Visiting Norfolk

A blend of 2 minute and 2 second exposures

Norfolk is a place I’ve rarely visited. Even less so with photography in mind. I was kindly invited down for a few days of photography at the beginning of October. With an unseasonal heat wave hitting the UK with day time temperature around 20 degrees it turned out to be a fantastic little trip.

Seascapes were the main draw of the trip with an excellent evening at Cromer followed by a curry and a beer. Not too many beers as we needed to be up early for a sunrise shoot at Caister-on-sea. This is a place that I’d visited before to shoot the groynes leading out into the sea but previously I’d failed to find them. This time with the help of a local who explained that many of them had been buried under the beach, we found two sets of rusting metal spikes leading out into the waves. This might not sound too appealing, but they look visually very striking. I experimented with different shutter speeds. Some very long two-minute exposures, to really flatten the sea and some shorter one and two second exposures to create some movement as the water receded.

The sunrise was less than dramatic but the soft light and the effect created by the water makes for a compelling image.

I’d been invited down By Dave Peck. A fellow photographer who I’ve collaborated with a few times in recent months. His ulterior motive was to get me to take part in another photo challenge. This time it was in woodland. Not my strongest environment. Check out the YouTube video to see how I faired.

Another highlight was visiting the seal colony at Horsey Gap. I’d been warned to pack my longest lens (600mm) and taking images of these amazing creatures was a real privilege.

Thanks to Dave for arranging such packed and enjoyable few days.