Southwold Pier

08/01/12

On Saturday, 07/01/2012, I made a trip to Southwold Pier, to photograph a classic Suffolk coastline view.

I set off from my Essex home very early in the morning, but only arrived at the Southwold Beach carpark at 7:30am - about thirty minutes later than I'd hoped and about thirty minutes before the sun rose above the horizon. The sky was getter brighter every moment that passed; I was going to have to move quickly. I grabbed my kit from the boot of my car, rushed to the beach access point in the seawall, and down on to the beach itself. I found, to my disappointment, that an early bird fellow photographer had already made it on to the beach! He was pitched right on the spot that I'd pre-visualised on my map the night before as the place I wanted to set-up! I must get an extra alarm clock or a less comfortable bed!

I wasn't going to let my inspiration be dampened however. I paced backwards on the beach, away from the pier, and away from the other photographer. I was constantly weighing up a composition in my mind's eye. Then, just as a breaking wave splashed over my boots, I stopped. I had found my view.

I splayed the legs of my tripod and clipped in my camera. The light, of course, was still getting brighter. But the available light was still amazing. Through my viewfinder, I could admire the light from the rising winter sun, which was casting wonderous golden hues across the morning sky; soft and pale. A solitary, broad, fluffy cloud was lingering just over the end of the pier. The tide was coming in, but the gentle waves were breaking at just the right spot; giving a depth adding diagonal line to my composed view. My composition was ready.

Snap! I clicked my cable release and made my photograph; my own take on this classic Suffolk view.

Technical Details: Aperture f/18, Shutter Speed 0.80 seconds, ISO 200, Focal Length 18mm.

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