Reflections on Summer

We’re told that summer is over now and autumn is well on the way, but as I walked along the beach at Spurn Point the other day, in warm sun and just a t-shirt (ok, and trousers as well!), it was hard to believe that we’re closing in on mid-October already. It’s felt like a strange summer to me, with a terrible, cold August giving way to a much better September and, so far, a remarkable warm spell in October. 

Where I live, in East Yorkshire, the skies have often been flat and rather uninspiring, but nonetheless I’ve been out and about with my camera whenever possible, not least because the walk and time for contemplation have benefits far beyond those of producing attractive photographs. Take my recent visit to Saltburn-By-The-Sea-on-Sea, for example. I was staying in Whitby the night before, so an early start to drive the 40 minutes up the coast to Saltburn-By-The-Sea wasn’t too much of a stretch. Arriving before dawn, at high tide, it was wonderful just to watch the waves rolling in, and to listen to their sound as they crashed onto the pebbled beach. As dawn began to break behind the pier and I started to take photographs, seeing the initial images on the tiny screen of my camera reminded me that even long exposure photography can be thrilling: “Wow! did I really take that?”.

I’ve also taken the opportunity this summer to visit places close to home, and to look at them in new ways. Hornsea at high tide, when even the slightest swell sends waves crashing over the seafront; Cayton Bay, near Scarborough, which I’ve driven past a thousand times without ever once stopping, but was well worth the time; Withernsea with it’s pristine white lighthouse sitting at the end of a terraced street. Not all these trips have resulted in great (or any) photography, but they put a marker in my memory, ready for next time.

So, regardless of the unseasonable weather, we do head into autumn now. The turning and falling leaves will offer plenty of opportunity for more walking, more contemplation and, hopefully, more photography. 

I hope that you’ll also be able to make the most of the season.

Using Format