I was sitting at the kitchen table thinking of where to go this morning for the sunrise. I could feel myself drifting back to Roker but I really wanted to make the effort and go further afield. Google was telling me that I could be at Dunstanburgh Beach in just over an hour, about 8.05am. Cutting it a little close for the best light but my gear was packed and wellies were warming up so off I went. Its been quite a few years since I was last at the beach on north side of the castle and I really needed to get some new photos. I had seen many images of what have became known as Death Rocks on the beach. Round slippery black rocks that have claimed many unknowing photographer in broken limbs and worst of all, broken cameras! I didn't want to become one of those statistics so when on the beach I made sure my camera was packed away and used the tripod as a walking stick. The trick is to place your feet between the rocks and not on them. Even though, I didn't want to spend the last few hours of 2016 in hospital, so I only ventured a few meters into the rocks.
re to edit.
re to edit.
My first image of the morning worked out nicely. I found this pointed looking rock in a rock pool and it made good foreground as I contemplated moving closer to the less friendly rocks. There were already a number of photographers on the beach and I tried my best not to get in their shots but its almost impossible as some of them got in mine too.
I moved to the edge of the rock field and set up in the surf along the shore. Sure enough one or two waves went over the top of my wellies so I knew I was in the right place for a good photo or two! Using a long shutter speed on the camera helped along by an 8 stop ND filter I was able to capture the water as an icy mist as it flowed over the black rocks.
I felt the castle was a little two small in the frame but that would mean sliding over the death rocks to get closer so just went a few meters in to get the image. Maybe at a higher tide the classic image with the sea flowing over the rocks will be more safely achievable. Still, not a bad mornings work and within an hour I was on my way home to get down to the edit. I only took 23 images which for me is a small amount and I got five different images of which I have showen three here. Where too next I wonder…
