Winter Calm

Two days after New Year I was back down on the beach, the day had been unusually clear and calm, with some light cloud in the sky, perfect conditions for a possible good sunset.

A bank of cloud out to the west obscured the sun before actual sunset and the air was very still, not a breath of wind, every sound carrying a long distance in the tranquil air. The pools of water remaining on the beach were perfect mirrors, reflecting the silhouettes of the iron men and the colours of the sky.

Channels of water left from the last high tide offer perfect mirror reflections and the cries of distant seabirds echo in the completely still air as dusk falls on Crosby beach.

As I moved away I noticed groups of birds out over the sea, flying in formation low over the water, like murmurations of starlings but I suspect that they were Knots, the black formations looked almost like waves forms travelling across the surface of the sea at times.

Formations of Knots low over the flat surface of the sea appeared to be ripples on the surface at times as they flew low over the surface.

In Camera...Perfect Winter Day

Coronation Park, Crosby. Early morning mist over frost covered fields lends atmosphere to this shot of the rays of light from the rising sun

Last Saturday was a rare perfect winter day for atmospheric photography. The temperature did not rise much above freezing point all day but the absence of wind made it feel warmer. A light mist hovered across the cold ground all day and there was a radiant golden glow of light just after sunrise on this very cold and frosty morning as the sun slowly pierced the fog, it's light forming rays of light and shadow spreading through the hazy air.

Coronation Park, Crosby, just after sunrise

Beech Trees, Alexandra Park, Crosby

Beech Trees, Alexandra Park, Crosby

 The two images above show how shooting into the light can make such a difference to the picture. They are the same trees in both pictures.

Frost covered ground, Alexandra Park, Crosby

In the afternoon the back lanes near Little Crosby are full of low lying mist across the still frosty fields and the sun is setting as I drive through. The whole day is very reminiscent of Christmas with smoke rising through the still cold air, the roofs and ground white with frost and that lovely soft pink glow from a winter sunset which depend to a warm orange afterglow as the earth rotates into darkness.

Late afternoon in the fields near Little Crosby

The afterglow on a fine winter evening across the fields near Little Crosby

Down on Crosby beach, a bank of fog lies out to sea, the sky above filled with the afterglow of sunset. The iron men fade into the distance.

The Mile Marker on Crosby Beach looms out of the fog on this cold winter day

In Camera...Late Summer Skies

A late August sky just after sunset, the golden glow reflected in still water held on the beach.

Late August and, at this time of year, the sun sets more to a west-north-west direction, providing glowing skies that are able to silhouette the solid shapes of the iron men on Crosby beach beautifully. A perfect background to show off the scene. Often, just as the sun sets, any wind will drop, resulting in perfect reflections in any pools of seawater held on the beach. This lightens the foreground of the image, providing greater interest than just a dark beach.

Two figures join the iron men in watching the afterglow.

The afterglow above the horizon throws the skeletal figures of the wind turbines into sharp silhouette.