Everyday Wandering

Part 1

For the last few years I have taken a yearly winter pilgrimage to the most southerly point in the UK, The Lizard Peninsula and this year is no exception. I think I’m definitely turning into a creature of habitat or it’s just one of my favourite places who knows. Anyway I made the five hour long journey from the literal middle point of England all the way down south battling against rush hour traffic and a torrent of rain and wind. I enjoy Cornwall but I enjoy it even more in the winter it just brings out its rugged beauty even more and you don’t have to deal with all the summer holiday traffic and as someone who is introverted and has a limited social battery this makes me feel a lot more happier.

After the five hour journey and two pit stops I arrived on the Lizard around 9.00am and the weather was horrid but in an enjoyable way, bad weather is my favourite kind of weather. My first stop was an out the way beach call Church Cove and if the name didn’t give it away there’s a church nestled between two beaches. One beach is Stoney with jagged rock formations and the other is sandy with a stream worming its way down the centre. It’s a favourite spot from when I was younger but it can be kind of dangerous for bathing and it’s a place I came close to drowning at fortunately I was a very strong swimmer back then.

My first few warm up shots were around this life ring post kind of poignant knowing my history with this beach but still I got lucky and it wasnt need. I did learn to respect the sea a lot more even if it’s in a calm state.

One of my goals from this location was to photograph the church but to try and capture it nestled behind a small headland with the sea visible as that’s what’s this beach is known for, a task I have failed to do a number of times. With the rain lashing down I spent a good hour trying different compositions out from multiple angles but end up with two photographs which I think turned okay showing the church nestled precariously by the sea. In the process of this I managed to slip on my backside while walking down the headland from behind the church spraining my ankle, a great way to start a week of photography.

With these photos in the bag and been drenched from the rain the decision was made to head back to my car and dry off. I learned very early on in this trip that my rain coat just isn’t cutting it anymore an issue that will re-occur a few times. It’s funny because my coat is meant to be a outdoor wet weather deal but is absolutely hopeless in rain and re proofing it does nothing, then my cheap second hand American surplus waterproof trousers from the late 90’s are fantastic and almost bombproof.

On the walk back a snapped a few more images showing the life guard station and beach shop in there shut up and out of summer season state and one final photo of a house just sticking out of a dip in the cliff side leading down to Church Cove.

After getting myself and my camera equipment completely socked I made the executive decision to find a nice spot over looking the sea and park up for a few hours to dry off in my car and ended up at a harbour town called Porthleven. I got spot on the harbour wall overlooking the breakwater watching with my car heating on full blast a few surfers riding the breaking waves just out side of the harbour mouth.

I must of been sitting there for a good hour or two drying myself off and watching the world go by well until there was a break in the rain which I used to make a quick dash to the nearest chip and pastie shop for an early lunch. Photography was out the question as I had no really motivation to capture anything after my morning soaking and hot food was definitely calling and had my most urgent attention.

After getting warmed, dry and fed my next move was to head towards The Lizard which is the most southerly point in the UK, I did a quick stop at a supermarket for much need provisions but I’m not going to bore myself and all five people who will read this with the finer details. The Lizard especially down at the point is a great place to watch the day end and can have some spectacular sunsets. Once parked up I did have a brisk wander around the area with my camera making a few photos here and there but by this time in the afternoon my 3am start and five our car journey had caught up with me.

In the end there was only one image really worth editing and it was captured near the shore and was of the old life boat stations been over looked by the cliffs. The beach has a long history of housing lifeboats and a number of buildings and stations have been built within the cove or just above along the cliff all now are inactive as a new modern station was constructed just a short walk down the coast. The photos has some nice elements with the dilapidated buildings, imposing cliffs, a lonely fishing boat and a some somewhat calm sea for a notoriously dangerous stretch of water.

With my last photos taken and the sun setting into a fiery fury of colour I sat on the top of the cliff watching the red ball of light dip below the horizon and illuminating the sky with a vivid dance of colour and cloud until the final speck of light disappeared from my first day in Cornwall. Fortunately as a black and white photographer colour scenes don’t interest me so I get to enjoy magical sunsets without the magic black box stuck to my eye distracting me from moments like this.

[ Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 // ] – Coming soon !