unique

 30th December 2020, Alnmouth, 8am

Yesterday I heard a famous songwriter comment on a podcast that all sunrises and sunsets are the same.

I was a bit surprised but he writes more about relationships and I suppose I'm very focussed on nature.  

I enjoy nothing more that seeing a new sunrise every day and documenting that uniqueness.

30th December 2020, Warkworth, 3pm

Amazing sunset light this afternoon.

changing clouds

 29th December 2020, Buston, 8am

This morning brought freezing showers of hail and sleet. 

Such changeable weather is a Good Thing for the warmly dressed photographer and I hung about for an hour or so to watch the weather. 

The first one is at 8:30 just a few minutes before sunrise but there was little colour and no sign of the sun. Sheets of rain hung in the sky making me grateful they were a good way away. 

It took until 9am for some colour to develop and, although it was just a patch at the horizon the zoom lens let me make a study of the light over Coquet island. 

This light hung about for another half hour but as the sun climbed it illuminated the edges of the higher clouds too. 

Another few minutes later and a hail shower rolled in off the sea heading in our direction so it was time to head home for breakfast.

on a cold and frosty morning

 28th December 2020, Longhorsley, 8am

A beautiful frosty walk.  We got the dogs to pose in vaguely the right place for one photo..

...but then Henry had to do some jumping cos he'd been such a good boy.

Daisy showed him how to pose nicely.

28th December 2020, Warkworth, 2pm

A run along the shore under freezing blue skies but with interesting weather out over the sea.

shapes

 22nd December 2020, Howick, 8am

Sometimes a photograph is all about the subject and the story. Sometimes, like this morning, a photograph can be simply about shapes and colours.

mid afternoon

 20th Dec 2020, Warkworth, 3:30pm

Nice evening clouds in the middle of the afternoon.  Shortest day tomorrow....

what's the view

 18th December 2020, Warkworth, 8am

On a morning like this, the wide angle lens allows the whole view to be included in a photograph so you can see all the variations in the light and clouds as well as the rocks, pools and waves of the foreground (I like my footprints being there too)...

...But in this photo I used a telephoto lens to zoom into the horizon and the beautiful light over Coquet Island. This lens doesn't show 'the whole picture' but my aim isn't to deceive, but to make a photograph from the wider view in order to share what I saw.

Fantastic sand carving on the dune cliff.

obsession

17th December 2020, Dunstanburgh, 7:30am

The ever-changing light of sunrise fascinates me and I'm a bit addicted to seeing it and feeling it and photographing it. The first one is leaving the car at 7:30 (an hour before sunrise) the second one is 9am as we headed home.

As I stood watching the sun creep over the horizon a fulmar soared up the cliffs, past my head and headed out over the sea. I had to be quick but I caught him as he passed the sun.

Then it was round the corner to a job at Dunstan Hall with a fine view out to the castle and the sea where I'd just been.

 

up high

15th December 2020, Howick, 8am

Waiting for sunrise....

Some shots from the drone.  The higher angle gives a different view of this favourite, and familiar place.

Meanwhile down on the ground it was time to play with Daisy who is very patient ground crew.

One from the camera and one from the phone.  The phone has a much greater dynamic range but I like the silhouette from the camera too.

Even closer to ground level for these limpets and limpet shells with their tall shadows in the first light of the sun.

 

colour at christmas

 13th December 2020, Longhorsley, 7:45am

At last a sunrise with some colour.

My heart lifted when I opened the front door to see the sky behind the village Christmas tree.