Cape Cornwall - Photography Week 30 (2016)

Having not posted for six weeks, I was in two minds about restarting the photoblog from the current date or whether to continue from where I had left off. In the end I decided it was best to persist with the format until the end of the year and then review the whole idea of photoblogging.

Originally I had set out to capture a record of the images that I take - either good, bad or indifferent - in order that I could plan to improve my photography. Over the last year or so it has provided an opportunity to review virtually every image that I have taken rather than selecting one or two for display on photography websites.

I have learned during this time that slowing down and taking fewer photographs is the best way of achieving a quality output whilst acknowledging that photography is a fun activity where getting out of the house and seeing things is more important than the final results.

All in all, I guess the photoblog is jumble of images taken for fun with a few self labelled "good-ones" thrown in. As an aside, it has also highlighted  how difficult it is to write more than a couple of sentences without making endless mistakes - missing words, misspellings, poor grammar, cringe worthy ramblings and the realisation that I should have paid more attention at school!

So.....on to the photos from week 30 (25th to 31st July) when it was still warm and sunny (although, as I sit at the PC, October is not doing a bad job of keeping summer alive).

These are a selection of images taken on a family outing to Cape Cornwall which started with a walk to Kenidjack Cliffs. The path follows the line of the cliffs to Kenidjack Valley and the remains of the Boswedden Mine dating from the mid 19th century:

Climbing to the top of Kendidjack cliffs there are views back to Cape Cornwall and then towards the Botallack Mine. Using a large lens I could focus in the Crowns' engine houses at Botallack:

As we all took a rest and enjoyed the weather I spent a few minutes studying the lichen covered rocks and finding some mini-gardens, textures and patterns:

The last part of day was more photography driven with a stop at Porth Nanven. I had particularly wanted to visit this venue at low tide but unfortunately I was hampered by a loss of light and quite a few other visitors. My compositions were limited at times but this set shows the huge photographic potential of this cove - another visit will be required I think...

Porth Nanven - Photography Week 17 & 5 (2016)

There are many fine places to photograph in Cornwall but for many landscapers Porth Nanven is either at the top or very close to the top of the list - something I found out on my second visit during photography week 17.

The attraction is the extraordinary ovoid boulders that line the cove. They were once part of an ancient beach suspended in the cliffs when sea levels dropped after the last ice-age. In the years that followed the boulders eroded from the cliffs to form an area of special scientific interest (1,2)

Ovoid Boulders

Boulders in the cliff face

Suspended ancient beach

Concrete walkway which may cover a disused sewage pipe (1)

Rocky cove view

Boulders - shapes and textures

Boulders - shapes and textures

From a photographic point of view, the boulders make perfect foreground interest particularly when combined with lapping waves. The rocks shine when they are wet emphasizes the range of different colours and sizes. Offshore, two islets called The Brisons serve as a strong background focal point (3)

The Brisons

Getting close the wet rocks can result in a soaking!



A milky sea isolates the rocks and leaves a wet shine

Heavy showers and a stiff off-the-sea breeze characterised my first visit to Porth Nanven in early February. I spent most of time fighting a losing battle against raindrops and sea spray. This was probably the best image from the visit and I would describe this as the 'classic' Porth Nanven composition.

Classic Composition

Heavy Showers

The conditions for my second visit in May were much better except for the number of other photographers. As it reached golden hour time there were 8 other 'togs' (4) all fiercely guarding their tripod space.

Togs lining the cove. Can't help but think that the most interesting light was across the beach rather than into the light?

Fortunately, I had met two of the photographers (Peter and Andy) previously and they suggested an elevated position to the side of cove using a tongue shaped rock as the main foreground focal point.

 

 

I think I will try low tide for my next visit to Porth Nanven and hopefully it won't be quite so busy. 

 

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porth_Nanven

(2) projects.exeter.ac.uk/geomincentre/05West Penwith.pdf

(3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brisons

(4) TOG - used online as an abbreviation for photographer. Not to be confused with Terry's Old Geezers featured on the late Terry Wogan's Wake up to Wogan radio programme.