Of Waves, Wellingtons and Wet Feet..
I posted a picture a few days ago from my recent dawn shoot at Trebarwith Strand. This was the scene about an hour and a half later. The sunshine had made significant inroads into the shadows..
24mm f/11 4.6 sec. ISO-100
Taking pictures like these mean making certain sacrifices. Apart from waiting the four and a half hours on a rock in the cold to get the shot, when you’re totally engrossed in what you’re doing, you tend to miss certain important little details like a rising tide and getting wet seems to have become the norm when Chillbrook gets anywhere near the ocean..
The following pictures depict the scene behind the long exposures and apparent tranquillity that belie a surging, roaring surf that was threatening to knock me off the rock. The rock I was perched on is about 8 feet, at it’s highest point, above the channels either side that have been carved over thousands of years by the actions of the surf and the stream that runs down on the left.
Bearing this in mind, you’ll get some idea of the height of the surf and crashing waves that were surging shoreward whilst I was taking the long exposures My Wellington boots were of little use as I found myself standing in about two and a half feet of water when this particular wave came ashore.
31mm f22 1/15 sec. ISO-100
24mm f/22 1/10 sec. ISO-100
24mm f/22 1/10 sec. ISO 100
Cornwall Photographic 
Superb photo’s
December 3, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Thank you very much Lou. Your comments are always very much appreciated. :-)
December 3, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Love the 15 sec exposure – the movement in the water is great
December 3, 2013 at 5:47 pm
Thank you Mark.
December 3, 2013 at 6:59 pm
Just spectacular, almost surreal Chillbrook. I like the shadows and the deeper contrast in this one.
December 3, 2013 at 5:49 pm
Thank you Vivian. :-)
December 3, 2013 at 6:59 pm
So lovely and wonderful! You have made my day!
December 3, 2013 at 5:51 pm
That is so very nice to hear! Thank you so much!
December 3, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Freakin’ awesome!
December 3, 2013 at 6:37 pm
Thank you Kim! :-)
December 3, 2013 at 7:00 pm
Adrian, let’s arrange to get a crew together and go collect that giant gold nugget. We’ll have to mine it by chipping it into manageable pieces. And tell no one of our plans! I am ready to be there after the first of the year. (and magnificent photos, as usual)
December 3, 2013 at 6:40 pm
Great idea. Unfortunately, Gull Island only glows gold on sunny mornings. Sunny mornings have been quite rare in Cornwall these last few years. However, if we’re prepared for quite a wait and ready to chip as many manageable chunks in that golden hour just after dawn, I think we could do quite well. While we’re waiting, the local hostelry will keep us well fed on Cornish pasties and with copious pints of the local ale, the waiting wouldn’t be so bad. ;-) Thanks for your comment Mike.
December 3, 2013 at 7:08 pm
Copious pints! Hell, yes. Are there local trollops about?
December 3, 2013 at 7:20 pm
I have no doubt.. :-)
December 3, 2013 at 8:36 pm
If they have any sense they’ll be eating the pasties :D
December 4, 2013 at 7:01 pm
:-)
December 5, 2013 at 7:03 am
Fantastic, almost otherworldly.
December 3, 2013 at 8:14 pm
Thank you Mike.
December 3, 2013 at 8:36 pm
Beautiful blue colour!
December 3, 2013 at 8:51 pm
It is when the sun shines,. Thank you Esmee!
December 3, 2013 at 9:01 pm
You might have to invest in some hip waders, Adrian. : )
Anyway, be careful out there! Love the blues, and compositions. Even with that warm looking rock in the distance it seems cold.
December 3, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Thank you Karen. I might at that although I would prefer to perhaps keep my distance a little bit. Trouble is the tide keeps catching me out. It’s that one wave every now and then, totally random, that has the habit of soaking me. :-)
December 3, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Oh seriously…stunning.
December 3, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Thank you very much! :-)
December 3, 2013 at 10:54 pm
Mother Nature performs and takes a bow to the ChillBrook shutter ….
So many elements in these images vying for one’s attention – the central glowing Island, that powerful surging incoming wave and then the streaming water curtain over the rocks …
Stunning shots ChillB :-)
I’ll make sure I have those new wellies for Spring .. you promised me first dibs remember… promise me no shoving Lol ;-)
December 3, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Thank you Poppy, that’s very kind. First dibs for sure and I promise, no shoving. I think there is just enough room to squeeze two tripods side by side on the rock. :-)
December 3, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Tremendous Adrian, I am in awe.
December 3, 2013 at 9:23 pm
Thank you very much Phil. I appreciate your visit.
December 3, 2013 at 10:54 pm
I’m going to stick my neck out and say that the second shot in this bunch – the one immediately below the written section would be my favorite. I like the contrast between the serenity out to sea and the foaming sea crashing over the rocks – which you have caught exactly right.
December 4, 2013 at 10:59 am
Thank you Andy. I would have to agree with you. This was my favourite of the bunch.
December 4, 2013 at 6:03 pm
So worth your efforts!
December 4, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Thanks Elena. I’m glad you think so. :-)
December 4, 2013 at 6:04 pm
Maybe there should be a wetsuit on your Christmas list?!
December 4, 2013 at 7:02 pm
It’s a thought Noeline. Perhaps a drysuit for my camera. :-)
December 5, 2013 at 7:04 am
Now, that’s my kind of wave (the 2nd shot), but DO be careful out there!!!
December 5, 2013 at 12:57 am
Thank you Gunta. I will be careful. Promise! :-)
December 5, 2013 at 7:06 am
Stunning shots, Ad :D Worth getting your feet wet when you get such amazing output from your work, right!!
December 5, 2013 at 4:52 pm
I think it is Calee. Thank you! :-)
December 5, 2013 at 5:09 pm
Beautiful images, Adrian…it’s amazing how little details, like rising tide, can have such an effect on the scene…and the photographer. :)
December 6, 2013 at 2:55 am
Thank you very much Scott. :-)
December 7, 2013 at 8:25 am
Gorgeous serie.
Perfect edit, well done!
December 7, 2013 at 11:06 am
Thank you Hans. Very much appreciated.
December 7, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Stunning photos, Adrian, and well worth the wet feet and wellies. :) I’m so impressed by your tenacity on that rock for four and a half hours. 8O
December 7, 2013 at 12:16 pm
Thank you Sylvia. It’s a landscape photographer’s lot, sitting about in the cold waiting for the shot ;-) It’s good when it’s worthwhile and you get the shot or series of shots you were after though.
Glad you’re home safely from your holidays. The passport control issue must have been very frustrating. Well done for hanging onto your patience. As you said in a reply to someone else, these guys are rarely good humoured and irritation gets you nowhere. :-)
December 7, 2013 at 12:34 pm
I hope you were wearing lots of layers that day, and had a thermos with you.
Yes, I think that some of these officials thrive on being unpleasant and downright unreasonable. The fact that they’re not the brightest pebbles on the beach, also doesn’t help.
:(
December 7, 2013 at 12:49 pm
Great picture Adrian. I would guess you wouldn’t mind getting your feet when you are out prospecting for gold.
December 15, 2013 at 5:25 am
No I guess not James. Thank you. :-)
December 15, 2013 at 9:48 pm
Great series of shots, and while i usually always prefer the longer exposed shots (your first shot), it is the 4th shot here that really captures my imagination. Well done Chillbrook!
December 19, 2013 at 11:20 pm
I really appreciate that Randall, thank you!
December 21, 2013 at 7:34 pm
Great series of images. I like this long exposure for its serenity, but I also like the shorter exposures for their raw power.
December 28, 2013 at 4:09 pm
Thank you Jim. Much appreciated!
December 28, 2013 at 8:39 pm