A place of calm reflection
Anthony White shares his stunning photos of Christchurch Harbour, the natural and the man-made
Published in November ’18
Christchurch Harbour was formed about 7000 years ago with Christchurch Quay and the Quomps lying in the upper reaches of the harbour. ‘The Run’ as the entrance to the harbour is known, is flanked by Mudeford Quay to the north and Mudeford Sandbank to the south.
The Christchurch Harbour SSSI covers 352 hectares (870 acres) and comprises the estuary of the Stour and Avon and the Hengistbury Head peninsula. The varied habitats include saltmarsh, wet meadows, grassland, heath, sand dune, woodland and scrub. The site is of great ornithological interest.
Photographically, particularly when there’s a morning mist or when light levels are otherwise low, it is the activity of man on the water that makes for the most photographically interesting images. When there isn’t a breath of wind, the water is like a polished mirror, until the movement of boats, birds or fish alter the surface in a photographically interesting way.
Christchurch Quay is a place I am constantly drawn to for it’s early morning peace and tranquillity, the early morning joggers, swans and rowing teams out practicing on the river. These are what feature in my images of the river and when you get a morning of mist and sunlight mixed together the harbour becomes magical.
• Mudeford’s Anthony White likes to go out early and late to capture the first or last light of the day, using the mist, reflections, sunrises and sunsets while looking for unusual angles to create more interesting pictures of an already idyllic location.
Sculling at sunrise with just a swan for company
A swan makes its serene way along the shoreline in early morning
In brighter light, man’s influence on the Harbour is more clearly seen
The still waters provide lots of opportunities for reflection shots
A coxed four rows under the watchful eyes of their coaches in a following motorboat
Dawn’s colours beautifully reflected in this early morning shot of moored boats
A more distant shot showing the Priory and river estuary
Items of distant interest are more sensed than seen in the morning mist
The Quomps in early morning raking light with the Priory beyond
