A Wee bit Windy…
I was out this morning, down at the very western most tip of Cornwall, of the UK in fact, not very far from Lands End at the Botallack Tin Mine. In the picture you can see the Crown Engine houses or what is left of them. These engine houses housed the huge beam engine pumps used to keep the miners dry as they tunneled hundreds of metres under the ocean in search of tin.
It is said that the miners could hear the sea roaring above them as they worked. These engine houses are probably 40 or 50 feet in height so you can get a feel for just how big the waves were today. Sea spray was falling like rain and getting off a shot before the lens became opaque with salt was a bit of a challenge. coordinating a bit of brightness with a good-sized wave set was an even bigger one. Waiting for the light (and the waves) once again..
24mm f/11 1/100 sec. ISO-100
Cornwall Photographic 
fantastic photo! such raw power and beauty.
December 27, 2013 at 8:58 pm
Thank you very much John.
December 27, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Such drama in your capture, the rain is coming in and the wind is hard, wonderful!
December 27, 2013 at 9:16 pm
Thank you!
December 27, 2013 at 10:25 pm
An image imbued with all the thunderous exhiliration of stormy seas … such a magnificent capture ChillB !
December 27, 2013 at 9:27 pm
Thank you Poppy. It really was thunderous. Very difficult to walk, open car doors and as I said in the post the spray was like horizontal rain blowing up and over the cliff which reminds me, I really must give my car a hosing down..
December 27, 2013 at 10:25 pm
beautiful, you captures the power of the waves wonderfully…
December 27, 2013 at 10:31 pm
Thank you Heather.
December 28, 2013 at 9:15 am
Some fresh weather makes a really good photo.
December 27, 2013 at 10:53 pm
It does indeed Bente. The rain associated with this storm had been torrential for two days but following it on Grib I spotted a window when the sun might just come through but the wind would still be high and set out. Grib is a very useful tool for photographers.
December 28, 2013 at 9:18 am
Wow I love the fury of the sea. Mother Nature at her best. I find it hard to turn away from the ocean when shes putting on such a show. I can smell the salt in the air, thank you for sharing such a powerful image :)
December 27, 2013 at 11:46 pm
Thank you Angi. It was really difficult, especially with the camera in hand as every time I turned to go back to the car, I’d see another set of amazing waves and the tide was rising so the waves were getting higher but there had to be a cut off point.. wasn’t easy. My decision was made for me when a particularly squally shower hit. ;-)
December 28, 2013 at 9:20 am
Well composed image and the wreckage on the rocks adds to the rough nature.
December 28, 2013 at 3:37 am
Thank you very much Sreejith!
December 28, 2013 at 9:21 am
Terrific shot – and the sky adds so much. I expect you were drenched even if you kept the camera dry(ish).
December 28, 2013 at 6:40 am
Thank you Al. It was quite hard work but very exhilarating. I was tasting salt for the rest of the day..
December 28, 2013 at 9:25 am
Wow, such a great shot!!!
December 28, 2013 at 7:26 am
Thank you Rexlin! :-)
December 28, 2013 at 9:25 am
Stunning image. I wouldn’t have liked to be down below next to the pump houses.
December 28, 2013 at 9:55 am
Thank you Vicki. There is a path down to the top engine house in the picture but I decided to stay where I was. I did go down on to the beach but decided I didn’t want to get too close there either. Rogue waves of this magnitude would sweep you off your feet and swallow you up so easily. As it was I lost my hat – devastated I was as I felt it ripped from my head and taken by the wind only to see it disappear in an maelstrom on white water.. :-(
December 28, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Beautifully turbulent! The B&W works very well.
December 28, 2013 at 1:46 pm
Thank you very much Denise. It really was beautiful out there yesterday and normally I would have processed in colour but this one just cried out for black and white.
December 28, 2013 at 3:57 pm
Beautiful image Adrian. I love the B&W.
December 28, 2013 at 3:30 pm
Thank you Edith. Normally I have to think very carefully about using black and white, it has to enhance an image, this picture demanded conversion such was the documentary nature of the image somehow. This was a major storm. One of many of late that have been battering the UK. I was lucky to get out there during a relatively dry interlude.
December 28, 2013 at 4:06 pm
A splendid composition and a great edit!
Well done!
December 28, 2013 at 3:45 pm
Thank you very much Hans!
December 28, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Beautiful black and white
December 28, 2013 at 4:59 pm
Thank you so much Yvonne. Glad you liked this one:)
December 28, 2013 at 8:22 pm
A really marvellous capture, Adrian. I just can’t imagine working under the sea. It must have been so scary, hearing the waves roaring overhead. 8O
December 28, 2013 at 6:30 pm
Thank you Sylvia. I think the men, women and of course children were incredibly brave but also very desperate. I think the weather yesterday was very different to when you visited.
December 28, 2013 at 8:38 pm
It looks like storm.
December 29, 2013 at 12:41 am
It was incredibly windy Lou. Thanks for looking. :-)
December 29, 2013 at 11:22 am
Wow, love the drama of this image. Black and white makes it even moreso!
December 29, 2013 at 7:15 am
Thank you Marina! :-)
December 29, 2013 at 11:22 am
Fantastic shot illustrating the power of the sea and the fragility of man – for all that we think we’re so powerful …
It’s also an interesting picture in terms of showing changing attitudes – there’s no way that anyone would be allowed to work down there now under those conditions, let alone choose to.
December 29, 2013 at 6:36 pm
Thank you Noeline. To think that it wasn’t only men working under those conditions but children also. It must have been absolutely terrifying for them. Desperate times that meant starvation if you didn’t go to work. Not something we want to go back to but perhaps the pendulum has swung a little to far the other way in certain quarters.. The ‘I’m not doing that, who do you think I am, I’ll take the benefits, let everyone else support me, get an eastern European to do it’ attitude is maybe a little too prevalent.. A history lesson of this sort might just be in order for some. What these poor people suffered and we’ve now got people turning up at food banks in the latest designer gear demanding to be fed because they’re poor. Poverty redefined but it’s late and I mustn’t get political. Plenty of other blogs out there doing that. ;-)
December 29, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Maybe …. but you have a point – and one that I absolutely agree with!
December 30, 2013 at 11:31 am
Thanks Noeline.
December 30, 2013 at 7:33 pm
So worth the wait, Adrian. The rays of light and huge waves make for an incredible moment! Wow.
December 30, 2013 at 5:14 am
Thank you Karen. It was absolutely mesmerising watching the ocean in such a wild state. Very difficult to call it a day and put the camera away. :-)
December 30, 2013 at 7:32 pm
What an incredible image, Adrian…and the black and white suits it perfectly….so very nice. :)
December 30, 2013 at 3:20 pm
Thank you Scott. Much appreciated!
December 30, 2013 at 7:33 pm
You are most welcome. :)
December 30, 2013 at 7:41 pm
You did a great job capturing the power of the sea in this image. The light is perfect.
January 6, 2014 at 4:49 pm
Thank you Jim. I have been quite lucky catching breaks in the weather while the winds have still been high! Those glimpses of sunshine make all the difference.
January 6, 2014 at 11:28 pm
Incredible atmosphere! Great work, as always, Adrian. Hope you’re doing well.
Love, Dina
January 6, 2014 at 7:24 pm
I am doing well thank you Dina! I hope you the same! I really appreciate your visits and your comments. :-)
January 6, 2014 at 11:29 pm
It’s always nice to be here, Adrian. Very pleasant company and nice followers, apart from your great work. Take care.
Love, Dina
January 7, 2014 at 6:35 pm
:)
January 7, 2014 at 7:33 pm
We’re a group oof volunteers and opening a new
scheme in our community. Your website offered us with valuable info to work on.
You’ve done an impressive job and our entire commubity will be grateful to you.
October 15, 2014 at 7:20 am