whitley bay | The Developing Photographer

The Developing Photographer

Last month I decided to embark on a photographic project to take photos in monochrome, the pictures from which can be seen here. I learnt a lot from this mini project, but was pleased this weekend to break away from the shackles of black and white and shoot colour again on what turned out to be a lovely day on the North Sea coast.

The Developing Photographer

Rather appropriately, the UK’s Cultural Olympiad was opening with an art installation in Whitley Bay. American artist Yvette Mattern’s Global Rainbow shone coloured laser beams from St Mary’s Lighthouse to the opposite horizon to give the effect of a vast rainbow when stood beneath it. The Durham Lumier light festival before Christmas had brought home the difficulties of composing interesting images in pitch-black conditions, but hopefully some of these shots at least captured the spectacle successfully.

The Developing Photographer

Last month I posted some photos of sunrises captured from the North East coast. I’d set my sights on getting up one morning in time to capture the Sun rising from the North Sea and Saturday I decided to jump in myself (literally!).

I’d planned everything the night before and packed up the car, surfboard included! There was a North Sea swell coming in so couldn’t miss the opportunity to go for a first surf since going to Bali in the summer.

My alarm went off and everything was timed to perfection. I left the house in time to arrive at the coast to catch the sunrise, but 3 miles down the road I realised Id left my camera battery on charge in the house. As I raced back to the house, I could see the pink clouds illuminated in my rear view mirror.

Battery in camera, I took on the sun in a race to the horizon, well aware that I was missing some beautiful colours in front of me.

I parked up at Seaton Sluice, knowing that I might be too late. But after a sprint across the beach and a clamber over the headland I arrived at the perfect spot to see the Sun shining through the glass at the top of St Mary’s lighthouse.

It would’ve been great to have been there in advance, and I’m sure the first piece of advice on any respectable photography blog would be to be prepared. In hurrying to get the shot, I sacrificed any thought of composition and I was unable to incorporate the depth seen in the photos from which I was drawing inspiration.