BEST CORNWALL LANDSCAPES OF THE YEAR 2023
As another year rolls to a close, I’m very happy to share my best Cornish landscape photography of the year 2023.
These are my favourite images that I’ve taken across this year that celebrate the natural beauty of Cornwall. As ever, I have spent as much time as I can seeking places and moments to capture, although 2023 has been quite different in terms of the locations that I have visited. Happily, I’ve been lucky enough to have received a number of exciting commissions and this has shaped my view through the lens this year.
Creating a deeper connection with certain places, my focus has been more centred around a concentrated number of locations with the view of achieving a specific shot. This has resulted in multiple visits to the same places– capturing the many magical moods of the county. Within this collection, there are a couple of images that are of the same location, and I wanted to include them as they each offer something different and lend a new perspective on timeless favourites.
I hope you enjoy.
SMEATON’S SUNRISE
One of the wonderful things about photography is that you can form ideas and plans, but it’s only at the say-so of Mother Nature that you can often realise these goals. For a while, I’d had an idea of a particular sunrise image over the 18th Century Smeaton’s Pier in St Ives. An iconic landmark in a location that resides on my doorstep, it was a natural magnet for me, yet the shot remained elusive as I waited for the right conditions to present themselves. I knew at some point the moment would arrive, and when it did, I was ready to go.
So it was on this particular summer morning that I found myself gazing at a perfect scene, topped with a fierce orange sunrise. Streaking the sky, layers of horizontal clouds in sequential hues created a striking effect. It was predawn and the light was really low, with rich colours filling the sky from the orange emanating from the clear skies below to the magenta shades in the clouds above. Creating a synchronicity between both the lines and colours of the sky and the sea, the unique and consistent patterns across the image are really visually striking and absolutely worth the wait.
CAPE CORNWALL SUNSET
It was late spring, early summer when I took the coastal path south of Cape Cornwall. Treading bare track underfoot, I followed the undulating flow of the path to reach a vantage point that overlooked the Cape and its iconic chimney stack. Facing back north, I wanted to capture this famous Cornish scene from an uninterrupted aspect, along with the dramatic sunset skies that were painting the horizon as day began its slow transition to night-time.
With the sun out of frame, the overall composition felt rich and quietly dramatic. And, though there were thick clouds hanging in the sky, they had been burnt orange by the sunset and served to add a nice depth and complexity to the scene. To enrich the picture, I used rocks in the midground to frame the landmass of Cape Cornwall and included splashes of colour from flowering gorse to lift the foreground. Showcasing a nice transition of elements, textures and tones, the different stages of the photograph all come together to capture this one scene – all the while leading the eye on a journey to the very tip of the Cape.
GODREVY MISTY MIDNIGHT SEAS
The Northern Lights are notoriously, well, northern, in nature, so when the chance to see them does arise in the southernmost county of Cornwall, the sound of astrophotographers rushing for their cameras can be heard far and wide. With anticipation at an all-time high at the beginning of 2023 for this celestial show, I found myself poised on the rocks below the cliffs at Godrevy under a cloudless sky, waiting patiently for tell-tale green flickers above. Alas, in true allusive form, the Aurora never made an appearance, but I was instead rewarded with an equally unexpected sight which resulted in this picture.
Upon my West Coast arrival, the half-moon was descending into a moonset directly behind Godrevy. Once it had set, the night sky became much more even, and the stars beamed brightly from an inky canvas. Interestingly, while the moon had slipped over the horizon, it had created this beautiful, soft orange glow directly behind Godrevy, brushing the night sky with rare colour – something I had never really seen before. What’s more, as the low tide started to come in again, the long-exposure of the night sky on my camera also captured this ethereal, misty effect billowing around the craggy rocks at my feet. An unexpected surprise, and a capture I’m really proud of.
PORTHGWIDDEN DAWN
The smallest and most sheltered of St Ives’ beaches, Porthgwidden is a little corner of magic on the west coast of Cornwall. Close to my home, it’s somewhere that I’ve been to on countless occasions to walk and take photographs. Having spent so much of my time on its shores and surrounding coastline, I’m well-versed in its moments and moods and understand the way the light hits the land here. That said, there’s still always something new to see and different perspectives to enjoy, for the photography print Porthgwidden Dawn, the sea and sky were once again working their magic.
Drawn outside with the dawn, I set out early one morning to capture the sunrise at Porthgwidden which was already brushing the sky in strong red hues. It wasn’t until after the sunrise, though, that the elements started working together to create something really special. With the sun presiding over the horizon, the light extended across the beach and lit up the shore and headland with a beautiful golden glow. At the same time, the sea, which was especially active, had created a sandy shelf on the beach which I hadn’t seen before. It was a truly enjoyable experience trying to capture the action of the breaking waves and the energy of the sea, all the while the remnants of the sunrise flecked the sky and added a richness and depth of colour. For me, the Porthgwidden Dawn photography print is all about action and the ephemeral moods of the coast.
TREVOSE HEAD BEACON
Astrophotography allows you to capture a whole other side to Cornwall. With the sunlight replaced by glistening stars, the amazing coastalscapes that you normally see during the day are transformed into magical, other-worldly scenes. During one of my astrophotography excursions to North Cornwall, I set myself the challenge of capturing a dynamic reflection of both the incredible night sky and something that was, unmistakeably, the Cornish coast. To do so, I headed to Trevose Head Lighthouse, a 19th century lighthouse sat atop 150ft high cliffs near Padstow.
Still operating today, Trevose Head Lighthouse is famous for its shining beacon, the light from which projects as far as 21 nautical miles. The challenge therefore was balancing the light of the lighthouse as it swirled around and the delicate light of the stars above. To achieve this, I took a range of different exposures so that I could slowly gather the light of the Milky Way and the stars, without the final image being overpowered by the lighthouse. This allowed me to pay homage to each element of the scene and capture the beautiful, misty quality of the sea for a dreamy overall result.
PORTREATH FIRE BALL
‘Portreath Fire Ball’ is an early photo from a series I took in the seaside village of Portreath on the north coast of Cornwall. I had originally found my way out onto the cliffs shouldering the harbour to capture some panoramic landscapes of the coastline. However, an aggravated sea state had turned the harbour into a cauldron of activity, with burgeoning waves crashing over the harbour and pier. A particular focal point was the village’s iconic monkey hut. Once used as a lookout by local pilots stationed at Portreath to watch out for vessels and guide them safely into the harbour, it now sits empty on the end of the harbour wall and is often the subject of local photographers – and storms.
For this shot, the hut served as the subject of both the sea’s might and the focus of my lens. To create this particular image, I chose a position horizontal to the harbour and used a neutral density filter along with a long exposure to capture a slowed perspective of the waves hitting the wall. Making it even more special is the sunlight bathing the water in the top right corner, radiating an almost fireball-esque quality. Formed from a fleeting break in the clouds, the beautiful illumination was only a momentary treat, adding beautiful golden tones to the scene and highlighting bright flecks within the sea’s wild spray. To me, it is a picture that is both chaotic and balanced, turbulent and smooth.
PORTREATH SWEEPING SEAS
On this day, I had visited Portreath with a view to photograph the whole bay and showcase the beautiful stretch of coastline that stretches out from either side of the village. However, due to the rough conditions playing havoc with the sea, I instead found myself drawn to the waves crashing against the village’s famous monkey hut on the end of the harbour wall. Captivated by the movement, I focused more on the monkey hut as a singular subject above the activity of the water to achieve these really dramatic photos, rather than taking wider, panoramic landscapes that didn’t quite manage to portray the power of the sea.
For this photo, I found that I was getting more success photographing the sea as it washed off the harbour wall, instead of the waves crashing against it. “Sweeping sea” really sums up this photo. Full of energy, the sea is surging across the harbour wall in seemingly all directions. Using a longer exposure time with a neutral density filter, I was able to smooth out some of the flow of the water and capture an artistic quality to the movement. With this image in particular, you can see the ripple of waves rushing away from the wall, as the next set tussles for momentum and clashes with the force of the receding water. I really love the pattern and the texture in this photograph, and that’s why I’ve included it in my portfolio.
LITTLE FISTRAL CLAWING SEA
For this image, I went to the subsection of Newquay’s Fistral Beach called Little Fistral, an independent patch of beach that sits slightly apart from the main stretch. Carpeted in a jumble of pebbles and boulders, its foreshore is often more rock than sand, but it was these natural features that drew my attention one summer evening. I wanted something more dynamic than just flat sand, and the higgledy-piggledy scattering of rocks allowed me to capitalise on its perfectly imperfect aesthetics. Combined with the incoming tide, it bristled with energy and was a natural choice for my evening’s photography.
Having looked around for a while, I navigated the rocky pathways to try and find the best position which would allow me to frame both the foreground and coastline beyond. I found a safe spot where I could capture the water swirling around the rocks beneath my feet, as well as the sea – all without getting hit by any unexpected waves. Following the sun’s arc towards the horizon, I began photographing the sweeping sea as it seemingly clawed and clutched at the rocks below. As the sun dipped, it served to further illuminate the wet rocks whilst also giving definition – creating this equally energetic and dramatic scene of colliding elements.
CAPE CORNWALL SILHOUETTE
It had been a hazy afternoon when I wound my way along the coast towards Cape Cornwall. Sometimes friend, sometimes foe, this atmospheric phenomenon can sometimes obscure coastalscapes and make it difficult for photographers to capture scenes in all their glory. On this occasion though, it helped to soften the early evening sunlight and create a really striking visual. Though, strictly speaking, not entirely a silhouette, the extreme contrast between the darkness of the foreground and the sea and sky beyond is really marked and creates a silhouetted feel.
Simmering in the dying embers of the day, a particular feature is the smooth, sidelight of the low sun still in the sky. Gently diffused through the haze, the light itself is not too powerful and creates these really gentle highlights that subtly break up the shadow of the foreground. Despite the contrast in tones, there’s no sharpness to the scene at all. Of course, visible in the centre is the former chimney of Cape Cornwall Mine. A real focal point of the image and an iconic Cornish landmark, the chimney was built in 1864 for the long-abandoned mine and has proudly overlooked the sea ever since.
WEST PENTIRE POPPIES AT SUNSET
The poppies that grow and blossom at West Pentire every year are a true sight to behold, decorating the fields above one of the most awe-inspiring stretches of coastline in Cornwall. Increasingly well-documented for their natural beauty, vibrant colours, and stunning backdrop, they are both fleeting and spectacular and, understandably, an attraction that garners a lot of attention. Of course, I wanted to seize the opportunity to capture my own take of these natural floral wonders. So, I headed north along the coast one summer evening once the crowds had dispersed and set up on the outer edges of the poppy fields.
One of my aims was to capitalise on the low sun of the evening and, with luck, capture a sunset over the bright red faces of the poppies. As I prepared though, the shot that really struck me occurred once the sun had slipped beyond the horizon. It had started to get quite dark, but there were still signs of colour in the sky and this created a soft, even light between the sky, the fields, and the sea. Using a tripod, I was able to gather enough light to make a bright image out of a dark scene. What particularly stands out to me are the three primary colours: an elementary triangle of the red of the poppies, the blue depths of the evening and the yellow of the sun fading away into nothingness.
PORTREATH GLOWING SUNRISE
This photograph captures the early moments of a waking village on the Cornish coast, blinking into life with the still-glowing lights of streetlamps and the morning sun cresting the horizon. I’d wanted to take a sunrise picture of Portreath for a while, so I decided to arrive nice and early in the pre-dawn to give myself the best chance of capturing all the elements I wanted to. I was particularly keen to feature the warmth of the streetlights, which tend to turn off automatically with the arrival of the sun. So, hugging a steep cliff path in the darkness before dawn, I found a perfect vantage point and waited.
Rewarding my efforts and the leg-aching ascent up the cliffs in the dark, the day’s sunrise and the subsequent views over Portreath were a joy. As it began to get lighter, I could see how cloudy it was, so I’d been unsure what was going to happen. That said, the clouds really came into their own as the predawn progressed, almost trapping the beautiful red glow emitted straight behind Portreath from the rising sun. Despite the brooding sky, it was quite a tranquil morning, and the beach was lapped by a placid sea. Thanks to the calm conditions and the low light, I was able to take a long exposure without a ND filter, allowing the surface of the sea to really smooth itself out and reflect the streetlights of the road that flows down to the shore.
TREGONNING HILL SUNSET
During the autumn of 2023, I visited Tregonning Hill overlooking Mounts Bay to photograph the sunset. A towering granite landform overlooking the sea in West Cornwall, the hill is home to ancient burial mounds and an Iron Age hillfort and exudes an ethereal atmosphere. I had already been there in summer, but had decided to make a return trip later in the year when the conditions naturally aligned for me to capture everything I was hoping for. Waiting a few months, I was able to photograph the sun as it set in a more southerly position, as well as the famous Tregonning monument and fairytale St Michael’s Mount beyond, all in the same frame.
What I particularly like about this shot is the dusky haze that diffuses the light as the sun dips below the clouds. Softening the power of the mid-autumn sun, it allowed me to photograph the monument itself and capture its time-worn details, so it’s not just silhouetted against the horizon. As well as that, the soft palette, almost pastel in parts, contrasted with the rugged nature of the landscapes and the distant sea beyond, really adds to the storybook feel of the location. The height really gives it a sense of place and affords beautiful views, while the left-aligned clouds help to frame the shot and lend even more drama. It’s a scene that seems to tread the line between myth and reality, antiquity and the present day.
ST MICHAEL’S MOUNT SOFT SUNSET
This is a wintertime capture of the iconic St Michael’s Mount in Mounts Bay, West Cornwall. Separated from the village of Marazion by a tidal causeway, this castle-topped island is one that steals the imagination of all those who gaze upon it and is somewhere that never fails to inspire awe. It’s somewhere that I’m often drawn to as a photographer, though its stunning aesthetics and the ever-changing backdrop ensure there is always something new to appreciate. For this photograph, I visited in winter at sunset, arriving as an ebbing tide skimmed the sand and a setting sun burnt brightly in the sky.
As a winter sunset, it meant that the sun was falling to the left-hand side of the Mount, illuminating the coastline of Newlyn and Mousehole on the right-hand side. Characteristic of this time of year, the light was particularly overpowering, so I decided to frame St Michael’s Mount with the sun all but out of shot. Just beyond the edges of the photograph, its luminescent glow still radiates across the image, chasing its way towards the castle. Adjusting the exposure and hoping to soften the image, I used a neutral density filter to smooth the already calm water brushing the tiger-striped sand and capture the reflections of the sky. The result is a picture that’s full of colour and atmosphere.
