BEST CORNWALL LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR 2021
With Covid-19 causing a stop and start year for 2021, this year was another tough year on us all. I found my landscape photography a welcome break to all the madness. However, more than any other year I had experienced, luck was not on my side.
Opportunities to get out into the Cornish landscape with my camera were low, and despite my best efforts on many of those occasions I came back empty handed. Unexpected weather changes caused light and colour to disappear in an instant, as well as locations not looking as I had hoped, whether it was low quality sand, tides being too rough or calm, or simply lacking a bit of magic.
With the tests I faced, I continued on, even more determined with each attempt to capture something unique and inspiring.
Now with 2021 behind us and my collection complete, I am proud of the imagery that has made it into my Cornwall Landscape Photography of the Year gallery, not forgetting all those that remain on the cutting room floor.
HOLYWELL BAY GULL ROCKS
This image celebrates the famous twin islands of Gull Rocks at Holywell Bay in North Cornwall. A sweeping stretch of golden sand backed by towering cliffs and grass-tufted dunes, Holywell Bay beach is the kind of place that radiates natural beauty. That said, the eye can’t help but be drawn to the towering Gull Rocks soaring from the sea. Both otherworldly and familiar, they are a real focal point that provide the perfect backdrop for coastal walks and inspiration for creativity. It’s this magnetism that Holywell Bay Gull Rocks captures.
To really create a sense of presence, this shot was taken low from the dunes that shoulder Holywell Bay beach. The golden sea grass helps to not only frame the bottom half of the image, but also stylistically merges with the sand. The busyness of the shimmering grass provides a striking contrast to the milky summer sea that gently laps the shore. The pastel tones of the sky heighten this dreamy effect and lend a sense of pervading calm, inspiring nostalgia and evoking memories of balmy summer days in Cornwall.
LAND’S END GLOWING ARCH
I had had the idea to make the Enys Dodnan arch the centrepiece of one of my landscape photographs for quite some time, but bad weather had somewhat delayed my attempts on capturing this photograph.
On this particular evening the sky was continuously switching back and forth from hazy clouds to clear, so it was very hard to know what I was going to get. Set up in position, the hazy clouds seem to become permanent so I once again became doubtful of the photograph I would be able to get. I remained patient and watched how the late afternoon progressed, and was rewarded in my efforts to stay calm. The sun worked its way down to a thinner part of the veil where it could make itself known. Illuminating not only the clouds around it, but the sea through the archway, exactly what I had hoped for.
There is a warm, mystical quality to the sky with its soft colours and gentle haze, providing the perfect backdrop to this magical location.
MULLION ASTRO
The word ‘humbling’ always comes to mind when gazing up at the Milky Way: a pearly streak of infinite stars too far away to be distinguished as single entities. Lending a greater sense of perspective, it’s always a truly magical sight to see. That said, combining the right light (preferably none) with the right location and the right weather window is not always an easy feat, especially if you’re also factoring in the play of the tides. Naturally, when I found myself at Mullion cove this summer with all the elements perfect aligning to capture the Milky Way, I seized the opportunity, resulting in this photography; Mullion Astro.
Taken from within the mouth of the harbour, this photograph juxtaposes the almost misty, opalescent film of the sea with the sharply focused night sky, flecked with innumerable stars. With the feathered white edges of the sea and the textures of the land, the image nods to the movement and vitality of our own environment, encompassed below this vast, star-studded canopy. The real focal point is of course the Milky Way, which almost shoots from the top of the sea stack framed between the harbour walls. This creates a beautiful central line of sight, both drawing the eye and lending a greater sense of scale. The stars shimmer and come to life with the high quality photographic paper, particularly when behind glass.
PORTREATH PEPPERPOT SUN BURST
The Daymark that sits atop the cliff overlooking Portreath beach is otherwise known as The Pepperpot, and, as were its intentions, stands out triumphantly against the rugged north facing cliff from both the sand and the sea.
I am always looking for unique landmarks in my photography and The Pepperpot always seems to draw me in when I visit Portreath. For this photography, Portreath Pepperpot Sun Burst, I wanted to give the Daymark a sense of place and in the height of summer there was plenty of colour along the cliff top to choose from. I gave myself plenty of time to find the perfect spot. Manoeuvring my way carefully around the wildlife, I was happy to find a large patch of Heather, close enough to the edge of the cliff where I would still be able to have a clear sight of the tide rolling onto the soft sand below.
I monitored the sun closely and made micro adjustments as it moved behind the Pepperpot, waiting for the perfect moment to capture the sunburst. The shadow of the Pepperpot subtly descends across the frame.
Portreath Pepperpot Sunburst is a vibrant and colourful photograph that makes the Cornish coast alive with beauty.
PORTHCOTHAN FEATHERED WATER
Porthcothan was a beach I was previously unaware of before doing some research and taking the trip over from Newquay in mid summer.
Located between Newquay and Padstow, Porthcothan is perhaps one of the forgotten beaches of the North Coast of Cornwall, so I was very pleased to rediscover it over the course of a beautiful sunset. Back in 2014, storms at Porthcothan knocked down the rock archway that dominated the Southern part of the beach, leaving a much more exposed and open formation of rock. I used this new horizon to my advantage and set myself into a position to capture the light in the former archway.
With plenty of energy in the sea I set the camera into a low position and allow the sweeping current to rush to the foreground of the photograph, with the hints of light hidden on the wet sand underneath. The sweeping water leads the viewers eye into the centre of the photograph of dramatic low light and rugged rock formations.
PORTSCATHO SUNRISE
Sunrises in Cornwall always make for a special way to mark the start of a new day. That said, there are some that are particularly memorable, such as the sunrise showcased in this landscape photography print. Out on this pre-dawn shoot on the Roseland Peninsula, I was hoping to capture the rich colours painting the sky across the picturesque village of Portscatho. Originally, I intended to photograph Portscatho’s harbour, but as the sun rose, I instead positioned myself along the harbour itself facing northeast, capturing the curve of the harbour wall as it bends towards Nare Head.
With just the right combination of timing and elements, I was treated to a slight brush of hazy clouds over the horizon that served to diffuse the sunlight and intensify the colours of the sunrise. The beautiful, clear orb of the sun crested over the village simultaneously illuminates the cottages and adds a warmth to the scene. While the sky is swept with blue and orange hues, the sea itself has a soft pastel palette, reflecting that dreamy state that comes with dawn – in the moments between slumber and activity, night and the light of day.
SENNEN INFINITY
A mid-Autumn trip to Sennen provided the perfect opportunity to capture one of the area’s famous sunsets – the kind of sunset that sets the whole sky ablaze in ribbons of red, orange and gold. Just a stone’s throw from the country’s most westerly point of Land’s End, Sennen is certainly one of the best places in the county to capture this spectral phenomenon and this particular evening proved to be really spectacular. Especially beautiful were the colours, seen here, just after sunset – intensified by the low-level sun and streaked with clouds.
Taken from the beach, the Sennen Infinity photography print exudes drama and atmosphere. On the shore, the movement of the water is really striking, exaggerated by the ‘infinity’ swirls around the two central rocks. This busyness lies in contrast to the almost segmented sky – showing the dusky tones of early evening seemingly chasing the last rays of sunshine over the horizon. Overlooking the scene are the fishermen’s cottage that pepper the cliffside in Sennen. These cottages add eye-catching detail to the shot, as well as creating a sense of place and scale. It’s a scene that feels both nostalgic and timeless.
HAYLE DUNES DRAMATIC LIGHT
The golden glow of “magic hour” hailed like a beacon to the coast for this landscape photography photograph. Casting aureate rays across the horizon, it promised a spectacular sunset over the 3-mile-long Gwithian beach – made all the more dramatic as the last of the sun’s light pierced through a thick blanket of clouds hanging low in the sky. Originally, the aim was to capture the sunset in all its glory, but as the sky shifted and the colours deepened, an opportunity arose to capture a single element that simultaneously added depth and texture to the frame.
Focusing on one key subject, the shot is centred around a steeply rising dune, cresting into the clouds. Particularly eye-catching in itself, the dune almost pulls you into the frame, while its long strands of marram grass create movement and fluidity as they bend to the wind. Equally dramatic, the contrasting shades of light and dark throughout the grasses add a striking dimension and nod to the shift between day and night. A tale of two textures, the sharp lines of the grass and the soft clouds above create equal drama – emphasising the sense of scale within the frame and reflecting the raw beauty of the Cornish coast.
GWITHIAN CALMING SEA
The Gwithian Calming Sea photography print was taken in the tranquil throws of dusk, just after the fiery rays of golden hour and before the inky blanket of night. Taken at Godrevy, it was an exploration of this midway period: when the sunlight casts one final flourish and the blues of the sky take on a deeper hue. True, I had originally arrived at Gwithian to capture the sunset itself, but the richness of these colours and the subtle yet unstoppable nature of this dusky ceremony led me to linger a little longer.
Central to this theme, the movement of both the clouds and the sea in the frame helps to capture the fluidity and consistency of time, while the stillness of the cliffs and the marram grass capture a sense of presence – that element of calm that keeps you absorbed in the moment. The focused lines of the sea grass in the foreground also add an extra dimension to the image, giving you a sense of place, as if you’re actually on the cliff watching the waves roll and the clouds unfurl before you.
PORTHMEOR VIEW
Porthmeor View provides an alternative perspective of one of St Ives’ most famous beaches – Porthmeor. Framed by the craggy jumble of rocks that pepper the rear of Porthmeor, this shot turns the attention away from the beach, instead following the Cornish coastline all the way from St Ives to Godrevy Lighthouse to the North Cliffs in the distance. Taken on a rare crystal-clear day, it manages to both lead the viewer along mile upon beautiful mile of coast, while at the same time rooting you to the spot.
Exaggerating this sense of journey, the image incorporates various different elements that add depth and layering to the scene. From the turquoise sea, the eye soon skips to the Island, a grassy headland that sits between Porthmeor and Porthgwidden Beach. Sandwiched between sea and sky, it creates both a striking subject, as well as a sense of scale. In the foreground, the irresistibly clear waters of Porthmeor hint at the image’s summer genesis, while the warm orange inflections in the clouds expose the unmistakeable transition from day to night.
ST. MICHAEL’S MOUNT TWILIGHT WONDER
When the stars align, there are few places more magical for a night-time shoot than St Michael’s Mount. An exploration into astrophotography, this particular image was a product of an afterhours hunt to capture an altogether more ethereal side to Cornwall, combining the majesty of the vast night sky with the fairy-tale setting of the Mount. While few other opportunities had arisen throughout the year to capture a photograph such as this one, on this shoot all the elements combined to create a truly magical scene.
Just off centre in this image is, of course, the unmistakeable St Michael’s Mount. One of the county’s most iconic sites, it never fails to capture the heart and the imagination of all those who gaze upon it. Leading the eye and the way, the cobbled causeway that flows towards the Mount almost invites you into the frame and adds to the fairy-tale-esque quality of the scene. The star-studded night sky is brought to life with the hazy streak of the Milky Way, while to the right of the frame the lights of Penzance are almost swallowed up by the burning haze of dawn making its first appearance over the horizon.
POLPERRO SUNSET
Growing up in Cornwall, there are many places around the county that have featured regularly throughout my life, while others are more connected to childhood memories. Polperro, sitting just south of Looe in South Cornwall, is one of the latter. A picture-perfect fishing village wedged in a vegetation-clad valley and peppered with white-washed cottages, it’s somewhere that really evokes nostalgic memories for me. When planning a shoot last December, it was naturally a magnetic place for me to revisit and familiarize myself with once again.
To achieve this shot; Polperro Sunset Photography Print, I followed the coast path out of the village and found a spot that managed to capture a wide view of the mouth of the harbour and the higgledy-piggledy rows of fishermen’s cottages. At this point, the sun had already set, which created an even blanket of light across the sky – with only the last rays of sunlight fading over the horizon. With an ND filter, I was able to contrast the soft milky film of the sea with the streaked clouds overhead, creating a sense of energy and movement and showing both the peace and the drama of the scene.
I felt really lucky to capture this moment – one of my first in Polperro since childhood, but certainly not the last.
There were times during the course of 2021 where I wondered how many photographs would be the list of my best Cornish Landscape Photographs 2021. Now that it is complete, I don’t believe you would realise the struggles I faced, as this is such a strong body of work that I hope to continue with going into 2022.
