Sometimes I get hamstrung by the type of images I think I should be making. I am very aware that it can be limiting just to photograph my preferred subjects or feel I should only be working on the various photo projects I have underway. As a consequence the pure fun of just being out and about and capturing what I see, irrespective of genre or purpose, is rather liberating. Without the constraints of needing to fulfill a particular brief or objective, I am instantly reminded of why this is such a wonderful and enjoyable creative hobby.
This selection of six images were all shot last week at Hamworthy in Poole on the Dorset coast. The sun and blue skies made a rare winter appearance and I simply took the opportunity of making a few images of scenes that appealed to me.
The strong light and subject matter were arguably outside my usual comfort zone. The pictures don’t form part of an ongoing project. They are purely black and white images captured and made for the pleasure of doing so.
I was having fun and isn’t that what really matters?
I don’t know why but I was looking through my CaptureOne catalogue a few days ago and came across some images which I had taken in the summer of last year down at Weymouth beach in Dorset. It was a dull, overcast day and without any sun the beach was almost deserted with only a few hardened holidaymakers determined to make the most of it.
I had processed the pictures but they were never included in a post. I guess this was probably because the subject matter (urban/seaside/street) is very different to my usual work. It’s always rather fun to try something new and challenge your photographic eye.
Anyone familiar with a typical seaside resort in England will recognise some of these scenes which are likely to be replicated up and down the land. There is something very British about choosing to park your deck chair right next to a huge litter bin!
All the pictures were taken on the same morning with a Fuji X100v. It’s a great little camera for this type of work. Discreet, quick and easy to use, full manual control if that’s what you want and it produces excellentimage files.
Weymouth is a very popular resort, not too far from home. With Autumn having well and truly arrived here in the UK it is my intention to head back to this location as I find these places more interesting out of season.
Until then here is a selection which makes a change from my usual landscape or church photography.
It’s many years since I last visited the far west tip of Cornwall, in fact it would have been long before my interest in photography was ignited, so a return to this area back in March was long overdue. Well known for its spectacular coastline, delightful and picturesque fishing villages, all enhanced of course by the wonderful light, which has been the draw of so many artists. It’s a special but very popular location.
The remains of a dead tree at Praa Sands
If asked to choose my preferred aspect ratio, I would have to say 1:1, or a square crop, so for this entry, I have selected a number of square images, which I think work well as compositions.
Never before have I witnessed such a dramatic scene – fortunately I was in the right place at the right time.
At the end of last month I visited East Head at West Wittering, a place I have photographed and written about many times before on this site. But this time the conditions were very different and they couldn’t have been more atmospheric, moody or in one word spectacular. It was early evening as the drama unfolded before my eyes.
As I walked on the sand I noticed a line of fence posts which roped off a section of the dunes. After all East Head is owned by the National Trust and they are keen to protect this important habitat for wildlife and in particular nesting birds. This was a minimalist image (above) but as I turned round to look in the opposite direction I saw dark clouds gathering fast.
Much has been written in recent times about how the combination of photography and mindfulness can be beneficial to your mental wellbeing. Simply being out in the open, experiencing nature and witnessing the marvel of the created world has to be good for the soul. Most people worry and are anxious from time to time without actually suffering from a mental illness, myself included.
As well as taking regular exercise for your physical fitness, I recognise that doing things which specifically help your mental wellbeing are just as important, perhaps even more so given the world in which we live right now. So whilst stress and anxiety are not really a big issue for me, we can all benefit from being creative in a beautiful location and in so doing capturing a few special moments with a camera.
A few weeks ago I returned to one of my favourite places. East Head at West Wittering on the West Sussex coast. Probably one of the finest stretches of sand along the south coast and often listed in ‘Britain’s Best Beaches’. More often than not I am there with my wife and our dog early in the morning. On this occasion I went there on my own for a couple of hours not to walk but to photograph. I chose one particular spot, and then observed the tide receding and captured the setting sun. Because of the fading light and a desire to smooth the water all of the images you see here were long exposures which of course required the use of a tripod. This in itself forced me to slow down.
With no pressure on my time I could relax and concentrate on what I was doing. Whilst waiting for the light to change I simply stopped and watched the sun work its magic in the sky. Any worrying thoughts I had were lifted; as there was no space in my mind for anything other than photography and the scenery around me. Just ‘being in the moment’ to coin a phrase. Photographing sunsets is something of a cliche, but does that matter? Not in my opinion when the benefits are so tangible.
It has been a while since I last updated this blog and I am pleased to have another three or four entries to compose and publish soon. All of which will feature colour photographs as this seems to be the path I am following for now. I am also aware that I need to spend some time updating this website generally to reflect this change of direction. There are also a number of camera and processing techniques which I have yet to try – for example, focus stacking and exposure blending. Nothing new or original, just something I have never done before, so when I do I will endeavour to write about my experiences and share some images.
For now though I will simply leave you with this summary. If you are a creative (it doesn’t have to be photography), then put aside some time in your diary, head out to a favourite location and turn off your phone. Try and relax and take a few deep breaths, whilst you experience and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you, And perhaps for the time you are there some of your worries will ease, as a feeling of calm and stillness prevails.
alan frost photography 