End of Year Miscellany

To end the year, here are a few random shots, taken in the last couple of months, that I never got around to posting.

Welcombe Beach

Due to weather and commitments, there were only two days during my Christmas trip to Devon that were available for photography.  Boxing Day and the day after.  With limited time, for my second day out, I chose to visit another favourite location, Welcombe Mouth. 

Over the previous night, the second of the Christmas storm fronts had passed through the West Country. Whilst most of the rain, baring the odd shower, had passed, a strong on-shore wind remained and conditions were challenging.  The wind rattled my tripod making 10-stop exposures out of the question.  The sea was a boiling mess of white froth and the high tide was longer and higher than the previous day.  The sea did not begin to clear the beach until the light was failing, leaving only a enough time for a few shots.

Westward Ho! in Mono

I have heard it said that a tradition is just something you have done for 3 years or more.  One of my Christmas traditions, of recent years, is a Boxing Day visit to Westward Ho!, a place I spent many summer Sundays of my childhood.  The main  purpose was to get out the house and get some fresh sea air, but I usually find something to photograph, be it windsurfers or strand-line debris.  This time I was keen to try some long exposure pictures for mono conversion, particularly of the tidal swimming pool. 

I arrived at high tide, so I could shoot as it receded, uncovering the pool.  Sadly, this was also the middle of the day, the last of the 3 day lull between storm fronts, and I had to contend with bright sun causing difficulties for the long exposures I wanted.  I can't say I am very happy with the results either compositionally or regarding the mono conversion.  This just means I will have to have another go next year.

Sadly, as the tide went out, the cloud came in.  So it will take another trip to get a shot of this derelict house, that is slowly losing its battle with the sea, under better light and with a more dramatic sky.

Cambridge Market

A few more images from Sunday night's outing in Cambridge.  These were taken in the market as it was packing up.  Most of them using my wide angle lens.

Cambridge Christmas Lights

On Sunday afternoon, I joined other members of the Camera Club to photograph the Christmas lights and shoppers in Cambridge.  It had rained a little earlier in the day and rained a little more before we finished.  In a couple of locations the the reflections in the wet streets added to the lights on display.