Scarborough - A Photography Day Trip

Having realised this past week that we are now entering the last days of summer, I thought I’d better get out and try to add some images to my Scarborough project.

I did however manage to choose the one cool and overcast day sandwiched between heatwaves to head out to the coast. Oh well!

While not a million miles from me, about an hour and a half by car, heading to the east coast still represents a bit of an investment for a days photography and catching any good early morning light at this time of year is a 04:00 alarm call at the latest.

I’d decided in advance to stay over for the night and head home the following morning to avoid the hassle of driving home late and tired after what would probably be a long day of photography from sunrise to sunset with many miles covered. I found a nice hotel called The Clifton perched on the North Bay cliff top offering stunning sea views.

I decided to spend the first half of the morning photographing around the north bay area but struggled to make anything of note through the early part of the morning. However, I managed to make this picture of a couple on the beach that I quite like.

With things not happening for me I decided not to force the issue, stop for breakfast and afterwards I made the half an hour or so walk along Marine Drive to the south bay.

While still a relatively quiet Sunday morning, it felt like there were a few more signs of life at this end of town and I made a picture of some yachts racing in the bay using a piece of sculpture next to the sea wall as a subframe. I don’t do a lot of these sorts of sub-framing techniques but I do like this picture.

Afterwards, I moved on to the harbour where the commercial fishing boats are moored as I wanted to try my hand at a few still life images using the various fishing gear that is left there such as lobster pots and ropes etc. I found the next half hour a bit frustrating but enjoyable as well while I tried to make order from the chaos of all the fishing equipment. The only thing I managed to come away with that I like was this pile of rope. I need to practice more of this type of thing.

Opposite where I made this picture is the famous Harbour Bar that has been selling Ice Cream on Scarborough front since 1945 https://theharbourbar.co.uk/about-us/ and I was about ready for a refreshing soda float.

While looking around at the decor in Harbour Bar I noticed this chair and table that had some nice light on it and managed to make a picture before the light shifted.

Heading further down Sandside I got to Scarborough Spa where a concert was in full swing and I was just in time to catch one of my favourite songs from one of my favourite films, Si tu vois ma mère - From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for ''Midnight In Paris''. I would have like to have made a picture of this with the Zfc but as I had my Vilrox 56mm 1.7 with me, which is an 85mm full frame equivalent, I found it was a little too tightly framed.

I did however manage to make one of my favourite pictures of the day, shot through the window from behind the band, I think of the Trombone player, turning the page to his next piece of music.

By this point, I was up to about 18,000 steps and felt like I’d earned a beer in the bar.

I had a couple of hours before it was time to check into the hotel so I slowly made my way back to the north bay, making a couple of pictures of the fishing boats as I went.

After checking in and having a shower and a change of clothes it was time for tea. Being on the coast, it had to be fish and chips of course.

I spent most of the evening wandering up and down in front of the arcades but truth be told I wasn’t feeling it in the evening. The flat light I’d had for most of the day continued up until sunset and the fact that I was now up to just short of 40,000 steps was taking its toll. I was getting pretty tired and finding it hard to concentrate on making images.

I did make a couple of pictures in the evening that I quite like including this one of a cool dog I found down near the beach.

I also shot this image through a shop window as I made my way back through town and towards the hotel.

That was my last image of the day. Feeling pretty worn out I made my way back to the hotel and had a quick nightcap in the bar before calling it a day.

Cheers!

All the images were shot using my Nikon Zfc and Viltrox 56mm 1.7 lens.

Thanks for reading.