March - Sunrise Bonanza and surprise frosts

Month 3 of the 12 in 12 photo challenge is coming to and end, and I am really pleased with how March has gone. We have had some amazing weather and some lovely sunrises out with the camera. The initial easing of the lockdown meant that I was able to be out for recreation as well as exercise so was comfortable setting up the tripod and taking time over the images rather than grabbing a quick handheld shot whilst out walking.

I must admit to being pretty down at the start of the month, a year of restrictions taking its toll, in addition I realised I had been on the Island for a whole year other than 2 weeks Holiday in September and a few days at Christmas. For someone who used to travel either in the U.K. or internationally every week that was a bit of a shock. I was becoming pretty jaded with with the Island and uninspired at the prospect of revisiting the same locations over and over again this year as it looks like travel is likely to be restricted this year as well.

Bembridge - Saving my project

All it took was one trip to Bembridge to reinvigorate my passion for photography and get the project back on track. I arrived feeling uninspired and not really sure why I was there. As I walked down to the beach it looked completely different to how I had ever seen it before. We had gone through some strong Easterly winds and they had really moved the sand about on the beach. Yes it was photographing the same subject of the Lifeboat station but the whole area was new and exciting to explore.

New shapes and textures in the sand on the beach at Bembridge.

This is why I love living on the coast and photographing seascapes. Every time it’s different, the tide height will be different the water will be different. Its endless opportunities. I left Bembridge reinvigorated.

The Pepperpot - Visit 2

Amazingly we had a frosty weekend at the start of March, frost is pretty rare on the island but certainly so in March. The gorse around the Island had been in bloom for a week or so, I therefore headed to the Pepperpot to capture the gorse in bloom with some frost on the ground. Unfortunately the land owner had other ideas and had removed a lot of the Gorse and trimmed back most of the rest. It gave the area a completely different look to what I was expecting but as the golden light of sunrise illuminated the tower it was still a lovely scene to capture.

The Pepperpot on a frosty March morning

West Ashey Farm - An expanded location

I returned to the lone tree in Ashey but struggled to see how it was going to work as a location for the remainder of the project. I therefore expanded the location to be West Ashey Farm where the tree was located. As a result I was able to find this group of three trees which I think will make a much better subject for the project as they are living trees that will change through the seasons. On this occasion the frost and mist shrouded the Ashey Valley whilst the sheep grazed nearby. I really like this image and I think it might be my favourite of March. Its difficult to choose at this point though as it is possible I may capture an image I prefer from this location later in the year which means March might need another favourite!

A Misty frosty West Ashey Farm

Ashey Station - The photo project now leaving the station is the 2021 12 in 12 photo project….

So I don’t think Ashey Station is going to work. I chose it initially purely because it was close by and therefore accessible during lockdown even if it got really strict again. However it really doesn’t work photographically. It is difficult to tell the story of the location and there are just dead areas in every composition I could find. I will keep trying as it may work with the train in the station once the steam railway gets going again, but at the moment it looks like I will be substituting this location out of the project.

Ashey Station, I will persevere but am also adding another location in just in case.

Introducing The Duver

Duver is an old Isle of Wight word to describe low lying land along the coast, subject to occasional inundation by the sea. There are three areas still referred to as Duvers. The Seaview Duver, the Hamstead Duver forming part of Newtown Estuary and the largest and most well know, the St. Helens Duver referred to simply as The Duver.

Its a lovely area of marshes and sand dunes and there is an obvious draw for Photography with a group of Beach huts looking out to sea. I initially added this location in case it isn’t possible to get to Binnel Bay with the closed footpaths but it may also be the substitute for Ashey Station.

I have photographed this area often previously but never got a shot I am happy with so it will be nice to try and remedy that during 2021.

I love this fallen down fence, even if wire isn’t the prettiest of fences! I think this will work better a bit later in the year when the light is more to the left hand side of the image.

Ventnor

Phew it has been a busy month of photography, but there was still time to head to Ventnor for the second time for the project. Again I went out on the esplanade but on this occasion focused on the Haven at the Eastern end of the town. It was a lovely morning with some lovely soft colours in the sky. I was there as one of the boats from the Haven Fishery went out to check the local lobster and crab pots so included the boat leaving in the image.

A lobster boat heads of out Ventnor Haven under a pastel sky

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay for them to come back with the catch of the day, which is a real shame as the local crab and lobster is amazing and sold fresh from the fishery shop, highly recommended if you are ever visiting.

Havenstreet Shrine

There was time for one more location in March with a visit to the Havenstreet Shrine before a trip into the office. It was a beautiful morning with lovely golden light flooding the hill where the shrine sits and the daffodils were looking lovely as spring really got into gear. I capture a view looking towards the village with the downs in the background and managed to include the daffodils.

So after being a bit down at the start of the month, and unsure whether I would have the motivation to keep going with the project, its ended up being a brilliant month with several images I’m really happy with being captured. With the lighter evenings I’ve been getting out after work as well and have really enjoyed being able to do that. I even managed to capture the March image for my 2020 project at Newtown Creek after not being able to in March last year. Just April to go now to close that project out.

Really excited to see what April will bring both with the project and other opportunities. The Bluebells should be blooming in a couple of weeks so that will be great to see and capture. Come back at the end of April for the next update.

Thanks for reading.

The March image for the 2020 Newtown Creek Project - Capture in 2021!