A late afternoon visit to Lowestoft in March saw my wife and I visit the grave of her late Mum and my Mother-in-Law Pam at Pakefield church.
It was Mother’s Day so it was nice to visit, trim the grass nearby, put some flowers down and pay our respects. We paid our respects to Pam, and as always couldn’t believe that it was eight years that have flown by since she left us.
As we left the church grounds, the sheep grazing at the beach side ran over to the fence, so I took my first shot of the afternoon.
As usual, we’d left home a lot later than planned and had limited time before sunset, so made our way down to the beach.
The promenade and beach
We wandered along the path towards the beach huts where I took the shot below.
We then walked onto the beach and I shot the huts from the beach with Cefas (or the Fish Lab) building in the background.
I quite liked the next scene I shot of a post in the dunes and sea in the background. I couldn’t decide if it is was better in colour or black and white so went with a muted pastel tone.
The isolated structure actually contains ‘life saving equipment’, which I assume to be some form of inflatable ring or similar.
Slow exposure shots
Next up was a slow exposure shot out to sea. I took quite a few different exposures, and after a lot of editing ended up liking a monochrome version the best.
I don’t often produce monochrome images as usually the colours in an image appeal to me, but this one seemed to look better in black and white.
One thing I’ve always thought annoying at Lowestoft beach is just how many signs are nailed to the groynes warning people not to climb on them. Seems a bit over-zealous to me, see below before and after editing images.
The new beach huts
At this point, the light was rapidly dropping so for my last shot, I wanted to take some shots of the new beach huts.
I first shot I took was to the side but I really liked the idea of trying to get a straight on shot. I had to retreat further back on the beach towards the sea, then get the ultra-wide angle lens out to get all 72 huts in a single frame.
As the light was almost gone, I had no choice but to set the tripod up again, and take a long exposure. By necessity, I had to take a long exposure, 15 seconds to be precise but what I ended up with some pleasing movement in the sky for added drama.
I hadn’t thought that there would be movement in the clouds so to get this shot I got was very pleasing.
About the new huts
The new beach huts at Lowestoft comprise of a two storey row of 72 huts on a development called the Eastern Ridge.
The huts have been designed such to maximise the sunshine and with their tips point king East. Some consider the design hideous whilst others consider it modern. They are certainly quirky.
Price? If Sir has to ask… £30,000 each for 15 year lease (2022, Lowestoft Journal). Or £200 per week in July as an example rental.
Leaving Lowestoft
We wandered back up the promenade, then up the slope above the new huts, and onto Kensington Gardens. We stopped by the bench in memory of my wife’s Dad Peter, paid our respects and then made our way back to the car but stopping at the chippy on the way.
Pakefield Plaice, the local chip shop is superb and highly recommended.
Considering we left home very late in the day, we had a great trip out.
Onwards and upwards…