CORNISH HUES EXHIBITION ROUND UP
Well what a week it was down at the Salthouse Gallery in St Ives!
A big thank you to everyone that came and supported me! I had a great time discussing my photography and the feedack I received was incredible. It put a bounce in my step that is for sure, and the sales that I made during the week was the icing on the cake.
It was a slow start to the week and I was little worried, hosting my very first exhibtion was a big step and I admit that doubts did start to creep in. However the second half of the show was more than I could have imagined. It is important to me to bring the best quality and attention to detail in my photography work and to have that so clearly recognised was very satifisying and justifing.
It was surprising just how quickly the week went by, so if you did not get a chance to visit the show, here is a breakdown of everything that was on show.
CALMNESS AT CARBIS BAY
I have been routinely photographing the sunrises of Cornwall for over a decade, but my sunset photography is more sporadic and born out of organic circumstance and chance. While Cornwall is a fantastic source of dramatic seascapes, rugged cliffs and powerful storms, there is also beauty in its serenity.
Calmness in Carbis Bay is a pretty portrait of sunset on the beach. I walked out into the calm swell and used a neutral density filter to capture the feathered texture of this receding wave rolling back into the ocean. The dusky conditions combined with the fading sun wash the image in a lilac hue which adds to the peaceful ambience of the scene.
COT VALLEY HEATHER
The Cornish coastline has an abundance of colourful flowering plants that can withstand the tough weather conditions that sweep in from the ocean. While I was sunset-searching in Cot Valley I noticed a blanket of purple bell heather covering the coastline close to the sea. I carefully climbed my way to a spot that I could nestle my camera close to the flowers while waiting for sunset.
Cornwall’s weather can change in an instant, and it was a very cloudy evening when, for a few minutes, the setting sun cut through a thin gap with a small burst of orange. I used a neutral density filter on my camera to increase the exposure and smooth out the clouds in the sky. I was rewarded by the beautiful silvery streaks of light that spread across the sky as the sun sank beneath the horizon.
The overall effect of this image is one of cool, calming colours. The smooth silver light, steely grey of the sea and cool purple of the heather make it a soft yet striking scene.
GODREVY EMERALD TWILIGHT
Godrevy Emerald Twilight is a fine example of some of my highly technical landscape photography.
I have a number of favoured locations when shooting around Godrevy, and this is one of them, which you will also see in my print Godrevy Passage taken at sunset.
I wanted to capture this viewpoint using astrophotography, which involved a lot of planning to map exactly the right time for a combination of low tide, clear sky and the Milky Way to be sitting directly over the lighthouse.
Having picked my way over the rocks, I had very limited natural light to work with from inside the rock formation. In these conditions I switched from automatic focus to manual and took targeted shots of the lighthouse. I then took a series of images moving my point of focus closer and closer to the rocks.
By focus-stacking all of these photographs together in one blended composition, I could create an image that maintains focus from the rockpools all the way to the lighthouse. This editing technique also brings out the fine details and texture in the starry sky and rock surfaces.
Printed on metallic gloss paper adds a beautiful shimmer to the grey rocks and emerald water, and the high print quality picks out the Milky Way in pin-sharp detail.
HOLYWELL REFLECTION
Holywell Bay near Newquay has long been a Cornish location I wanted in my collection due to its expansive shore and the widely recognisable twin islets of Gull Rocks.
I spent an afternoon photographing the bay, where I was continuously moving and changing positions, working with the shifting tidelines and position of the sun. With the evening drawing in, I set my final position facing Gull Rocks to see out the sunset.
The trademark features of my landscape photography are balancing shapes and symmetry, displayed perfectly here in Holywell Reflection. With the thin waters of the receding tide veiling the sand, I had a flawless mirrored reflection of the skies overhead. The soft clouds tinged with pink give warmth to the dying embers of sunset as the coolness of twilight settles over the scene.
KYNANCE COVE MILKY WAY
The summer months are the best time to photograph the Milky Way in the UK, and with its low levels of light pollution, Cornwall is an ideal place. When clear skies present themselves during a New Moon phase, I will often take advantage of the conditions and venture out to see what I can capture.
Kynance Cove is a very striking part of the Cornish coastline, where the jagged rocks create bold shapes and focal points. The distant boats and buoys on the water provide some extra light sources and points of interest within the scene.
Not only was I able to capture the Milky Way with exceptional clarity, but there was also the iridescent mother-of-pearl shimmer to the sky that makes astrophotography so beautiful.
NANJIZAL GLOW
Nanjizal is a hidden natural beauty spot that only locals tend to know about, heading in the direction of Land’s End. During the winter months, the sun sets in such a way that a magnificent glow of light shines through the hole in the rocks.
I captured this shot on a day when the skies were clear, allowing a really strong beam of light to pass through the famous crack in the cliffs. I waded out into the water to be able to secure a front-facing angle directly into the rocky cavern.
Using a neutral density filter to increase the exposure time, I was able to smooth the frothing tidal waters into a magical mist that reflected the piercing golden column of light passing into the cave. The powerful glow of light illuminates the rocks which have a wonderful stark texture against the ethereal sunlight.
Nanjizal Glow is a stunning image of one of Cornwall’s best kept secrets.
PEDN VOUNDER GOLD COAST
Sunrise is a prime time to notice interesting changes in landscapes as heat is gradually injected into the day. I was photographing the sunrise at Pedn Vounder, angled towards Logan’s Rock, when I noticed the rising sea mists coming from the rugged coast.
The spray generated by the sea as it hit the rocks was sending a thin, misty vapour up the cliff face which was shrouded in pale golden light. The low position of the morning sun creates a magnificent backlight that shows the detailed layers of the rock and the imposing shadows they cast, so that the overall effect is quite magical, with a fantasy feel to the scenery.
What makes Pedn Vounder Gold Coast so special, is that it looks so different to my usual coastal photography, and many would never guess this was taken in the UK.
PORTHLEVEN RUSH
Taken at sunset on a stormy winter afternoon, Porthleven Rush is a dramatic image encapsulating sea conditions familiar to local fishermen.
Seeking out a new angle, for an original viewpoint of Porthleven, I identified a spot where the tide was breaking over one of the low harbour walls. I set my camera up to capture this movement, and the patterns of the waves hitting the stone ledge. As the sun set out of shot, it sent a gentle, golden light across the heavy winter clouds.
The foreground of swirling waves, coupled with the dramatic winter sky, makes Porthleven Rush an evocatively stormy Cornish scene.
RINSEY STARRY SKY
A lot of my Cornish landscape photography is about capturing familiar sights and landmarks under different natural conditions. For Rinsey Starry Sky, I headed out on a beautiful clear night to capture the mine building underneath the Milky Way.
I positioned myself uphill from the mine to get an elevated angle of the sky in which the rift of the Milky Way would fall either side of the building’s tall chimney tower.
Taking a series of long exposure shots, I returned home and layered each shot together to bring out the sharpness of the stars in the sky, and illuminate the historic dappled brickwork of the mine.
Rinsey Starry Night is a breath-taking scene of Cornwall’s mining history beneath a blanket of stars.
RAINBOW AT TREVOSE HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
I headed to Trevose Head Lighthouse to capture the sunset along the rugged Cornish coastline. It had been my plan to photograph away from the sun, so that the lighthouse was basking in sunlight. It was winter and the waves crashed forcefully across the rocks, and even up the cliff face, making for an exciting foreground. As the sun lowered and colour filled the clouds, a rainbow formed directly over the lighthouse which capped the image off perfectly.
ZENNOR STARS
In the height of summer, I had studied the weather and knew that an evening was approaching that would have excellent conditions for astrophotography of the Milky Way. With this in mind, I planned to visited the Carn Galver engine house on the north coast of Cornwall. The engine house can’t be missed from the coastal path that runs right up to it, and is a well-known local site which I wanted in my collection.
This photograph is taken at around 3am. There is more light than usual because of the summer sun that would be rising in just an hour or so, however the light doesn’t detract from the clarity of the stars, and adds colour to the sky which was a win-win outcome. Standing downhill from the engine house, I was able to catch a beautiful scattering of stars that passed directly down the side of the crumbling building, which stands stark against the night sky.
ST IVES RED VELVET
In St Ives Red Velvet, I captured the iconic view of this seaside town taken from the Malakoff, during what transpired to be one of the most breath-taking sunsets I have ever photographed.
The deep red of the sky reflected strikingly on the water and across the entire scene. As darkness descended, the lights of the town gave a soft evening glow to the foreground.
The strong sky presented a photographic challenge in striking the balance between making the scene dark enough to stop the colours bleaching out, whilst preventing everything else in the picture other than the sky from becoming too dark and unworkable. A short shutter speed helped to capture the bold colour and smooth the surface of the sea.
St Ives Red Velvet is an example of fine art Cornish landscape photography at its most vibrant.
PORTHERAS PARADISE
Portheras Cove is one of Cornwall’s hidden treasures, off the beaten track and largely protected from the heavy footfall of seasonal tourism. The majority of photos of the Cove are taken from the West, higher up the cliffs from the coastal path looking inward onto the pale, clean sands. Portheras Cove is close to Pendeen Lighthouse and Geevor Mine, but often goes undetected as these landmarks are what tends to draw attention.
I wanted to bring my own unique take on the area and explored the opposite direction away from the lighthouse, focusing on the lush greenery that covers the rocky landscape leading to shore. A freshwater stream cuts through the Cove and out to sea, and this water source gives life to an abundance of flora and fauna that makes it different from other beaches. In order to include as many elements as possible, I settled low into the spring foliage. From here I could capture the cliffs, stream, sand, sea and sunset in one frame.
BOTALLACK SPRING SUNSET
In the twenty-first century, Botallack has become a world-famous landmark. The site of seventeenth century tin and copper mines, it has earned its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been used as part of the filming locations for the hugely popular BBC television series, Poldark.
Being close to Land’s End, Botallack has a poetic, romantic spirit looking out across the endless Atlantic ocean. There is very little shelter to the bracing high-winds that roll in from the sea, and I wanted to capture the rugged spirit of the place. Botallack Spring Sunset was taken in the early stages of sundown, when the light cast onto the stone walls of the derelict mines. There is a fresh spectrum of yellows, greens and blues that give the piece a lively vibe. Using a Lee filter, I took a long exposure shot to emphasise the strength of the winds and show them drawing the currents in to the bay.
PRUSSIA COVE SUN
Prussia Cove Sun was taken in the early hours of the morning, after I had walked the west side of the coastal path to get to the cove. At this time it was still high tide, with many of the rocks hidden beneath the calm, grey water.
As the sun peaked over the horizon, I adjusted my aperture settings to capture the fantastic flare of warm orange light which bathes the grassy banks of the cliffs. The vibrant greens and blues of the surrounding environment are highlighted by the sun’s rays, and bring much colour to the scene, while the sun is just low enough to shade the sleepy-looking house on the east side of the cove.
Prussia Cove Sun has a great balance of depth and symmetry from the rippled clouds and water, to the far-reaching beams of sunlight. This colourful limited-edition print has a beautiful finish, and captures the storytelling of sunrise and the dawning of the day.
