(Don't forget you can click on the smaller images to enlarge)
Last day of March and a very cold northerly wind taking the edge off early spring expectations. To get out of the wind I walked down through the woods to St Loy Bay on the south coast, about 5 miles west of Mousehole. The daffodils in the woods are just about finished but we already have a few bluebells in flower, so I think peak bluebell season will be early this year. I stopped as I reached the sea to take some images of the cascade coming under, or rather through the bridge.
Down on the boulder beach I met Andy who was spending a few days walking the coast path from Penzance to St Ives and wild camping on the way. Andy is from Manchester but spent a year recently at the University in Falmouth so is familiar with the area-hoping to find a camping spot near Porthcurno tonight. The image below shows Andy by the huge mystery object on the beach, no one is sure where it came from but to me it looks like a watch tower that was bolted to the deck of an old whaling ship or similar.
The light was far too harsh for photography really but there were some nice clouds scudding across the sky in the brisk offshore wind. When I left the car I was cold but down here it was positively tropical and I was overheating.
St Loy is reputedly the mildest spot in Britain, a few beautiful houses with tropical looking gardens.
Wednesday 30th March:
I left Penzance in bright warm sunshine but arrived at Levant Mine in a chilly veil of fog. With the northerly breeze coming in off the sea it was a different world. No matter how many times I visit Levant I always come back with some very different images and today was the same. I've often taken images of the old building hanging over the sea (see last 3 images from Monday) but today I managed to find my way down around and inside the building. The majority of the images below were taken from inside the structure. The colour images have been brightened as it was quite dark but the colours are genuine, the cliffs here are amazing really despite not being what you might call picturesque.
I left Penzance in bright warm sunshine but arrived at Levant Mine in a chilly veil of fog. With the northerly breeze coming in off the sea it was a different world. No matter how many times I visit Levant I always come back with some very different images and today was the same. I've often taken images of the old building hanging over the sea (see last 3 images from Monday) but today I managed to find my way down around and inside the building. The majority of the images below were taken from inside the structure. The colour images have been brightened as it was quite dark but the colours are genuine, the cliffs here are amazing really despite not being what you might call picturesque.
Tuesday 29th March:
A cloudy morning but sun in the afternoon as we made our way to Nanjizal, first on the cliffs to the east and then down into the cove. Really warm out of the gentle northerly breeze and a few walkers and bird watchers on the coast path enjoying the spring weather. Very bright harsh light but as the afternoon wore on a sea fret drifted in around the headland. The cliffs are starting to take on some colour now with the daffodils still blooming and the gorse bursting into life.
A cloudy morning but sun in the afternoon as we made our way to Nanjizal, first on the cliffs to the east and then down into the cove. Really warm out of the gentle northerly breeze and a few walkers and bird watchers on the coast path enjoying the spring weather. Very bright harsh light but as the afternoon wore on a sea fret drifted in around the headland. The cliffs are starting to take on some colour now with the daffodils still blooming and the gorse bursting into life.
Chough, shags and wheatear -by Alison
Monday 28th March:
Cloudy today with just the odd flash of sunshine which, as luck would have it, coincided with our arrival at Levant. We walked down through the Levant workings and around the coast path a short way so that we could take images looking west, back towards the workings and east along the rocks to Pendeen lighthouse. As usual I scrambled around the cliffs and rocks to get into positions that would yield some unique angles. The lichen covered rocks here are unbelievably orange and other rocks are vivid greens and browns from minerals still being washed out from underground- even a green waterfall. For just the first few minutes as I was taking images towards Pendeen the sun appeared and made the rocks look positively nuclear. I spotted a superbly shaped and coloured rockpool below me and having looked at it on the computer I can now see a smiling Jurassic creature to me! Having talked about the amazing colours to be seen I still like the more dramatic black and whites as well.
Have got into the habit now of using my Fuji camera when I'm using a tripod and doing longer exposures, like today and my Panasonic when walking around handheld.
Cloudy today with just the odd flash of sunshine which, as luck would have it, coincided with our arrival at Levant. We walked down through the Levant workings and around the coast path a short way so that we could take images looking west, back towards the workings and east along the rocks to Pendeen lighthouse. As usual I scrambled around the cliffs and rocks to get into positions that would yield some unique angles. The lichen covered rocks here are unbelievably orange and other rocks are vivid greens and browns from minerals still being washed out from underground- even a green waterfall. For just the first few minutes as I was taking images towards Pendeen the sun appeared and made the rocks look positively nuclear. I spotted a superbly shaped and coloured rockpool below me and having looked at it on the computer I can now see a smiling Jurassic creature to me! Having talked about the amazing colours to be seen I still like the more dramatic black and whites as well.
Have got into the habit now of using my Fuji camera when I'm using a tripod and doing longer exposures, like today and my Panasonic when walking around handheld.
Sunday 27th March:
With the sky still clear and the sunset now at nearly 8 o'clock I didn't venture out until early evening. I went up to Pendeen lighthouse and them down the cliffs on the west side. The slightly hazy sun was to my right and the cliffs towards Levant were being lit nicely. Just enough swell to provide movement on the rocks below me. Took a couple of handheld images of the lighthouse complex when I came up, just to show where I was really.
With the sky still clear and the sunset now at nearly 8 o'clock I didn't venture out until early evening. I went up to Pendeen lighthouse and them down the cliffs on the west side. The slightly hazy sun was to my right and the cliffs towards Levant were being lit nicely. Just enough swell to provide movement on the rocks below me. Took a couple of handheld images of the lighthouse complex when I came up, just to show where I was really.
Saturday March 26th:
Yet another day of clear blue skies with harsh hazy sunshine, a few more to come as well I believe. I didn't go out until late afternoon and then went up to Cape Cornwall, down the slip and across the rocks. The sun was at right angles to me as I looked across to the Cape and the rocks were being lit up with an orange glow.
I scrambled around with the Fuji XT3 in my hand looking for interesting compositions, most with Cape Cornwall in the background but others more intimate. On the way back, as the sun was disappearing into the haze, I stopped by the old shed and put the camera on the tripod for the last image.
Yet another day of clear blue skies with harsh hazy sunshine, a few more to come as well I believe. I didn't go out until late afternoon and then went up to Cape Cornwall, down the slip and across the rocks. The sun was at right angles to me as I looked across to the Cape and the rocks were being lit up with an orange glow.
I scrambled around with the Fuji XT3 in my hand looking for interesting compositions, most with Cape Cornwall in the background but others more intimate. On the way back, as the sun was disappearing into the haze, I stopped by the old shed and put the camera on the tripod for the last image.
Friday 25th March:
Not a real photography trip today. The conditions are not great with harsh light, clear blue cloudless skies and a calm sea, so just a relaxing walk. Spring migrant birds are starting to show and with this in mind we went for a walk around Nanquidno. I put my camera on my back with just one lens, a 50-200mm in case a scene caught my eye. Below are a few images taken while Alison was searching for birds-wheatear, stonechats, chaffinches, wrens, robins, goldfinches, blue tits and more, but nothing very unusual. The first cuckoo has been seen this week, swallows and sand martins are around and a few ospreys have been spotted heading north.
Not a real photography trip today. The conditions are not great with harsh light, clear blue cloudless skies and a calm sea, so just a relaxing walk. Spring migrant birds are starting to show and with this in mind we went for a walk around Nanquidno. I put my camera on my back with just one lens, a 50-200mm in case a scene caught my eye. Below are a few images taken while Alison was searching for birds-wheatear, stonechats, chaffinches, wrens, robins, goldfinches, blue tits and more, but nothing very unusual. The first cuckoo has been seen this week, swallows and sand martins are around and a few ospreys have been spotted heading north.
Thursday 24th March:
Still not a cloud in the sky and very little wind as I made my way up to Cape Cornwall and then down onto the rocks between there and the mouth of Kenidjack Valley. The tide was just starting to come in and I stayed for two hours trying to pick out compositions as the water swirled around the boulders and into the rockpools. It was too bright really but I still enjoyed searching for images amongst the chaos. Back at the car park the sun was setting behind Cape Cornwall and three people up at the summit made some nice silhouettes against the colourful sky.
Still not a cloud in the sky and very little wind as I made my way up to Cape Cornwall and then down onto the rocks between there and the mouth of Kenidjack Valley. The tide was just starting to come in and I stayed for two hours trying to pick out compositions as the water swirled around the boulders and into the rockpools. It was too bright really but I still enjoyed searching for images amongst the chaos. Back at the car park the sun was setting behind Cape Cornwall and three people up at the summit made some nice silhouettes against the colourful sky.
Wednesday 23rd March:
Wall to wall blue skies and once out of the breeze real warmth in the air. In theory not a great day for photography but such a long awaited warm spring day meant that the images I took today seem somehow to be just what was needed. As the waves came up the beach the wet sand gave some nice reflections but it only lasted a few seconds as the sand was so porous.
We spent the whole day up at Chapel Porth Beach and on the nearby coast path up to Wheal Coates Mine.
Dog walkers, surfers and school children on a beach clean gave the area such a spring like feel. I even got wet feet as a wave came up the beach and topped my wellies but it wasn't even cold then. No coats or hats today and even the need for sun cream. Still experimenting with Fuji colours-Acros b&w and Velvia saturated colours.
Wall to wall blue skies and once out of the breeze real warmth in the air. In theory not a great day for photography but such a long awaited warm spring day meant that the images I took today seem somehow to be just what was needed. As the waves came up the beach the wet sand gave some nice reflections but it only lasted a few seconds as the sand was so porous.
We spent the whole day up at Chapel Porth Beach and on the nearby coast path up to Wheal Coates Mine.
Dog walkers, surfers and school children on a beach clean gave the area such a spring like feel. I even got wet feet as a wave came up the beach and topped my wellies but it wasn't even cold then. No coats or hats today and even the need for sun cream. Still experimenting with Fuji colours-Acros b&w and Velvia saturated colours.
Tuesday 22nd March:
A return visit to Sennen dunes this afternoon but with a difference. Looking at my images from yesterday I had an idea to get images of the black hut holiday cottage that are different from any I've seen before. First of all I used a long lens for some to compress the scene and for others I tried to pick out details rather than the whole cottage.
To make it different again from yesterday I set everything up for black and white. I have taken one or two of the same images to compare to yesterday.
A bigger sea running today to give more interest to the background. I also have coloured raw files of the shoot so may play with those at a later date.
Monday 21st March:
If you look at the 13th January entry you will see that Alison and I went down to Sennen and took images in the dunes area above the beach, including the black hut holiday cottage. Over the weekend I watched a youtube video made by Tom Whelan who specialises in b&w film photography. In the video Tom walked around the same area using Ilford Delta 3200 film-this section is at the end part of the video as Tom went to the beach first and then Hayle before returning to the dunes later. Have a watch yourself- all Tom's videos are made around west Cornwall-he even shows you in one video how he develops his films with minimal equipment-click on the link and subscribe to Tom's channel Tom Whelan Ilford Delta 3200
This afternoon I made a return visit to the dunes, parking by Sennen School and going across the fields. I've taken several of the same images as Tom but I used my Fuji camera set to Fuji Velvia, which gives saturated vibrant images, completely the opposite of Toms. The lowering sun was lighting up the cottages and grasses although it did go a little hazy after an hour or so. Not a cloud in the sky unfortunately but you can't have everything. I have edited one in b&w to mimic Tom's images.
If you look at the 13th January entry you will see that Alison and I went down to Sennen and took images in the dunes area above the beach, including the black hut holiday cottage. Over the weekend I watched a youtube video made by Tom Whelan who specialises in b&w film photography. In the video Tom walked around the same area using Ilford Delta 3200 film-this section is at the end part of the video as Tom went to the beach first and then Hayle before returning to the dunes later. Have a watch yourself- all Tom's videos are made around west Cornwall-he even shows you in one video how he develops his films with minimal equipment-click on the link and subscribe to Tom's channel Tom Whelan Ilford Delta 3200
This afternoon I made a return visit to the dunes, parking by Sennen School and going across the fields. I've taken several of the same images as Tom but I used my Fuji camera set to Fuji Velvia, which gives saturated vibrant images, completely the opposite of Toms. The lowering sun was lighting up the cottages and grasses although it did go a little hazy after an hour or so. Not a cloud in the sky unfortunately but you can't have everything. I have edited one in b&w to mimic Tom's images.
Sunday 20th March:
Mostly grey today with just a hint of hazy sun now and again to provide a bit of warmth from the chilly wind. In the afternoon we made a trip up to Cape Cornwall and down in to the shelter of Priests Cove. Not many people around and no one swimming at all which is unusual even when it's cold. Still a swell running, coming in big sets every five minutes or so. The images below are all Fuji acros Jpegs just tweaked a little in Photolab.
Mostly grey today with just a hint of hazy sun now and again to provide a bit of warmth from the chilly wind. In the afternoon we made a trip up to Cape Cornwall and down in to the shelter of Priests Cove. Not many people around and no one swimming at all which is unusual even when it's cold. Still a swell running, coming in big sets every five minutes or so. The images below are all Fuji acros Jpegs just tweaked a little in Photolab.
Friday 18th March:
Clear blue skies with a brisk south easterly wind as I drove up to Kenidjack. I thought it was a bit of a waste of time but as I reached the bottom of the valley where the sea comes in to view I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the waves coming into the bay. The offshore wind was blowing the tops off and they were being backlit by the sun. Shooting into the sun with not a cloud in the sky was tricky but it was well worth the trip. Lots of wave images, some of which will appear here over the weekend. Wish you could hear the sound of the waves, can't help feeling photographs never quite do justice to what you actually witnessed.
Clear blue skies with a brisk south easterly wind as I drove up to Kenidjack. I thought it was a bit of a waste of time but as I reached the bottom of the valley where the sea comes in to view I was pleasantly surprised by the size of the waves coming into the bay. The offshore wind was blowing the tops off and they were being backlit by the sun. Shooting into the sun with not a cloud in the sky was tricky but it was well worth the trip. Lots of wave images, some of which will appear here over the weekend. Wish you could hear the sound of the waves, can't help feeling photographs never quite do justice to what you actually witnessed.
The Thursday Beach Walk:
Godrevy beach and cliff top was full of activity yesterday. As I walked along from the car park National Trust workers were laying a new path and building up walls. Down on the beach were several men and women in hi-vis jackets driving quad bikes round and round in circles or walking out in the water and climbing up on rocks. All of them, I found out later, with rucksacks containing scientific equipment which was recording all kinds of data. Apparently they were from the Plymouth Coastal Observatory which carries out regular surveys to gauge erosion, beach levels and damage caused by storms.
There is a website if you want to know more. coastalmonitoring.org/southwest/
Godrevy beach and cliff top was full of activity yesterday. As I walked along from the car park National Trust workers were laying a new path and building up walls. Down on the beach were several men and women in hi-vis jackets driving quad bikes round and round in circles or walking out in the water and climbing up on rocks. All of them, I found out later, with rucksacks containing scientific equipment which was recording all kinds of data. Apparently they were from the Plymouth Coastal Observatory which carries out regular surveys to gauge erosion, beach levels and damage caused by storms.
There is a website if you want to know more. coastalmonitoring.org/southwest/
Images of Kestrel and skylark by Alison
Thursday 17th March:
Spent a whole day at Godrevy today with the morning wandering along the beach in the wind and sunshine and the afternoon on the headland and rocks but with the light largely gone. Below to start with are some images from the afternoon in black and white. There was a good swell that built up as high tide approached.
I will have a look at the beach images tomorrow with a few bonus bird photographs from Alison.
Spent a whole day at Godrevy today with the morning wandering along the beach in the wind and sunshine and the afternoon on the headland and rocks but with the light largely gone. Below to start with are some images from the afternoon in black and white. There was a good swell that built up as high tide approached.
I will have a look at the beach images tomorrow with a few bonus bird photographs from Alison.
Wednesday 16th March:
Something a little different. Join me for an afternoon stroll around Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens with an infrared camera in hand.
Something a little different. Join me for an afternoon stroll around Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens with an infrared camera in hand.
Tuesday 15th March:
A hazy greyish day today but still very pleasant. This afternoon I first paid a visit to a little rocky cove that I haven't been to recently but under instruction from a bodyboarding chimney sweep I can't tell you where it was-apparently it's one of his secret spots. I didn't have a really long lens with me but still got a couple of images of him in action.
I then drove around to the Nanquidno Valley again but this time, as I was on my own, went down to Nanjulian and then along the rocks and crumbly cliffs towards Cape Cornwall. There's a rusty old fence there that I like to use in my images. A little pink in the sky as the afternoon wore on and just when I'd put my camera away there was a brief glimpse of the sun before it was due to set and there was a lovely red glow on the cliffs. A rush to unpack again and take a few more images.
A hazy greyish day today but still very pleasant. This afternoon I first paid a visit to a little rocky cove that I haven't been to recently but under instruction from a bodyboarding chimney sweep I can't tell you where it was-apparently it's one of his secret spots. I didn't have a really long lens with me but still got a couple of images of him in action.
I then drove around to the Nanquidno Valley again but this time, as I was on my own, went down to Nanjulian and then along the rocks and crumbly cliffs towards Cape Cornwall. There's a rusty old fence there that I like to use in my images. A little pink in the sky as the afternoon wore on and just when I'd put my camera away there was a brief glimpse of the sun before it was due to set and there was a lovely red glow on the cliffs. A rush to unpack again and take a few more images.
A bodyboarding chimney sweep in action
(Not a sentence I was expecting to use)
(Not a sentence I was expecting to use)
Monday 14th March:
What a beautiful day after all the rain and storms of the last few weeks. In the afternoon we made our way up to St Just Airfield and then down Nanquidno Valley. Daffodils everywhere and the gunnera starting to shoot upwards. We walked down the lane, through the gate on and up the field to the top of the hill with views along the cliffs to Cape Cornwall. Only a slight breeze and the sun coming and going as some dark clouds moved overhead. A kestrel decided to sit on a rock near us but unfortunately was always facing the wrong way.
What a beautiful day after all the rain and storms of the last few weeks. In the afternoon we made our way up to St Just Airfield and then down Nanquidno Valley. Daffodils everywhere and the gunnera starting to shoot upwards. We walked down the lane, through the gate on and up the field to the top of the hill with views along the cliffs to Cape Cornwall. Only a slight breeze and the sun coming and going as some dark clouds moved overhead. A kestrel decided to sit on a rock near us but unfortunately was always facing the wrong way.
A bit of colour from yesterday at Portreath
Saturday 12th March:
Rained in the night and due to rain again in the afternoon so we made another early trip up to Portreath. Apart from a few minutes out by the pier and half an hour in the Hub cafe we spent all morning on the beach. Lots of people out with dogs and children all enjoying the dry spell and looking at the tops being blown off the waves by the strong offshore wind. All very grey, so almost black and white before you started. All the images below are Fuji Acros Jpegs, I'll have aplay with the raw files tomorrow to see whether I might prefer some colour.
Glad we went out this morning as it has poured and poured this afternoon and evening.
Rained in the night and due to rain again in the afternoon so we made another early trip up to Portreath. Apart from a few minutes out by the pier and half an hour in the Hub cafe we spent all morning on the beach. Lots of people out with dogs and children all enjoying the dry spell and looking at the tops being blown off the waves by the strong offshore wind. All very grey, so almost black and white before you started. All the images below are Fuji Acros Jpegs, I'll have aplay with the raw files tomorrow to see whether I might prefer some colour.
Glad we went out this morning as it has poured and poured this afternoon and evening.
Friday 11th March:
The forecast for today was showers with the possibility of one or two drier spells especially in the morning. With this in mind we set off up to Portreath before 8a.m. but thought we had made a mistake as it rained as soon as we arrived. After a while it stopped and so I went down to the beach to get a different angle on the pier, while Alison walked around to the harbour. The sky was threatening out over the sea but for a while it stayed dry and the scene in front of me was really interesting with some good waves. Suddenly the heavens opened and it poured down so we made a hasty retreat to The Hub cafe across the road, which was excellent.
The rain eased but the sky still looked full of rain so we thought that was it for the day and set off for home.
As we got to the top of the hill you could see some blue sky ahead so we turned right down to Bassetts Cove where we were treated to some lovely hazy light. Samphire Island was lit up as was Godrevy in the far distance with the rest of the cliffs largely in shadow for contrast.
I've edited more of the images below in black and white than colour which is how I saw them at the time. There was a real hazy blueness in the air and personally I prefer the black and white as it emphasises the white surf which was lit up by the sun coming over the cliffs from low to our left.
The forecast for today was showers with the possibility of one or two drier spells especially in the morning. With this in mind we set off up to Portreath before 8a.m. but thought we had made a mistake as it rained as soon as we arrived. After a while it stopped and so I went down to the beach to get a different angle on the pier, while Alison walked around to the harbour. The sky was threatening out over the sea but for a while it stayed dry and the scene in front of me was really interesting with some good waves. Suddenly the heavens opened and it poured down so we made a hasty retreat to The Hub cafe across the road, which was excellent.
The rain eased but the sky still looked full of rain so we thought that was it for the day and set off for home.
As we got to the top of the hill you could see some blue sky ahead so we turned right down to Bassetts Cove where we were treated to some lovely hazy light. Samphire Island was lit up as was Godrevy in the far distance with the rest of the cliffs largely in shadow for contrast.
I've edited more of the images below in black and white than colour which is how I saw them at the time. There was a real hazy blueness in the air and personally I prefer the black and white as it emphasises the white surf which was lit up by the sun coming over the cliffs from low to our left.
Thursday 10th March:
An early morning walk around the Penzance Harbour area, something I love doing but haven't done for a while.
An early morning walk around the Penzance Harbour area, something I love doing but haven't done for a while.
Wednesday 9th March:
Rained all day today so no trips out. Looked back at a few more images from Monday and did a bit of black and white editing in Nik Silver Efex Pro. I think black and white really brings out the movement in the foaming seas.
Rained all day today so no trips out. Looked back at a few more images from Monday and did a bit of black and white editing in Nik Silver Efex Pro. I think black and white really brings out the movement in the foaming seas.
Tuesday 8th March:
A return visit to Cot Valley, with bright blue skies and warmth in the air once you were out of the breeze. It had poured all morning but the afternoon was beautiful. We stopped by the river first of all, as I had done yesterday. I walked a bit further up the road to another cascade by the wooden bridge. After half an hour here we left the car at the top car park and took the high path that takes you along the left side of the valley until you are looking down on the beach. After a cup of tea I scrambled down onto the rocks on the left of the beach. The sun was hitting the cliffs and the colours were bright, really felt like Spring.
A return visit to Cot Valley, with bright blue skies and warmth in the air once you were out of the breeze. It had poured all morning but the afternoon was beautiful. We stopped by the river first of all, as I had done yesterday. I walked a bit further up the road to another cascade by the wooden bridge. After half an hour here we left the car at the top car park and took the high path that takes you along the left side of the valley until you are looking down on the beach. After a cup of tea I scrambled down onto the rocks on the left of the beach. The sun was hitting the cliffs and the colours were bright, really felt like Spring.
A selection of images taken on and around the beach at low tide when the sky was grey with just the occasional sunray showing through. Lots of gannets diving around the Brisons. One lady asked me about the snow on top of the Brisons!
River images taken on the way down Cot Valley on Monday
Monday 7th March:
The freezing north easterly wind and grey skies kept me in at the weekend, so today, despite an equally strong and cold south easterly I went up to Cot Valley. On the way down the valley I stopped to take a few images on the river bank before heading down to the beach. It was low tide when I arrived and so I spent some time on the little bit of sand and flattish rock that was uncovered. The storms of late have washed a lot of sand out of the cove and so there was only a small space below the boulders. The sky was grey but as the afternoon wore on some quite strange cloud formations moved across the sky and in the last hour of daylight, although I never actually saw the sun, I had beams of light appearing through gaps and holes. Unfortunately rather than opening up for sunset the gaps closed over and all went dark and grey.
The first set of images I've put below are all from this hour, some in colour and others black and white.
The freezing north easterly wind and grey skies kept me in at the weekend, so today, despite an equally strong and cold south easterly I went up to Cot Valley. On the way down the valley I stopped to take a few images on the river bank before heading down to the beach. It was low tide when I arrived and so I spent some time on the little bit of sand and flattish rock that was uncovered. The storms of late have washed a lot of sand out of the cove and so there was only a small space below the boulders. The sky was grey but as the afternoon wore on some quite strange cloud formations moved across the sky and in the last hour of daylight, although I never actually saw the sun, I had beams of light appearing through gaps and holes. Unfortunately rather than opening up for sunset the gaps closed over and all went dark and grey.
The first set of images I've put below are all from this hour, some in colour and others black and white.
A few more images from yesterday at Mill Bay and Lands End this time edited from raw files.
Friday 4th March:
A bright sunny day with a brisk north westerly wind. I drove down to Lands End and made my way a mile or more to the east until I reached Mill Bay. Some lovely clouds moving quickly across the scene. I perched myself at the bottom of a grass bank for a while and waited for the sun to light up different parts of the scene. Below me were half a dozen seals enjoying the rough white water and when the sun was behind the clouds I took images of them. During the afternoon I made my way along the cliffs and eventually found myself back at Lands End for sunset. For a bit of an experiment today I set the Fuji camera to Velvia which gives Jpegs with very saturated colours and all the images below are just tweaked slightly from these. I also have a full set of raw files which I might edit and compare over the weekend.
A bright sunny day with a brisk north westerly wind. I drove down to Lands End and made my way a mile or more to the east until I reached Mill Bay. Some lovely clouds moving quickly across the scene. I perched myself at the bottom of a grass bank for a while and waited for the sun to light up different parts of the scene. Below me were half a dozen seals enjoying the rough white water and when the sun was behind the clouds I took images of them. During the afternoon I made my way along the cliffs and eventually found myself back at Lands End for sunset. For a bit of an experiment today I set the Fuji camera to Velvia which gives Jpegs with very saturated colours and all the images below are just tweaked slightly from these. I also have a full set of raw files which I might edit and compare over the weekend.
Thursday 3rd March:
This afternoon we had some sunshine, so I set off from home with no idea where I would end up. As it turned out I stopped at St Loy Woods, on the south coast halfway between Penzance and Lands End. The wood is well known for daffodils in early spring and bluebells in April/May. There is a stream running down through the woods and there is where I stopped first when I found a lovely cascade to spend some time standing in the water. Once I had exhausted the compositions here I made my way along the daffodil lined path all the way down to St Loy's Bay which is a beach of huge boulders. You pass some beautiful private gardens on the way down, a lovely place to live. There was a fair swell coming up the rocks and the sun was lighting up the bay with Boscawen at the eastern end.
This afternoon we had some sunshine, so I set off from home with no idea where I would end up. As it turned out I stopped at St Loy Woods, on the south coast halfway between Penzance and Lands End. The wood is well known for daffodils in early spring and bluebells in April/May. There is a stream running down through the woods and there is where I stopped first when I found a lovely cascade to spend some time standing in the water. Once I had exhausted the compositions here I made my way along the daffodil lined path all the way down to St Loy's Bay which is a beach of huge boulders. You pass some beautiful private gardens on the way down, a lovely place to live. There was a fair swell coming up the rocks and the sun was lighting up the bay with Boscawen at the eastern end.
A couple of colour images from yesterday's long exposure session at Portreath. Both of these were taken when there was just a hint of late afternoon sun. Deadman's Hut is where the men would shelter while waiting for ships to approach the harbour. The ship was then pulled by ropes up the pier to the dock. The Deadman's Hut got its name from times when it became a temporary morgue where bodies were put that the sea gave up.
Wednesday 2nd March:
Back out again after two days of solid rain. No light to speak of and a relatively calm sea, so today we concentrated on some black and white long exposures up at Portreath. Normally photographers congregate here in rough weather as I did on 17th February but for a change today we went there on a calm day for this time of year.
Back out again after two days of solid rain. No light to speak of and a relatively calm sea, so today we concentrated on some black and white long exposures up at Portreath. Normally photographers congregate here in rough weather as I did on 17th February but for a change today we went there on a calm day for this time of year.