I’m developing a fondness for Hopton-on-Sea having been to this location a few times now.
I think getting my 10/10 shot Alligator Rock in a club competition, and the variety / challenges on offer here means it’s definitely worth repeat visits.
With an option to shoot at Brancaster in North Norfolk, I didn’t feel that location had that many options so elected to do Hopton, and join another photographer there.
The meet time was 05:30 which was a little earlier than needed for sunrise, but we knew from past experience how quickly the sunrise appears.
The shoot
We made our way to the beach and had to really squeeze carefully through a much narrower gap in the rocks than we remembered previously. It seems the tide may have pulled the rocks out a little.
We were targeting further up the beach this time as the tide was out.
The colours in the sky were already starting to glow and we had targeted the post that sticks up.
I set up near some rocks and decided to see what a composition shooting over the rocks would give me.
I wanted to shoot the posts but with the top of the rocks visible.
I shot the two images below, the second one is edited to have less visible rocks in the foreground and with a brighter pastel-style edit.
There has been debate in the household and beyond about whether or not the scene with more of the rocks is better or not.
I expected these captures would be my best of the morning, but it was time to move on.
Next up a shot looking back, for which I shot one image, and only one.
I rattled off several shots straight on of the posts.
I was wondering what I could shoot that would be different.
I remembered hearing a club competition judge say that sometimes you can shoot scenes “big” so that the object appears tiny, which should emphasise the scale of the scene in front of you, so that’s what I did.
I looked around for other ideas. Got down low to shoot some foam with the posts in the background blurred out.
I also shot an interesting water channel and a footprint in the sand.
Drone shots
I checked the apps for any restrictions and wind speeds etc, and duly got the drone ready for take off and I have been pleased with the images and the video footage I got.
The shot below is my favourite, and thanks to bright early morning sunshine, I think it’s scrubbed up well.
My routine is now to set the drone to capture three bracketed shots, merge them together in Lightroom (Photo Merge —> HDR), then some upscaling and denoise is applied, followed by my usual Lightroom edits.
These shots have also had a very slight dark vignette applied and a frame.
That was it for the drone.
The morning light had arrived rapidly but there was still time for yet more shots!
Recce before departure
We walked up past the rocks and had a scout around just inside the gap in the wooden sea defence / wall.
There looked to be potential so I got my other camera out which had the 105mm macro lens on, and looked around for my shots.
I quite liked the colours and textured ridges of this metallic structure.
We felt there was a lot of potential around the sea defences and should be something we may explore on a future visit, tides and weather permitting.
Of note was that the position of the sun will influence the direction and angle of shooting therefore sunset should not be ruled out.
That was indeed a wrap.
A most enjoyable morning out, and a varied selection of images in the bag.
We walked back to our cars for the usual coffee and debrief, then made our way home.
Guess who mugged me on the way home in Yarmouth? Yes, Ronald. What a clown! No, not him, Me!
I occasionally flirt with the idea of resistance, especially in my new found attempt at reducing my intake of UPFs (ultra-processed foods) but the lure of the bacon and egg is too tempting, and I’ll fold like a deck of cards at the thought of a hash brown!
I popped in to RSPB Strumpshaw on my way back and think I may have grabbed a half-decent shot of a marsh harrier.
Wildlife shooting is a second string player in this orchestra though, so I’m in no rush to edit that.
Onwards and upwards…