Come May bank holiday and I decided to venture into Suffolk for the first time from my base in Hertfordshire. Mainly to visit the east coast and try some seascape photography.
For the last few years I had lived close to the coast in both Dorset and east Sussex. Having been stuck working in landlocked Hertfordshire for the past couple of months, I was missing the sea and coastal walks. So this trip into Suffolk over the May bank holiday for a few days with my camera was going to be a nice break.
Ipswich Town
On the way, I also wanted to visit Ipswich for the first time. I decided to stay in a hotel close to Ipswich and from there could drive to the Suffolk coast.
My first afternoon in Suffolk and it was dull and raining, quite hard at times. So with my compact camera and pac-a-mac I did a walk around Ipswich town.
Dunwich Heath and Beach
Sunrise was around 5:15 am, I managed to get up early as usual I dont sleep well in hotels. I took a little detour to McDonalds for some breakfast and coffee. Problem was it not serve breakfast until 5AM. So made do with a burger and chips. So wrong at this time of the morning.
I made it to the coast of Dunwich beach but just after sunrise. I scrambled onto the beach and fired off some seascape shots of the early morning sun streaming through some cloud cover and the surf receding.
After getting my fill on Dunwich beach I headed up the coastal path to the ruins of Greyfriars. The low early morning sun was highlighting the texture of the stonework. Dunwich used to be the capital of the east Angles kingdom competing in size with London. Now Dunwich is known as the lost city of east England due to continual coastal erosion.
I then made my way along the footpaths of Dunwich cliffs across heathland to the viewpoints near the coastguard cottages. There was still good morning light, but the clouds were changing.
Cutting across Dunwich Heath and the heavens opened up. I had to take cover and get my waterproofs out. It was a short sharp shower and then the sun returned. This went on all day, but not experience any rainbows.
Finally I made my way through Dunwich forest and back along the coast beside the Dingle marshes. Where the weather changed from sunny to stormy every five minutes, quite a spectacle.
Aldeburgh, Suffolk
The next morning I was heading back to the Suffolk coast to the iconic seaside town of Aldeburgh. I was up at 4AM but hang around for breakfast at McDonalds until 5AM. Need a better solution than this. But being hungry on an early morning Suffolk seascape photography shoot can be so distracting.
Like Dunwich the day before I missed sunrise due to breakfast. But got a few golden hour shots walking along the coast of Aldeburgh away from the town towards the Marbello tower and then inland along the river Alde. It was actually cold, like needed winter clothing, hat and gloves.
My hand holding technique was improving without the use of a histogram in the viewfinder. Due to the camera always wanting to expose for medium grey, if the view is bright the light meter is going to under expose, so push the right. If the overall scene is on the dark side the light meter built into the camera is going to overexpose and blow any highlights, so pull to the left.
Lovely walk along the coast of Aldeburgh, A pretty Suffolk seafront town. Finishing off with a lovely cooked English breakfast at the Brudenell hotel.
Flatford Mill Dedham Vale
Like the Chiltern Hills I had noticed the green area of the Dedham vale on google maps and being an AONB in the east of England. I then learnt of a walk along the river Stour taking in Flatford Mill and this being John Constable country. I checked out of my hotel near Ipswich early and on the way back to Hertfordshire would stop in the Dedham vale and visit Flatford Mill just inside the Suffolk border with Essex.
From deep inside Dedham Vale, I made my way down to the river Stour as clouds were moving in. For this shot beside the river Stour I got my tripod out.
I was excited about learning that Flatford Mill had not changed since John Constables time. Now, growing up on the wall in our house in prime position was the Hay Wain. I would often look at it and wonder and it would take me away.
Now I was looking at the same scene for real and it was an emotional experience taking me back to my childhood. Also ironically,Willy Lot a residential farmer lived in that house opposite and in his long life, he never left the area.
Suffolk Photography
Thoroughly enjoyed my May day bank holiday weekend away capturing seascapes and landscapes within the county of Suffolk. Why go through all that hassle of travelling abroad when there are great locations much closer to home that you can explore and photograph, and where you can help the local economy.
The location of my hotel was not the best choice as still a 45 minute drive to the Suffolk coast and consequently missed sunrise. I would return to Suffolk for more seascape photography at the end of May when there was another bank holiday, next time I would stay on the coast.
If you are interested in these walks I took them from the AA 50 walks Suffolk and Pathfinders Suffolk walking guide. I then used ordnance survey maps online to fine tune the photo walks and ensure I not get lost.