I have often found that repeat visits to the same location end up paying dividends. Baring the changing conditions of the light, you know where most of the key elements are likely to be. Returning to Bamburgh for the first time in 2 years, I was once again on the hunt for that elusive image of Bamburgh Castle.
I know the beach well and I know what spectacular morning light can bring but trying to resolve all the various elements is becoming very tricky. Maybe I have photographers block - the same happens at Saltwick. On this particular morning, 100% cloud and very strong winds were forecast and unusually the weather forecast was correct. Having sat in my car, mentally drumming up the impetus to go outside (it was 5.45am after all!) I wondered fruitlessly around the beach. Drab, grey, cold and not particularly pleasant were all the thoughts that sprang to mind…great.
It did not seem likely that I would get my image this morning but wandering back towards the town I came across a ruined hut. On my previous 2 visits this hut had slowly started to decay and now it was just a shell. I suspect that before too long it will be pulled down. But something about it hit my mood that morning. With the marram grass moving in front of me and the hut hidden by brambles and a bush in its bare winter glory, it all seemed unpleasant…an opportunity for an image to suit my mood!
There was nothing spectacular going on with the clouds, so a tight composition focusing in on the grass, with the hut slightly off at an angle as my focal point.Dare I say it but this is an image shot with a digital camera - the ability to shoot multiple (11 in this case) images meant that I could get the grass just right. I also shot a sheet of film and I will be interested to see how that comes out.
I guess sometimes it just pays to go with your mood and forget about forcing the situation. The Castle has been around since the 1300’s so I may have a bit of time to find my image!
