I currently use a Nikon D810 camera Body. This was released by Nikon in 2014. At the time it was a class leading body among 35mm Digital SLR bodies in terms of its 36 mega pixel count, removal of an Optical Low Pass Filter (OLPF), native ISO range of an exceptionally low 64 to 12,800. ISO 64 lets in a two thirds of a stop more light than a comparable 35mm SLR set at ISO 100, and therefore along with the high mega pixel count & removal of an OLPF puts the technical capabilities of the D810 (dynamic range, signal to noise ratio) on a par with some Medium Format bodies worth three times the cost. These reasons, and other functions too numerous to list here, have made the D810 an exceptionally high quality & reliable camera body for shooting seascapes in & around Cornwall. I have chosen to pair the D810 with a Nikon 28mm f/1.8 G prime lens, exclusively. All the images in this book were taken with this combination of camera & lens.

Manfrotto has always been my primary choice for Tripods & Heads simply due to the extremely high product quality, functionality & durability. The MH055M8-Q5 ball head was an easy & intuitive choice for something to mount the camera to; the magnesium casing means it is virtually indestructible. Not only does it hold up well to the elemental challenges (e.g.sea water) that shooting by the coast poses, but also has functions that are highly useful for a landscape photographer (built in vertical & horizontal spirit levels/ bubbles).

Formatt Hitech filters are used exclusively. I find the quality comparable to Lee Filters, with a greater range in the former. For example, I use a 13 stop Firecrest 100 x 100mm square filter to achieve the three minute plus exposure time when shooting. This allows me to create images with the water & cloud motion blur that is a fundamental element to my style, and still shoot with an aperture of either f/8 or f/11, to help maintain both optimal sharpness & focusing. Lee filters do not make a 13 stop filter.

Equipment as follows:

1 – Camera: Nikon D810

2 – Lens: Nikon 28mm F/1.8 G

3 – Tripod: Manfrotto MT 190X Pro4

4 – Ball Head: Manfrotto MH055M8-Q5

5 – Filters:  105mm Polariser

6 – Filter System:  Aluminum Holder

7 – Cable Release: Pixel TW 282

I am entirely self taught and although this was a challenge initially, with the North Cornwall coast on my doorstep, I rapidly learnt technical elements such as composition, focusing & the use of Neutral Density (ND) filters.

I have made a conscious effort to limit my subject & style to just Cornwall & seascapes. This focus on subject & style is the foundation of my commercial business. This approach has also allowed me to compile a portfolio which is both cohesive & complementary in style & subject.

Mood & Atmosphere are essential elements of my seascape photography. This often achieved via the use of so called ‘long exposures’ ; images where the shutter speed is anything over one second or more.

Long exposure images blur the motion of any moving object within the frame. This can include Cloud & Water.

Starting to use filters in camera to create long exposures was a watershed moment for me, as I developed a deeper understanding of the process & end result with each shoot, learning the true potential of long exposure photography at these locations.

ND Filters reduce the amount of light entering the entering the sensor. I use a 13 stop ND 100mm Formatt Firecrest Filter. This reduces the amount of light by 13 tops and often requires an exposure time in excess of three minutes.

I am in inspired by the sight of large ocean swells meeting the coast & fast moving cloud. Planning for this requires constant monitoring of apps, such as the Met Office for weather, Magicseaweed for surf & swell, The Photographers Ephemeris for sun positions, and more.

Such conditions allow for explicit motion blur to be clearly & presently obvious to the viewer of the image. These conditions help convey a sense of mood & atmosphere.