A superb set of colourful images. You are an inspiration. I fear that protecting the coast will be a losing battle, so it’s important to record what is there while there’s still time. So glad your mojo for that area has returned.
Thank you for sparking some thoughts for me to muse on regarding possible projects. I’m now feeling motivated to get back out with a camera proper, and start a project. I often find that I have random unconnected images, and like the idea of creating a more structured photo story/ project with them.
Thank you very much for your comments Sarah, I am glad you are feeling inspired. I think photo projects are a great way to make images and I tend to find them much more satisfying than collecting random stand along photographs.
I find projects a great way to practice my photography and explore nature on a deeper level. I think your ideas for the edges of places and the impermanence of things would make a great project.
They are never finished. My experience, on the coast of Northern California, matches yours on the coast of Norfolk & Suffolk. I think you have pointed to one key reason: the landscape itself is constantly in a state of change. While that change is usually gradual, the change over a span of even a single year can bring new images and new motivations.
Yes I absolutely agree. Coastal scenes change so quickly, at least they do here on an eroding coastline, and I think it is these changes that keep inspiring me.
Your photos show off this location so beautifully Gill. Whether it's a series of projects or just one project with expanding scope doesn't really matter - as long as the framework you use supports you in your work. I am sure this location has many more stories to tell - I look forward to seeing what's next.
Late to the party this week due to a day out on Monday, and a busy Tuesday! Another "I'm going to take you along with me" narrative, I definitely felt I was there! I can certainly see where the images are a extension the The Kingdom of Rust, very much of a similar colour pallet! Projects, I have a few in mind and some images in store, they are not complete, and I don't know when they will be, perhaps if I stop looking, or ignoring the subjects that leap out then that might be the time to call it a day!🤔
Thank you very much for your comments Chris and better late than never!🙂
I think it's good to have a few projects on the go as it certainly keeps the interest going. I hope you manage to spend some more time on your unfinished projects soon.
Some really beautiful images. I especially love the wooden post and reflection in the wet sand. I have a few personal projects that seem to have been slow burning for years. Some are on an extended hiatus until a return to specific location. Others I’ve let slide due to a lack of motivation or desire to continue. Sadly it does mean that I have a list as long as your arm of unfinished work. I’m hopeful in the upcoming months as we once again get travelling, that I can pick at least a few of these up again.
Nice article and photos. I think Rembrandt sums up nicely how you feel about this project. "A work is finished when an artist realizes his intentions" ...your intentions for this project have evolved and thus the project continues! You could also look at it like Da Vinci "Art is never finished, only abandoned." These are two quotes that have stuck with me over the years. I don't recall where I heard them the first time ...but they ring true to me.
A good question Gill. I think, in landscape photography in particular, the subject is forever changing which is what makes it hard to draw a line under a project. Time, weather, mankind all have their impact to change the land or coast and if we have a love for an area or an aspect of a place that could be lost then I think we get drawn back to document the land before during and after those changes.
I 'completed' a long exposure coastal project that I had worked on for 8 years in 2017, yet as it's my local coastline I see all the changes since and think to myself about returning to it to record them, perhaps in a different style. I think it's the fact that as I worked on that project, I've formed an attachment and through that sparked new ideas.
So, to sum up my feelings are that projects don’t end, they just ebb and flow dependent on our emotional attachment to the place and the project.
This was a great article Gill and a lovely set of images – I like the block of sketchbook images, in particular the 4th shot with so many layers of cliffs, sea defences, stone walls and sand…that one really drew me in.
Thank you very much for your comments Lin. I like your description of projects ebbing and flowing. They definitely change over time and often morph into something different from the original concept especially when we are working with local landscapes.
I am glad you enjoyed the images, the 4th one was a favourite of mine. 🙂
Hi Gill, as you know from past correspondence Bawdsey holds many fond memories for me plus one or two bad one. When you are out and about early in the morning keep your eyes open for mushrooms, they used to be excellent when picked up on the top of the cliffs within the camp fence line, just one of the good memories. The bad one for me was going up the 250 ft radar tower. I just do not like heights and working on the radar heads (tower) was not in my job description, I was meant to be in the underground block.
Thank you very much for your comments Roger. We have spoken about Bawdsey before and I know it is an important place for you. Thank you for sharing your memories.
It’s funny, in all my years of taking photos I’ve never really done a project per se. I guess the closest thing might be my continuing to photograph the ever-changing landscape of the nearby Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary. I was just reviewing photos from there, where I’ve been shooting since they opened this lovely nature spot. It’s been fun to see how it’s changed over the years. The landscape has been transformed and I shoot there in all seasons.
What a lovely essay and great photos to accompany it.
Thank you very much Bob, I am glad you enjoyed it. I think it is lovely to record the changes over time from a single place, especially a place that is important to you. It sounds like you could definitely make a project from the series you have of the wildlife reserve.
I love exploring around this beach. There are so many contrasts and it's forever changing. I hadn't realised that they were adding quite a boisterous stone wall to which parts may no longer be accessible.
Photo projects can be challenging. I admire those that can sit out a project for stretches of time, sometimes years. I usually find myself becoming extensively drawn to a place - creating a lot of work in a short space of time, and then I have to take a break and shoot something else. It's in that time that the work breathes and I then revisit with fresh eyes. Sometimes the initial ideas shapeshift into something else entirely at this point and often, what I felt started off strong, turns into something else and is saved or rather banked for another time. I usually find once I start sequencing things out, I can start to draw a beginning and an end a lot easier. I've definitely become better at thinking less is more!
Wonderful reading as always, Gill - and some great questions raised.
Thank you very much for your comments Dan and I am glad you enjoyed the post. I found it interesting to hear how you approach projects and agree that at the beginning it is easy to be full of enthusiasm. I do think projects evolve over time and can shift into something quite different from the original concept.
Gill, I really like your insight into the scope and meaning of personal projects. To photograph until you have nothing more to say- that is such a succinct guideline! I also find your approach of looking at specific characteristics of a landscape and seeing what story they have to tell. I don't have a lot of input, because I haven't focused on specific photo projects before, but this is helping me a lot with my Wabi Sabi Stoic Photography initiative. Thanks!
Thank you very much Erik, I am glad it helped in some way. I am really looking forward to seeing how your Wabi Sabi Stoic photography initiative comes along.
A superb set of colourful images. You are an inspiration. I fear that protecting the coast will be a losing battle, so it’s important to record what is there while there’s still time. So glad your mojo for that area has returned.
Thank you very much Trevor, that is very kind. I am glad you enjoyed the images.
Thank you for sparking some thoughts for me to muse on regarding possible projects. I’m now feeling motivated to get back out with a camera proper, and start a project. I often find that I have random unconnected images, and like the idea of creating a more structured photo story/ project with them.
Thank you very much for your comments Sarah, I am glad you are feeling inspired. I think photo projects are a great way to make images and I tend to find them much more satisfying than collecting random stand along photographs.
Good luck with your project. 🙂
It makes sense Gill, I’ll just have to decide where to start!
Fascinating. A project is a great idea, and as you say it can be left to rest for a while and then added to when something new arrives.
I'm drawn to edges of the land, erosion, a reminder that nothing is permanent even if we try to make it so. Nature will always win.
Thank you Hayley, I am glad you enjoyed it.
I find projects a great way to practice my photography and explore nature on a deeper level. I think your ideas for the edges of places and the impermanence of things would make a great project.
They are never finished. My experience, on the coast of Northern California, matches yours on the coast of Norfolk & Suffolk. I think you have pointed to one key reason: the landscape itself is constantly in a state of change. While that change is usually gradual, the change over a span of even a single year can bring new images and new motivations.
Yes I absolutely agree. Coastal scenes change so quickly, at least they do here on an eroding coastline, and I think it is these changes that keep inspiring me.
Thank you very much for commenting.
Your photos show off this location so beautifully Gill. Whether it's a series of projects or just one project with expanding scope doesn't really matter - as long as the framework you use supports you in your work. I am sure this location has many more stories to tell - I look forward to seeing what's next.
Thank you very much James. There are definitely more stories to tell from this beach so I am sure you will be seeing more of it in the future. 🙂
Late to the party this week due to a day out on Monday, and a busy Tuesday! Another "I'm going to take you along with me" narrative, I definitely felt I was there! I can certainly see where the images are a extension the The Kingdom of Rust, very much of a similar colour pallet! Projects, I have a few in mind and some images in store, they are not complete, and I don't know when they will be, perhaps if I stop looking, or ignoring the subjects that leap out then that might be the time to call it a day!🤔
Thank you very much for your comments Chris and better late than never!🙂
I think it's good to have a few projects on the go as it certainly keeps the interest going. I hope you manage to spend some more time on your unfinished projects soon.
Some really beautiful images. I especially love the wooden post and reflection in the wet sand. I have a few personal projects that seem to have been slow burning for years. Some are on an extended hiatus until a return to specific location. Others I’ve let slide due to a lack of motivation or desire to continue. Sadly it does mean that I have a list as long as your arm of unfinished work. I’m hopeful in the upcoming months as we once again get travelling, that I can pick at least a few of these up again.
Thank you very much for your comments Nigel and I am glad you enjoyed the images.
I can sympathise with your list of unfinished projects - I have a few myself. Sometimes they get abandoned completely if I lose interest. 😆
I hope you manage to pick some of yours up again when you get travelling.
Nice article and photos. I think Rembrandt sums up nicely how you feel about this project. "A work is finished when an artist realizes his intentions" ...your intentions for this project have evolved and thus the project continues! You could also look at it like Da Vinci "Art is never finished, only abandoned." These are two quotes that have stuck with me over the years. I don't recall where I heard them the first time ...but they ring true to me.
Thank you very much for sharing these quotes Douglas, I especially like the last one as I feel it is very true.
Thank you for reading and I am glad you enjoyed the article.
Beautiful!
Thank you.
A good question Gill. I think, in landscape photography in particular, the subject is forever changing which is what makes it hard to draw a line under a project. Time, weather, mankind all have their impact to change the land or coast and if we have a love for an area or an aspect of a place that could be lost then I think we get drawn back to document the land before during and after those changes.
I 'completed' a long exposure coastal project that I had worked on for 8 years in 2017, yet as it's my local coastline I see all the changes since and think to myself about returning to it to record them, perhaps in a different style. I think it's the fact that as I worked on that project, I've formed an attachment and through that sparked new ideas.
So, to sum up my feelings are that projects don’t end, they just ebb and flow dependent on our emotional attachment to the place and the project.
This was a great article Gill and a lovely set of images – I like the block of sketchbook images, in particular the 4th shot with so many layers of cliffs, sea defences, stone walls and sand…that one really drew me in.
Thank you very much for your comments Lin. I like your description of projects ebbing and flowing. They definitely change over time and often morph into something different from the original concept especially when we are working with local landscapes.
I am glad you enjoyed the images, the 4th one was a favourite of mine. 🙂
Hi Gill, as you know from past correspondence Bawdsey holds many fond memories for me plus one or two bad one. When you are out and about early in the morning keep your eyes open for mushrooms, they used to be excellent when picked up on the top of the cliffs within the camp fence line, just one of the good memories. The bad one for me was going up the 250 ft radar tower. I just do not like heights and working on the radar heads (tower) was not in my job description, I was meant to be in the underground block.
Thank you very much for your comments Roger. We have spoken about Bawdsey before and I know it is an important place for you. Thank you for sharing your memories.
It’s funny, in all my years of taking photos I’ve never really done a project per se. I guess the closest thing might be my continuing to photograph the ever-changing landscape of the nearby Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary. I was just reviewing photos from there, where I’ve been shooting since they opened this lovely nature spot. It’s been fun to see how it’s changed over the years. The landscape has been transformed and I shoot there in all seasons.
What a lovely essay and great photos to accompany it.
Thank you very much Bob, I am glad you enjoyed it. I think it is lovely to record the changes over time from a single place, especially a place that is important to you. It sounds like you could definitely make a project from the series you have of the wildlife reserve.
love the sketchbook images
Thank you very much Richard, I am glad you enjoyed them.
I love exploring around this beach. There are so many contrasts and it's forever changing. I hadn't realised that they were adding quite a boisterous stone wall to which parts may no longer be accessible.
Photo projects can be challenging. I admire those that can sit out a project for stretches of time, sometimes years. I usually find myself becoming extensively drawn to a place - creating a lot of work in a short space of time, and then I have to take a break and shoot something else. It's in that time that the work breathes and I then revisit with fresh eyes. Sometimes the initial ideas shapeshift into something else entirely at this point and often, what I felt started off strong, turns into something else and is saved or rather banked for another time. I usually find once I start sequencing things out, I can start to draw a beginning and an end a lot easier. I've definitely become better at thinking less is more!
Wonderful reading as always, Gill - and some great questions raised.
Thank you very much for your comments Dan and I am glad you enjoyed the post. I found it interesting to hear how you approach projects and agree that at the beginning it is easy to be full of enthusiasm. I do think projects evolve over time and can shift into something quite different from the original concept.
Gill, I really like your insight into the scope and meaning of personal projects. To photograph until you have nothing more to say- that is such a succinct guideline! I also find your approach of looking at specific characteristics of a landscape and seeing what story they have to tell. I don't have a lot of input, because I haven't focused on specific photo projects before, but this is helping me a lot with my Wabi Sabi Stoic Photography initiative. Thanks!
Thank you very much Erik, I am glad it helped in some way. I am really looking forward to seeing how your Wabi Sabi Stoic photography initiative comes along.
Amazing as always 👍inspiring
Thank you very much Laurence, I am glad you enjoyed it. 🙂