Returning to London Bridge

They say you should go back. And practice makes perfect. I don't know about perfection. But I'd like to think I get better... and it's fun. Once again I was alone on this beach. That's a surreal feeling. It's such an extraordinary place. And a mesmerising place to be alone. Tonight my favourite shots were taken a few minutes before and a few minutes after sunset. It's officially Autumn. The leaves are beginning to fall in my street. But it was warm enough on the beach. Even the water lapping around my feet was... lovely. Anyone want to dust off a camera and join me next time?

Five minutes after sunset. So calm. 16mm 6s F8 ISO64 & a 6-Stop ND64 Filter

Sunset at 19:57 21mm 0.5s F16 ISO 64

The light! 19:48 22mm 1/15th F11 ISO64

The sea is a savage! 19:36 21mm 0.5s F18 ISO64

The Sky, Ricketts Point Marine Sanctuary

When I left work it was obvious something was going on above. I kept looking up as I made the one hour drive home. I grabbed a very quick bite to eat. Then the camera and went down to Ricketts. Ricketts seemed like an ideal choice given the lack of time (it's only 35 minutes from home) and because there are often pools of standing water. Pools can reflect the sky. As it turned out there was far less pooled water than on previous visits. That limited choices. But I'm happy anyway with the composition and thrilled with how the sky came alive a few minutes after sunset. I don't know how many of these we'll get in a lifetime. But this would be one of the better ones for me. What a blessing to be out on a beach / marine sanctuary on a perfect 22 degree evening. And not alone. At least six gorgeous Pelicans and three beautiful Black Swans were out enjoying the show. I wished I could fly to and fro like the Swans. 

Six Pelicans in heaven ( shot with the iPhone - no edits )

A wider view ( handheld iPhone pano - no edits )

A three minute exposure at sunset ( with an ND64 filter and a graduated ND8 filter )

Brighton Beach - 17 November 2017

It stormed this afternoon and hailstones pelted down. After the rain the sun came out. And I decided to take a chance on an evening sky. I made my way to Brighton beach thinking of photographing the famous boxes set against a sunset sky.

It's hard to go wrong photographing Brighton beach. There are so many multicoloured boxes. Always people about having fun. Drones in the sky. Pro-photographers photographing clients. Ok, it gets a little busy, but it's still hard to come away without at least a couple of shots.

Here are one or a few from this evening.