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I recall reading a story about a photographer called Norman Taylor, who, after being registered partially sighted, thought his photography days had come to a premature end. His photography could have ended at that point, but a friend introduced him to digital cameras, from that point he proceeded to create over 1000 images, artistically detailing an old wooden shed. That’s a small space to create so many images!

I hear people blaming the lack of ideal location for their lack of great images. A lot of this is because people see photographic opportunity in big, panoramic, wide-angle scenes with loads of colour, which is great, but if you view all your photo opportunities as big colourful images you’re either going to run out of big scenes or become very repetitive.

Admittedly, your friends on Facebook won’t be as “WOWed” by your detailed and slightly abstract photograph of a rock as they may be by your sunset photo, but what are you trying to do? – please other people or be a better photographer?

For the past few days I have visited the same 50 meter spot at the harbour here in Wick to take photos. It’s a very small area of rocky and slightly sandy shore directly next to the South Pier/Breakwater. This little space constantly changes, going from rocky to sandy as the sea dictates with its varying moods. This in itself makes this part of the shore interesting, but what’s even more interesting is the amount of photographic potential in that little corner! I’ve focussed mostly on long exposure shots. The sub-surface rocks in the ebbing tide are perfect when composed with the small waves caught at slow shutter speeds. The wet rocks and backdrop of the pier look great, too.

I like this time of year, dusk is getting earlier, so the light quality is great, but because it’s getting dark you don’t need a neutral density filter to take nice long exposures, unless you really want to stretch your exposure beyond 30 seconds.

Whilst I feel I have milked this area for photos over the past few evenings, it’s hasn’t been entirely explored yet. The sea will change the layout and I’ll be back – after all, I still have 123 photos to take this year!