84 Digital SLR PhotographyOctober 2 019
Otherhighlights of
theJurassicCoast
Althoughmanyofitsmostfamoussightsare
containedwithintheboundariesofPurbeck,
theJurassicCoastextendswellbeyondand
intoeastDevon.Alongthestretchofcoast
tothewestaremanyhighlights,beginning
withtheIsleofPortland.Famousfor
Portlandstone,whichhasbeenusedin
manynotablebuildingsincludingSt Paul’s
Cathedral,yearsofquarryinghasresulted
in theislandhavinganalmostbarrenfeel.
Photographically, it’sprobablybestknown
fortheclassicredandwhitestripped
lighthouseatPortlandBill, the southerntip
oftheisland.Thelighthousesitsabove
jaggedrocks androughseasand
photographswellfrombothitseastand
westside.Nearthelighthouseyouwillalso
findPulpit Rock,theremainsofa natural
archthat wascutawaybyquarrymen.
A fewminutes’drivenortheastofthe
lighthouseis ChurchOpenCove.Thisis
rarely visitedby photographersaseveryone
tendstoflocktoPortlandBill.It’san
attractive,curvingbaywithlargesmooth
pebblesontheforeshoreandthefactthat
you’re likelytohavetheplacetoyourself
makesitevenbetter. Thebest timetovisit is
sunriseandthere’sa freecarparkjustoffthe
main roadabovethecove.
Further westarethegoldensandstone
cliffs ofBurtonBradstockandWestBay.
MadefamousbyTVseriesBroadchurch,the
cliffshavea uniquehoneycombappearance
causedbywinderosion,andtake onagolden
huewhenlit bylowsuntowardstheendof
theday; visitbetweenmid-Septemberand
earlyMarchforthebestlight.Bothlocations
area reallyshortwalkfromthenearestcar
parks; shootBurtonBradstockcliffsfromthe
beachandthe cliffs at WestBayfrom the
harbourwallorthebeach.
Onewordof caution:thecliffshereare
highlyunstable andtherehavebeena
numberoflandslipsin recentyears,including
onethatcauseda fatalityin 2012. When
walkingalongthebeach,keepa good
distanceawayfromthebaseof thecliffs.
On theborderwithDevonis theregency
resortofLymeRegis wherephotographers
will beinterestedin TheCobb,thestonewall
thatsnakesouttoseaandformstheharbour
protectingthetownfromerosion.It’sgreat
forforegroundinterestandleadinglines,
shootingeasttowardsCharmouthand
GoldenCap,preferablyat sunriseorduring
stormyweather withwavescrashingover
the top.Take care,however,asit slopes
towardstheseaandifshootingduringa
storm,resist the temptationtogetcloseto
the actionasthereis a seriouspossibility
you’d getsweptoffthewallintothesea.
AnotherhiddengemontheJurassic
Coastis EypeMouth,a smallshinglebeach
eastofLymeRegis, wheretheriverEype
reachesthesea.ShootingtowardsLyme
Regis, especiallyat sunset,is probablythe
moredramatic viewpoint.1) Church Open Cove is a secluded bay on the Isle of Portland,
where you will often have the place to yourself. 2) Waves
crashing on the rocks below the lighthouse at Portland Bill.MarkBauerco-runsDawn2 DuskPhotography,
which,withitsteamofleadingprofessional
photographers,specialisesinlandscape
photography workshopsthroughouttheUK.
TheyrunseveralworkshopsinPurbeckandon
theJurassicCoastallyear.Formoreinformation
abouttheir courses,pleasevisit: http://www.
dawn 2 duskphotography.co.uk.Alternatively,if
youcan’tmakeoneofitsworkshops,orwould
prefer toarrange a morebespokecourse,Mark
offers1- 2 -1 tuition; see his website for details.MARK BAUER’S WORKSHOPS
DURDLE DOOR:Althoughit’salwaystemptingtoget
downon thebeachandasclosetoDurdleDoor as
possible,thefactis thattheviewsfromtheclifftopare
someofthebestin thearea.In spring, wildflowers can
be usedfor excellentforeground interest.BEST CLIFFTOP VIEWS
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