I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t visited Saltwick Bay for over 2 years but I took up the opportunity to take up a workshop place with Joe Cornish a couple of weeks ago.
Conditions were perfect and even tho I have explored much of the bay over many years I still found places and photographic opportunities that I previously missed. My friend, John Illingworth always jokes that I am programmed to turn right at the bottom of the cliff and he was right. (Please don’t tell him that I said that).
As the tide was high when we arrived at the beach we explored the shoreline beyond the old mine workings and I discovered areas of shale pavement which are only visible at low tide in the area around Black Nab.
Once it stopped raining the light was divine. The sun was low and lighting up the cliffs and concretions as well as the edges of the rock shelf. It was fascinating to see the contrast in colours between the sunset glow and the blue rocks and water where there was no light.
I did notice that there is a huge slab of shale missing from the seaward side of Black Nab and I fear that it won’t be long before a large proportion of the nab falls away into the sea.
The finale of the evening was ‘the green flash’ which happens when the sun is almost entirely below the horizon, with the barest edge of the sun – the upper edge – still visible. For a second or two, that upper rim of the sun appears green in colour. It certainly is fleeting and you need to be careful that you don’t stare at the sun beforehand whilst waiting for it to perform it’s party trick.
