Friday 20 May 2011

Dunstanburgh Castle

(Click on image for larger version)
(Click on image for larger version)

After missing the amazing sunset light I decided to take the plunge and get up for sunrise. I clambered over some drunks who would never had known I'd left, if I hadn't have dropped my phone from the top bunk, swear, tread on numerous body parts of another human who slept below me and tripped as I left the room. Once waking everyone up, a short walk to the castle was needed.

I had slightly mis-calculated the sunrise time so I was there a good hour early. This meant I was able to negotiate the wet, volcanic rocks in complete darkness until I found a spot that looked promising. I waited for the sun to rise left of shot, with the half moon still present in the sky.

I waited for a big wave and clicked the shutter when the sunlight through the wave could be seen.

In my landscape workshops I always say to use "lead-in-lines". In the majority of my landscape images I use this technique to subtly direct the eye towards the main focal point of the image. In this case, I positioned myself so that the breaking waves in the foreground would create an imaginary line up to the castle (the main focal point). The barrelling wave on the left also produces a line from outside the frame leading into the castle.

I had my tripod's legs wedged between the rocks hoping it would stay stable enough as the waves crashed against it. In order to get this shot I had to be thigh deep in the North Sea. Luckily, I selflessly decided to wear my best friend's favourite pair of jeans (sorry Oli) so it worked out nicely...for me.

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