Embarking on a Devon Adventure
As February 2024 unfolded, I set off on a working road trip to the alluring south coast of Devon, planning to make Torquay my base for a week. With the anticipation of serene mornings and tranquil evenings, I was keen to blend leisurely coastal walks with my passion for seascape photography.
Return to Devon
Have travelled to Devon a few times in years gone by since been a landscape photographer. The first trip to Devon was back in December 2018 while I was between jobs. A beautiful way to fill the time. The next time was the very memorable trip to Dartmoor. Every time I go to the west country I am greeted with heavy rainfall and cloud, you need to be prepared for this heading west.
Exmouth Beach Sunrise
The road to Torquay started with a night’s stay at Exmouth and a morning greeting from the seaside. There’s a unique thrill in discovering new landscapes, each with its own secrets to unveil. The journey from Exmouth to Torquay, with the promise of the coast unfolding, was a photographer’s delight.
Before dawn, I found myself wandering along the shores of Exmouth Beach, where the drama of an approaching storm mingled with the tranquillity of the sea. A break in the thick rain clouds to the east became a stage for the sun, spotlighting the waters with a warm, golden hue. The eastern end of the beach, with its intriguing rock formations, beckoned as an ideal subject against the sunrise—a composition waiting to be captured. But nature’s timing is its own master; the high tide and shifting light conspired against me. The rocks, so promising as foreground interest, were submerged by the sea’s embrace, and the light dimmed to a softer glow.
Dawlish Langstone Rock
My coastal voyage brought me to the quaint town of Dawlish, a decision inspired by the allure of satellite images. Dawlish, a hub for families and tourists, bustles with the energy of seaside life. As I ventured towards Langstone Rock, the crowds thinned, and the coast offered a more serene environment, revealing the striking geological feature as a subject for my lens.
Langstone Rock stands as a sentinel on the shore, a vibrant testament to the Jurassic coast’s ancient beginnings. This solitary formation, a relic of a vast lifeless( no fossils), hot desert from epochs past, demanded a panoramic approach. Handheld shots were meticulously stitched in post-processing to encapsulate its magnitude in its entirety.
The walk along Red Rock Beach was a tapestry of colours, with the eponymous red hues contrasting against the cerulean sky. A backward glance offered a fleeting gift—a shaft of sunlight gracing Langstone Rock, illuminating its face against the looming clouds. This moment of brilliance would be the last I’d witness for some time, as the skies soon closed their curtains, bringing a week of torrential grey. Thankfully, my commitments in Torquay provided a refuge, a workspace with a view to the tempest outside, sparing me from the stir-craziness that such weather in the UK can breed.
Paignton Pier
After being confined to a hotel room in Torquay for a week due to relentless rain and overcast skies, I finally seized an opportunity when the weather began to clear. With my camera ready, I set out to explore the coastline of Torbay, aiming for Paignton and Brixham.
The transition from low to high pressure systems can create some of the most dramatic and photogenic skies. These are the conditions I often find most rewarding. At Paignton Pier, the weather’s unpredictability played to my advantage.
The sun broke through just enough to cast a golden light on the pier, which contrasted starkly with the brooding clouds overhead. It was a perfect example of how the elements can come together to create a striking scene, highlighting the structure in a warm glow against the backdrop of an impending storm.
Broadsands to Elberry Cove
After leaving Paignton, I headed towards Brixham. The coastline is dotted with beaches and coves, which prompted a stop at Broadsands Beach.
What started as a brief pause turned into an extensive walk from Broadsands to Elberry Cove and the ruin bath house. During which the weather decided to unleash a downpour but had brought my hard shell with me – so not get wet.
In conditions like these, rainbows can often be seen throughout the day. I was fortunate to capture one arcing over Torbay, framed by the rugged coastline in the foreground. This fleeting moment, where the rain and light intersected, added a vibrant splash to the otherwise subdued tones of the seascape.
Brixham
Completing the journey from Broadsands, I arrived in Brixham, a quintessentially quiet and picturesque Devon seaside town. I found a spot opposite the breakwater, where the lighthouse stands as an iconic landmark—a must for any photographic composition of Brixham.
I settled in with the hope of capturing the lighthouse bathed in sunlight, accompanied by a rainbow cresting above. While rainbows were present throughout the day, they appeared faint or out at sea. I’ve found that compositions tend to evolve with repeated visits to a site, especially when you’re chasing a specific shot in mind.
Shaldon Devon
The day’s journey ended on the coast of Shaldon, across from Torquay. A leisurely walk along the shore was the perfect counterpoint to the day’s earlier hustle and the confines of a hotel room. It culminated in a refreshing pint—a fitting end to a day rich in exploration and photographic opportunities.
Torquay Dawn
With an early departure from Torquay scheduled to head to a new location in Dorset, I realized I had yet to take any photographs despite my week-long stay. On the final morning, as the weather began to shift, I ventured out at dawn to make the most of my last few hours in the town.
During my morning walks—even in the rain—I had noted the potential of Princess Pier. The way the pier lights reflected on the damp wooden planks caught my eye. Torquay may not be brimming with standout photographic subjects, but the pier in the soft light of dawn offered a quietly pleasing scene.
Another landmark in Torquay that had caught my eye on my morning walks was the limestone arch called London Bridge. Need the 200mm lens to frame this subject else too small. A more colourful sunrise would have helped the composition. But my last shot from south Devon before heading to Dorset then back home to east Sussex.
Reflecting on Devon’s Coastline
As my week in Devon came to a close, I found myself with a collection of experiences rather than a portfolio of standout photographs. While the majestic coastlines and tranquil mornings offered countless opportunities, the truly exceptional shots remained as elusive as ever.
This trip reaffirmed an essential truth of photography: the greatest images are born out of meticulous planning, countless return visits, and sometimes, a touch of serendipity. Devon’s many charms have been etched in my memory, and each location visited holds the promise of that perfect shot in future endeavours. While this trip may not have yielded the photographs I envisioned, it has laid the groundwork for successful future shoots—where familiarity and fortune will align under the watchful eye of my lens.
Check out the Devon Landscape Photography Gallery.