Ebb and flow
Rhossili, Gower Peninsula, South Wales
Sunday 29-07-2018, 15:30 PM GMT
On the tide of yesterday’s weather forecast, I was awash with qualms...
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Rhossili, Gower Peninsula, South Wales
Sunday 29-07-2018, 15:30 PM GMT
On the tide of yesterday’s weather forecast, I was awash with qualms about my venture. I have never taken to the sun, yet I was expecting its warmth to seep into my bones for the next couple of days. I would gladly trade off sun glare for nebulous complexity at any time (certainly when carrying a camera around), but not quite for the conditions engulfing me right now. Not all is adverse though: tide is on my side.
The ebb-and-flow timetables are well documented by the local authorities and detailed on signposts, as well as leaflets at every hotel, pub and shop in the area. The sea has been retreating for about an hour and vast expanses of sand and scattered sea-shells are appearing in its wake. It is hard to describe the awe imparted by sight of the merciless cliffs dwarfing me and distant sounds of waves rolling in, crashing and ebbing away. With the rain sporadically beating down in a drizzle and perverse gods and demons casting it right at my face, I have to make haste and click before my lens is blobbed.
According to the weatherman, notable improvement is expected from early evening. Clouds are moving so fast that soon enough blue patches will start draping the horizon. The rough and grey in the offing must be Poseidon’s and Aeolus’ swan song... for now. I shouldn't be bothered by all this, anyway. Photography is no stranger to either the whimsical or otherworldly.
(to be continued...)
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Sunday 29-07-2018, 15:30 PM GMT
On the tide of yesterday’s weather forecast, I was awash with qualms about my venture. I have never taken to the sun, yet I was expecting its warmth to seep into my bones for the next couple of days. I would gladly trade off sun glare for nebulous complexity at any time (certainly when carrying a camera around), but not quite for the conditions engulfing me right now. Not all is adverse though: tide is on my side.
The ebb-and-flow timetables are well documented by the local authorities and detailed on signposts, as well as leaflets at every hotel, pub and shop in the area. The sea has been retreating for about an hour and vast expanses of sand and scattered sea-shells are appearing in its wake. It is hard to describe the awe imparted by sight of the merciless cliffs dwarfing me and distant sounds of waves rolling in, crashing and ebbing away. With the rain sporadically beating down in a drizzle and perverse gods and demons casting it right at my face, I have to make haste and click before my lens is blobbed.
According to the weatherman, notable improvement is expected from early evening. Clouds are moving so fast that soon enough blue patches will start draping the horizon. The rough and grey in the offing must be Poseidon’s and Aeolus’ swan song... for now. I shouldn't be bothered by all this, anyway. Photography is no stranger to either the whimsical or otherworldly.
(to be continued...)
Read less
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AnneDphotography
August 04, 2018
beautiful scene and love the silver grey cloud cover … even light and textured landscape … so much awesome going on in this shot :) always and wonderful write up :)
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deannefortnam
August 05, 2018
Lovely! I adore the beach at low tide. gorgeous patterns in the sand and love the curves of the tide pools.
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MicktheGreek
August 05, 2018
Thank you Deanne! Wales is the best place in the UK to learn about geology.
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DeLacy15
August 05, 2018
Wow! Simply gorgeous. I do so hope to go there one day. I love your story about the photo! You are a great writer!
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lizziemellis
August 06, 2018
Just Beautiful I love South Wales especially the Pembrokeshire coast have fun on your travels :-)
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MicktheGreek
August 14, 2018
Thanks Martha! At low tide walking on that beach transports you to dreamlike worlds.
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snowdon
August 14, 2018
Love the textures and the description of the prevailing conditions .. brilliant
sallyG11
August 15, 2018
One almost expects to see a knight on a steed racing to escape the onslaught of darkened skies. Or maybe fleeing the dragon in the distant seas. You have captured what could be the present...or the past. Magical!
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MicktheGreek
August 15, 2018
Alas, I was not astride any horses, Sal, but on foot in an anorak and hooded, with the only charge the drizzle and swept away sand. It all cleared after a while x
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Pauldc1
August 30, 2018
Wow. What a great capture. Love the way you caught the coastline. Nice beach to take a long stroll. :)
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Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens
Location
Rhossili Bay, Gower Peninsula, South Wales, July 2018: During a long weekend in this magnificent part of the west country, I found myself witnessing the elements parade and nature unfolding in front of me in all its majesty. The 3-mile long Rhossili beach, a hiker's challenge and surfer's haven, is a mere testament to why the Gower Peninsula has rightly earnt an "Area of Outstanding Beauty" award and features amongst the most notable geological goldmines of the island.Time
It was around lunch time. An almost 24-hour cataclysmic rain had just come to an end, as I was setting foot on the vast expanses of sand in the wake of low tide.Lighting
A mere look at the photo would not normally be enough to reveal the time. Obscured by thick clouds, the sun withheld its position, almost making for a dull, flat-histogram scene. The light does not have a claim to fame on this occasion. It was the mercilles cliffs and the aura of mystery imparted by the offing that added to the spice.Equipment
My Canon 5D Mark IV and 24-105mm lens were to hand and proved adequate for the purpose. No accessories required.Inspiration
The visual marvel of the Rhossili Beach, which one would come to appreciate only when granted the chance to visit. The imposing cliffs, fern-draped hillsides littered by hundreds of sheep and in the midst of all this the periodical flow-and-ebb tandem that is remarkable to observe.Editing
I use Adobe RAW to process RAW files to make sure that there are no deep shadows or highlights blown to oblivion. This photo required the bare minimum, as the histogram was dominated by mid-tones.In my camera bag
- Full-frame camera - Wide-angle lens, typically 16-35mm - Primes, typically 50mm and 85mm - Telezoom lens, for such landscapes a 70-200mm will do. - Tripod - UV filters (a must) - Polariser filter (Use with cauition!) - Neutral density filters for dynamic range optimisation in highly contrasted scenesFeedback
- Study your scene. Don't get carried along on a crest of euphoria and indiscriminately point and shoot. Take a moment to think about your composition. Don't place your main subject in the middle of the frame because the photo might come out dull as a dishwasher. Think about negative space (if applicable), peripheral or distant subjects, time of the day and elements. Look through your viewfinder and figure out a way to fit them all (or as many as possible) in the frame. - Be aware of the scene's lighting, especially during sunrise or sunset, because this will have a major bearing on the optimal exposure. If you deem necessary to use either bracketing or ND filters, by all means do so, provided your scene is free of fast-moving objects/creatures. - If you use Auto mode during your shooting, you shouldn't be reading this. If you are willing to go along, please throw away this awful habit of Auto setting because it will destroy your photography ambitions and shatter your award-winning dreams on the ground. Creative shooting is achieved by means of Manual mode. If you understand the etymology of "Photography" (your Greek master will tell you) and want to realise how photons are converted into photos, you need to know what the Holy Trinity of Exposure, ISO and Aperture represents. Failing that, your mobile phone is just as good and hefty spending on cameras and lenses will be fruitless.
