Up Early and Gifted with a Fabulous Sunrise

Headed out early yesterday morning to photograph sunrise on the coast, with the tail end of the recent storms still hanging around.

The plan was Charmouth, but when we got there not much was happening, so we carried on down to West Bay. Very glad we did.

We (me and my friend Ben Kapur) got ourselves into position knowing where the sun would be coming up. It looked good, but the light was so flat. There were clouds, but the sky was just grey and featureless.

Then, all of a sudden, the sun broke through right at the turn of high tide. We had this amazing glow coming from behind the cliff face, which ws most definitely a reward for the early start 😍

It just goes to show... don't give in, and don't pack your camera away too soon. You never know what's going to happen.

I shot this on the RF 28-70mm f/2. It's not really a landscape lens, but as I've only just changed over to Canon, it's what I had with me. Something like the 70-200mm Ben was using would have been great.

I'm now building up the lenses I need to cover my portraits, seascapes and my wildlife photography.

Next on the list is a 70-200, and I'll probably go for the f/2. I'm also likely to get the 14-35mm f/4 rather than the 15-35mm f/2.8. I'd only ever use it for landscapes, and I'll more than likely be at around f/8 anyway, so I wouldn't benefit from the f/2.8.

Anyway, a fantastic morning.

It felt so good to get out and see the start of the day.

Mornings are definitely my favourite part of the day, especially when a scene like this unfolds in front of you.

Kit Used:
Canon R5 Mark II
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2
NiSi 5-Stop ND (JetMag Pro)

Printed on Fotospeed NST Bright White using my Canon Pro-1100.

Photographing Storms in the UK with my iPhone and Friends

There’s something special about heading out with your camera (or iPhone as it was for me) when a storm is brewing. It’s that mix of excitement, unpredictability, and the chance to capture nature at its wildest and recently, I had the chance to photograph two big storms—Storm Bert and Storm Darragh.

Storm Bert at Lyme Regis

First up was Storm Bert on the seafront at Lyme Regis with my good mate Steve Healy.

Lyme’s one of those places that looks stunning in any weather, but during a storm it really is next level.

The wind and rain was relentless, whipping around us as we walked along the seafront. The waves were smashing into the harbor wall, sending spray high into the air. At one point, I got completely drenched from the knees down (see photo below) by a rogue wave, but hey it’s all part of the fun, right?

I used my iPhone 15 Pro Max with the Lightroom Camera app, and honestly, it was spot on. The light was constantly changing, but using the phone to capture it was a breeze (no pun intended).

We took some time out for a bit of shelter and grabbed a coffee in the seafront Café, SWIM and it just so happened that on ther next table were a couple of people who had a dog, and well …

I couldn’t resist grabbing a photograph with my iPhone

I edited the portrait quickly in Lightroom on my iPhone and then showed the owners, who loved it and asked if I’d send it to them.

This again showed to me how powerful a mobile workflow is; being able to take a photograph and immediately edit it and sent it, I find so bloomin’ exciting!

Storm Darragh at West Bay

A few days later, Storm Darragh rolled in, and this time, it was off to West Bay with my friend Brian Dukes.

If you know West Bay, you’ll know those golden cliffs are absolutely stunning, but throw in a storm and it’s a whole different scene.

Brian and I spent most of the time trying to keep our footing while scouting for the best angles but oddly the sea wasn’t as rough as we’d expected it to be and we actually spent more time on the other side of the harbor.

Why I Love Storm Photography

Here’s the thing about photographing storms: it’s not just about the pictures. It’s the whole experience—being out in the elements, feeling the wind batter you, hearing the roar of the waves, and just soaking it all in (sometimes literally!).

For me, it’s also about the people you share it with. Steve and Brian are brilliant company, and there’s something about laughing at each other while dodging waves that makes the day even better.

If you’re thinking of heading out to photograph a storm, do it. Just make sure you’re prepared (waterproofs are a must … as I have well and truly learned), keep an eye on the tides, and embrace the chaos. The photos are a bonus!

I’m really happy with the keepers from both Storm Bert and Storm Darragh but honestly, the best bit was just being there watching the storm do its thing.

Can’t wait for the next one. Bring it on!