Last Walk of the Year

It was a bleak, stormy day with high winds. But the wind direction was such that the dunes provided a barrier, and we were able to walk along the water sheltered from it all.

One thing I like about wide angle lenses, is the way they compress curved shapes. When I used to do a lot of long distance cycling, I loved to use an ultra-wide lens {I had a Samyang 14mm} to photograph hairpin turns - as in, the actual curved part of the turn - from a close vantage point. It’s a unique look that can only be achieved with a lens 24mm or wider.

‘Diffing’ marks along the road and tyre marks on motor-cross racing tracks can also look nice. There is something mystical about tracks arranged in a circular configuration.

There are signs of erosion all over the beach, which is a bit worrying. The earlier photo shows debris from a collapsed structure, and this one a felled fence. I think it is from a combination of frequent storms and spring tides.

We got caught out with the tide coming in on the way back, and escaped to the dunes. They are soft and boggy, but criss-crossed with narrow walking trails.

The spongy ground smells of moss and seagrass. Heavenly in combination with the chilly winter air and the view of open water. A lovely way to say good-bye to 2021.