Looking for new places to explore and photograph in Dorset I used National trust Dorset guide to get some ideas. Ringstead bay looked promising part of the Jurassic coast with White Nothe having great views.
OS Maps Ringstead Bay
Using Ordnance Survey maps online I planned a walking route from the car park up along to the summit of White Nothe down the cliff face and along the beach of Ringstead Bay.
It’s still a drive from Bournemouth in east Dorset so the walk required some planning and an early start.
White Nothe Fog
On arrival at Ringstead bay, it was thick cloud and very foggy. I wondered if in such conditions I would get any good seascape and landscape photographs. Fog and mist can simplify a composition giving a minimalist look.
I followed the south west coastal path toward White nothe. Looking back a couple of walkers made a good focal point with Ringstead bay just visible through the thick fog in the background.
At the top of White Nothe was a bench making a good focal point looking east to Durdle Door and St Aldelms head which of a clear day you can see. The park bench was also a good spot to stop and have a cup of hot coffee from my flask and admire the foggy views.
The Jurassic Coast
Climbing down the cliff face was a steep drop and in the fog a little dangerous. As landscape photographers we take little risks hoping to get a good image. I took a little detour off the beaten track and there was some great views east of the Jurassic coastline.
I had used my compact camera up to now, but these views east of the Jurassic coastline were worthy of me getting out my DLSR and tripod.
I was having issues with my tripod and cokin filter system. The tripod was more geared to travel and not landscape photography. I kept getting vignetting with the cokin filter system and my 15mm wide angle lens.
I decided at this point when I got back home I would invest in a new tripod and the Lee Filter system, it would make things easier and improve my landscape photography. Landscape photography is an expensive hobby, no doubt about that.
Around Ringstead Bay
From white Nothe I made it down to the rocky coastline just before the beach of Ringstead Bay. It was still foggy and I was looking for a good seascape composition.
I wanted to include the island of Portland Bill in the background as well as some foreground rocks. I managed to find a good composition with some foreground rocks providing a leading line towards Portland bill rising out of the fog in the background. Focusing on Portland Bill, using a small aperture and with the nearest foreground rocks a few meters away, ensured everything stayed in focus.
The beach at Ringstead bay is not much to write home about. I guess during the warm summer months it gets busy, but I mean from a landscape photography point of view. Check out my ad hoc photos of around Ringstead bay and White Nothe shot on my mobile phone.