The famous Durdle Door at Sunrise
Jan, 2023Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was captured at Sunrise in November 2022 at the Durdle Door, part of the famous Jurassic Coast of Southern England.Time
I took this photo at sunrise, but my day really began at around 4:30 in the morning. I got up early (after preparing my gear the night prior) and with my coffee and cameras I hit the road for the hour long drive to Lulworth Cove. There was parking near the Durdle Door, but it is closed until 9:00 AM (well after sunrise), so I had to park East of the Durdle Door and hike about 45-60 minutes along the UK's Southern Coastal Path (it could have been shorter but I missed the path in the dark and wandered about a field for a little while, dodging cows and their 'deposits'). The path was steep in parts but thankfully downhill near the Door, so I was able to use gravity to my advantage and jog the last 1/2 mile or so, in order to arrive on the beach just in time to snap this shot.Lighting
After checking the weather forecast, I knew there was going to be some cloud cover (almost a certainty for any given day in England). My hope was that it would provide a canvas for the early morning sun and it certainly did! I had to wait patiently and compose the image to limit the influence of some of the darker clouds, but when the sun crested the horizon and lit up the low clouds, it was breathtaking. I also love the turquoise/green of the water in this light, it is even more stunning in person!Equipment
I shot this on my Nikon Z5 (purchased just that week in an effort to give the photography hobby a 'real' go) using the NIKKOR Z 24-200 f/4-6.3 VR lens. It was shot on Manual with a 2 second shutter speed at f/16, ISO 100 on my K&F Concept tripod.Inspiration
The Durdle Door is pretty famous. I had never been to see it and wanted to take advantage of my relatively close proximity. Photography has been instrumental in getting me out to see the beauty around me over the last 4 months, and this capture is the perfect example of that.Editing
I cropped the image to accentuate the leading lines of the shore tidelines. Also, the sun backlit the rock formation, so it was in pretty deep shadow despite the 2 second exposure, so that had to be boosted a bit. I try to edit subtly to inspire the same feeling in the 2D image, that I felt looking at the subject live. I think I accomplished that in this photograph and I am so pleased with the restult.In my camera bag
I try not to pack too much, but sometimes I fail. My 24-200 lens is always there as it is my most versatile and the images are amazing. I like to pack my mini-tripod for low-perspective shots (and it weighs next to nothing), as well as my ND filters. I bring along myND8, ND64, and ND1000 typically, and throw in my graduated filter for sunrises/sunsets. I always make sure to have lens cleaning materials, especially in the UK where the wind can whip up dirt most days. Most importantly, because I often have fairly long and hilly walks, I bring along some snacks, coffee/water, and my tobacco pipe. For me, enjoying the journey is as satisfying as capturing the photograph...well, almost.Feedback
Get up and do it. Make your plans, get up early, and get out of bed. This capture is at one of the more famous and well traveled spots in Southern England. I was one of 4 other people on the beach. One other photographer was shooting from the cliff-tops and there was a couple enjoying the sunrise at the bottom of the cliff. Had I waited or decided I'd do it another day, this shot would not have happened as it is because there would have been too many people and the lighting would have been harsher. So, get up, take your chance and be flexible. If the light isn't what you wanted, shoot some other aspect...but you'll never get anything by laying in bed and missing it!
