Dorset Life

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From the rising of the sun…
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Taken just before sunrise from the hill alongside Corfe Castle

Emily Endean has, she says, been interested in photography for as long as she can remember, although she has been taking it seriously for about four years. But what does taking it seriously entail?

'Butter Rock is not something that’s photographed often from this angle,' says Emily, 'so I checked the tide tables to ensure I could get along to take a picture. People are so obsessed with Durdle Door they ignore equally interesting rocks within a few hundred metres.'
‘Butter Rock is not something that’s photographed often from this angle,’ says Emily, ‘so I checked the tide tables to ensure I could get along to take a picture. People are so obsessed with Durdle Door they ignore equally interesting rocks within a few hundred metres.’

Knowlton Church, late evening in early June. Emily had been driving around and it had been bucketing down with rain for a while, but I held out hope that there would be a decent sunset and I felt that the stormy clouds added interest to what is already a magical place.'
Knowlton Church, late evening in early June.
Emily had been driving around and it had been bucketing down with rain for a while, but I held out hope that there would be a decent sunset and I felt that the stormy clouds added interest to what is already a magical place.’

‘I started really taking photography seriously when I realised that my camera was limiting my photography and I bought an SLR, but also when I realised that taking decent landscape pictures requires you to get up (or get home) at really unsociable hours.’

In mid-June, the sun sets opposite Bramble Bush Bay and if you go at that time, there are normally only a couple of people there
In mid-June, the sun sets opposite Bramble Bush Bay and if you go at that time, there are normally only a couple of people there

 

After sunset at White Mill Bridge, Sturminster Marshall
After sunset at White Mill Bridge, Sturminster Marshall

In the summertime, this is particularly true of pictures that use golden light; those photographs that are captured at sunset or as the sun rises: ‘I really love the colours that you get at dawn and dusk and even in the time leading up to the sun’s rising; I just find it fascinating to watch it all happen.’

A roadside shot (with a longish focal length lens) from the C13 climbing out of Melbury Abbas at sunset in mid April
A roadside shot (with a longish focal length lens) from the C13 climbing out of Melbury Abbas at sunset in mid April

 

Mudeford Spit sunset. A week before the summer solstice, the sun sets nearly in the North-West at 310° on the compass. This shot, taken an hour before sunset from near the north-eastern tip of Mudeford spit, looks west-north-west across Christchurch Harbour but includes the jetty from the eastern side of the harbour mouth.
Mudeford Spit sunset. A week before the summer solstice, the sun sets nearly in the North-West at 310° on the compass. This shot, taken an hour before sunset from near the north-eastern tip of Mudeford spit, looks west-north-west across Christchurch Harbour but includes the jetty from the eastern side of the harbour mouth.

The ‘it’ in question is the sun’s changing colours adding hue and texture to the clouds in the sky. Emily lives in Southbourne, so she goes along the beaches at first light quite a lot. As to venturing further afield: ‘I love Durdle Door and Corfe Castle and getting out and about is a joy in itself. You can have a stressful day at work, but soon feel all that drift away as you lose yourself in the landscape taking pictures.’

Horton Tower taken in the morning as the sun was rising. The picture was taken from the roadside with a long lens
Horton Tower taken in the morning as the sun was rising. The picture was taken from the roadside with a long lens

The skies may not always be suffused with a golden glow in the mornings and evenings, but one suspects that after her the trips to Dorset’s coast and interior Emily may well be.