coast

Seascapes Inspired by Robert Capa

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Perambulating on a recent filthy Summers evening I wasn't expecting to take any pictures so left the house with my older camera and a 35mm lens (not a very versatile landscape setup imo) but then the light got good and there was some drama to shoot. The tide was coming in rapidly and with storm driven waves surging up the beach and limited by my choice of lens I had to outrun the waves to get a shot. Inspired somewhat by Robert Capa’s war photography (obviously my evening stroll was thankfully free of any combat induced terror) his maxim 'If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough' seemed to apply here and I had to risk the horror of wet socks to get the composition I wanted. Shooting at a small aperture to allow a slower shutter speed to capture some of the drama of the waves without a tripod, I accepted camera shake as an inevitability. I'm not drawing a parallel with Capa's images shot on Omaha Beach during the D-Day landings but that's kind of what I had in mind as I took a soaking from a wave exploding against a rock behind me. An element of recklessness can be useful in any artistic endeavour and I suppose that by its nature and despite best efforts there is always a recklessness in war photography as a result of placing yourself in that setting in the first place. In other forms of photography including the usually sedate types like shooting landscapes; embracing abandon is a useful creative venture too but the life expectancy tends to be longer.

A little about Robert Capa. After humble beginnings in Budapest before spending formative years in Vienna, Prague and Berlin, which were important cultural cities at the time, Endre Freidmann relocated to Paris to escape the rise of Hitler. In Paris Freidmann adopted the pseudonym Robert Capa and went on to cover 5 major conflicts in his time before meeting his death by landmine in France's war in Vietnam in 1954 at the age of 40. His description of accompanying a US regiment during the D-Day landings and the 11 photographs that remained after fear, water and logistical challenges had conspired to destroy most of the images he made, are in combination perhaps the most concise insight into the horror of the day. His career first took off with coverage of the Spanish Civil War working alongside his lover and creative partner Gerda Taro who was killed near Madrid whilst on assignment in 1937. He later worked with Ernest Hemingway who was covering the war as a journalist before writing For Whom The Bell Tolls, a great read btw. He was influential in the lives of several great novelists as after WWII he travelled to the Soviet Union with John Steinbeck for his book A Russian Journal. He was a founder member and later president of the Magnum Photos agency. A fascinating life worth reading up on. As an avoider of war zones, consider these shots the best I can do in tribute.

One last thing for music fans who have read this far. Taro by Alt-J is about his death and ultimate reunion with Taro, his lover whose death he never really got over.

Porthselau Beach

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Porthselau beach is a small bay not far around the coast from the popular Whitesands Bay but being a little harder to access, it’s far less busy. On this particular day, I was alone on the beach as the beginnings of a big swell sent waves rushing into the bay and up the sand (chalk it up as another wet sock day). The following days, storm Callum arrived and caused a fair amount of flooding and damage.

The last of the days light managed to peep through gaps in the clouds to add a barely perceptible warmth to the rocks and add a bit of illumination to the green of the cliff face. Autumn was making it’s presence felt and giving a taste of the Winter to come as heavy clouds scudded across the sky and the wind had a bite we haven’t felt for a while.

Apparently, Porthselau has an interesting history. The beach is said to have a tunnel that connects to a nearby farmhouse and allowed smugglers to safely get illicit alcohol ashore. Also from this beach, whilst out walking one morning, a former high sheriff and magistrate named Thomas Williams spotted the ships that formed the French invasion of 1797. He was wary of the boats and through his telescope realised that upon the deck stood a crowd of troops and despite flying British colours, he didn’t fall for the trick and sent a messenger to St Davids to raise the alarm.

Panning for gold

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Soundtrack: Kurt Vile - Goldtone

Sometimes (often) I get a bit lost for inspiration; I stand in the kitchen and munch on cashews or glug a cup of tea mulling over where to go and no place appeals. I slowly get my stuff together and sit in the car growing frustrated at my indecision, feeling like I've exhausted all local options, feeling like I can't face the process of finding a spot and creating an image. The light will be bad, the wind will be too fierce, the tide will be wrong.

The light is threatening to disappear.

When the situation starts to become ridiculous I start the car and drive. Left or right is the first decision and the next junction comes before I've reached a conclusion. I start to get a little despairing and often it turns out to be the best recipe for a decent shot. A 'f*ck it' attitude is often useful creatively. Head to the coast, park the car, grab the camera, leave the tripod in the car, watch the sun go and the last light turn to a thin band on the horizon. Golden Hour turns to Blue Hour; waves race out of the gloom. Start shooting.

Panning the camera from one side to the other gives this effect. Waves, clouds and horizon are rendered in silken tones and a sense of the atmosphere of standing beside the water in the gathering gloom is conveyed. Don't you think?

I often listen to music to help find inspiration. The above tune seemed to go well. Thanks to Kurt Vile.

Long exposures and wet feet

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We've been very lucky this Spring. At the moment I'm writing whilst rain falls outside but we've had some beautiful days recently. I've taken the opportunity when possible to get down to the sea and enjoy the sun and the water.

Sometimes it's nice just to go out, stand around in ankle deep water and take some really simple shots of the water doing it's thing. I've enjoyed a few hours spent this way in the last few weeks. To get this smooth effect with the water requires a bit of technique. Some of these were taken in bright sunshine where usually the shutter speed would be very fast. A neutral density filter helps cut the amount of light getting into the camera allowing longer shutter speeds without overexposing the shot. Slowing down the shutter speed smooths out the textures as the water washes in and out but leaves patterns behind. Each exposure is about 6 seconds long (longer on some of the shots taken later in the day) and each exposure can create it's own interesting effect. When I go out to take this type of shot, I often spend many minutes taking essentially the same shot but enjoying all the different effects each new wave can bring. As usual, I come back with a whole load of shots from this type of day so this little selection are the best from maybe 50 shots.

The first shot is taken from the beach at Newgale. If you look closely you can see a tanker on the horizon. St Brides Bay often becomes home to a few ships moored up waiting for their slot in the harbour at Milford Haven and they can be there for a few days or sometimes much more. I'm more of a landlubber myself so find it strange the life of the folk on those big boats. I find it odd to think of being out in all that space surrounded by water for weeks at a time but the captain of a tall ship once told me that was the appeal for him. I guess we all go and find that space somewhere although I suppose the motivation is more monetary for the folk aboard that tanker.

These were taken at Newgale, Marloes and Penycwm.