Kimmeridge Bay Sunset

     Kimmeridge Bay is a bay on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England. Despite the name it is actually a peninsula on the coastline facing the English Channel. The area is well known for its historic town, wildflowers, and the nearby Corfe Castle (an image of which is posted in my photostream). The historic Clavell Tower seen on in the background sits on the cliff overlooking the channel.

     The cliffs here are some of the most spectacular in England and I had been exploring them and the rocky coastline. As evening approached, I settled on this location on Kimmeridge Bay to make use of the shoreline rocks that, as a compositional element, pointed out towards the setting sun. The rocks, along with the distant cliff and tower element and the setting sun, created a visual triangle that I could compositionally balance to enhance eye movement through the frame to enhance the level of viewing interest and depth to the image.

     Unfortunately, but not unexpected, the channel waters were not calm and smooth. It took a two minute exposure to get the texture I wanted that smoothed the surface sufficiently to softly scatter the reflecting light and create the desired image mood.