My last full day in Cornwall and not far from my base in Newquay was the much more quiet beach of Holywell also managed by the National Trust. So it was Holywell bay I was heading for my last seascape landscape photography walk in the beautiful county of Cornwall.
Holywell Bay Deserted
This time of year being late December the beach was mostly deserted except for a few dog walkers. Deserted is just how I like it. For a change the sun was out, but it was not forecast to stay like this for long.
Carters or Gulls Rocks just out a few hundred meters from the beach, makes backdrop and focal point for your seascape photographs. Behind the beach are extensive un-spoilt sand dunes.
The low December sun was hitting the long grass of the sand dunes bringing out their golden hue. It was exhilarating, compositions were overwhelming, the wind was strong and I was hand-holding my camera to remain flexible.
Changing Winter Weather
While up walking the sand dunes of Holywell the weather was changing fast including some sharp short flowers. This was mild compared to the weather I had already experienced in Newquay and all along this road trip. I had my waterproofs and was now used to this bad weather.
These unsettled weather conditions though give way to some extraordinary lighting. Its this weather you want to be out with your camera. With the rain and shine together come rainbows.
I was about to put my camera away with the showers, when I turned around and saw my first rainbow. I was excited to catch it before it disappeared, it caught me by surprise and not have time to think about a proper composition but wanted to include the rocks.
I managed a few more of the rainbow but they were ruined by rain drops hitting my lens. 10 to 15 seconds later the light show was over and the rainbow faded away.
Along the Headland
Eventually I left the sand dunes of Holywell and made my way around Kelseys Head. From the top of the headland were more great views of Holywell beach. I had now switched to my canon compact due to the sharp showers. I probably dont need to do this as my Canon 80D is weather sealed.
The weather was constantly changing from sunshine to thick cloud and sharp showers, rainbows out to sea were appearing on and off all day. Checking the shutter speed, when its high due to the light, you can drop the ISO towards it base level to avoid any noise in the shadows.
From Holywell, following the south west coast footpath takes you round to the remote Poly Joke Beach. Cant decide if that bright grass stem in the bottom left corner adds to the image or is a distraction?
When walking taking landscape/ seascape photographs, it can take hours to cover a few miles. Especially along the Cornish coast as compositions present themselves every minute. By the time I reached Poly Joke beach it was already pass midday and fancied some refreshments.
I was not getting a good signal on my phone here so lucky I had already downloaded offline an OS map of Holywell and the surrounding area. I made my way to a pub in west Pentire called the Bowgie Inn.
Holywell Bay Sunset
I was going to continue my walk around to Crantock and Fistral beach but had a long walk back and not much day light left. Also I was hoping to catch a sunset over Holywell bay and do some long exposure photography.
By the time I got back down on Holywell beach, thick cloud covered the horizon hiding any possibility of a colourful sunset. I found a foreground rock and took some long exposures. I cant complain though, was a great day out shooting seascapes around Holywell Bay.
Landscape Photography Paradise
Tomorrow I was heading back to Bournemouth in Dorset. Devon and Cornwall are a Landscape Photographers and walkers paradise, especially during the winter months when the tourists are absent. I feel I was a little unlucky with the constant stormy wet weather. But It had been a great road trip, my first as a landscape photographer. My next break I would surely stay for a month or two.