisy loves the astroturf on the 13th tee!

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crows be gone

12th December 2016, Embleton Bay, 7:30am

Daisy raced all the beach chasing the crows away while I took a few photos.

A speeding lurcher improves any landscape photo...

In memory of Aunt Jean 16th May 1928 - 9th December 2016

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absorbing

8th December 2016, Newton Point, 3pm

It gets dark early at this time of year but tonight's sunset was beautiful and led to a calm dusk on the beach.  A few people (like me) stood about absorbing the atmosphere..

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