At the start of December I finally returned to Northumberland for a week of coastal and seascape photography. After my trip to Whitby was summarily cancelled I was definitely ready for some wading about the shoreline with my camera and pink wellies.
Autumn in Wensleydale
I’m ashamed to say that until now I have very rarely visited the Yorkshire Dales at the back end of the year and have stayed close to York for my autumnal photo opportunities.However, having a base in the Yorkshire Dales has enabled me to explore new areas of woodland
Isle of Harris - Shapes in the Sea
Whilst on the Isle of Harris I made a few visits to Scarista beach with it’s magnificent waves which pile relentlessly onto the beach.
To the north of the main bay is a picnic area which is also delightful. The waves rolled onto the sand and around the black, wet rocks before being sucked back into the sea and leaving lines on the sand.
Isle of Harris - Shapes in the sand
I’ve recently returned from a lovely week wandering along the shorelines of the beaches on the Isle of Harris. I was hoping to capture both some waves and investigate how the sea interacts with the sand and rocks.
Ripples on the Shore
Having spent most of the summer to date in the Yorkshire Dales I had an urge to visit the sea and to try some different ideas on the shoreline with my camera.
Buttercups. A sea of buttercups!
I am spending a lot of time in the Yorkshire Dales and I am amazed at the quantity of buttercups in the fields in both Swaledale and Wensleydale. They form a carpet of yellow which gets caught in the breeze and then the contours of the ground are emphasised and the scene is like a yellow sea.
The Intimate Sea
Rachael Talibart often features a photograph of an open shell with the sea flowing out of it and I absolutely love it. She has created a gallery of similar photographs on her website and looking through the images it is clear that the scope for beautiful intimate cameos is endless.
RPS Landscape Your Way: high key photography
I have just completed a virtual workshop with the RPS run by Mark Banks. The theme was high key landscape photography and I decided that I would explore my local wood at Moorlands and see what I could capture.
Friends of York Art Gallery Artist Q&A
I have been recently been asked to take part in a virtual interview for the Friends of York Art Gallery. As the gallery has been closed for a few months the organisers have devised several ways to keep the 800 members of the Friends engaged over this period when face to face activities cannot take place.
Winter in Borrowdale
I was gutted at the end of the second period of lockdown when I discovered that my much anticipated holiday on the Northumberland coast was cancelled due to the area being in Tier 3. However, I quickly realised that the Lake District was in Tier 2, (same as York), and so I could book a break there instead.
Alison Taylor ARPS
The Lonely Sea and the Sky.
As soon as I had been awarded my LRPS and enjoyed the moment I knew that there was a project in me that would work for an ARPS. I had discovered that my photography love is for the sea and the waves and so an idea was born.
I can happily spend hours on the foreshore looking out to sea and there is so much to attract the eye; amazing skies, lively seas and patterns on the sand and this formed the basis of my statement of intent. It is an essential part of a successful submission and must accurately reflect the photographs in the panel.
A wet day at Saltburn
On impulse I decided to investigate weather conditions at Saltburn with a view to wandering around on the beach looking for reflections and shapes in the sand. The runes were very promising with showers forecast and a low tide late morning. This would allow for a a couple of hours on the beach with fish and chips to follow for late lunch.
Jenny Brown's Point
Whilst on holiday in Beetham my friend suggested that I visit Jenny Brown’s Point for a sunset shoot. It is a western facing promontory overlooking Morecambe Bay and is situated south of Silverdale in the Arnside and Sandside AONB. It is also owned by the National Trust.
I thought that it would be good at high tide so that I could try to capture cloud reflections and the sun on the water; but as usual I didn’t get what I expected.
Marsden Beach
I have seen quite a few photographs of Marsden Beach and have studied it on OS and Google Maps. (Vera has also filmed there in a recent series}. In addition to long sandy beaches there are a large number of sea stacks standing just off the cliffs which have water swirling around them most of the day.
Storm Ellen
A couple of weeks ago Storm Ellen struck and for me it was great news. For once the winds were being driven in from the south and the Yorkshire coast was experiencing a spring tide with high tide at 6.00pm. After an early meal and a check of my wellies I was off to Hartlepool. Really? Oh yes! Those of you that watch Vera as avidly as I do know that there is a long breakwater there that juts out in a westerly direction. There is also a promenade on which to stand and keep safe.
Two Waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales
On my recent holiday based in Kettlewell I visited a couple of waterfalls. I have been to Cauldron Force many times at different times of the year but for the first time I went to Aysgill Force which is situated about half a mile up Gayle Beck. I also discovered Aysgill Force which is about half a mile upstream from the village of Gayle.
Langstrothdale
My first holiday after lockdown was a week in Kettlewell which is in the heart of Wharfedale. I love Wharfedale with it’s beautifully defined valley and small villages peppered along it’s length. At the north of the main valley the River Wharfe turns sharply west past Hubberholme and Yockenthwaite. This is a gorgeous area as the road passes right by the river and there is ample room to park and then wander about taking photographs.
Selwicks Bay
Before I head inland for a week in the Yorkshire Dales I thought that another trip to the coast would ease the withdrawal pangs. Rather than drive to my usual haunts of Whitby or Fraisthorpe I decided that a bit of sea action on rocks was the requirement. The wind was forecast to be a reasonable easterly so Flamborough Head and in particular Selwicks Bay seemed to provide the best potential.
Out of Lockdown - Fraisthorpe
I promised myself that the moment I was allowed out from lockdown I would drive to the sea at dawn and watch the sun coming up and celebrate my relative freedom. On the Thursday morning I was up at 3.00am and off to Fraisthorpe and it’s wonderful sandy beach with all it’s features. It didn’t disappoint as there were lovely clouds in the sky, a crescent moon and wonderful patterns in the sand. Oh how I had missed the sea and all it’s delights!
Askham Bog - YWT
Askham Bog was under threat from developers, (Barwood), that had applied to build 500 houses on adjoining land. However, the Secretary of State has recently ruled that the development cannot go ahead so the reserve owned and maintained by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is safe and available for everyone to enjoy.