Estuarine Mud restarted
Martlesham Creek - River Fynn
Long before Lockdown 1, I had planned to extend my Estuarine Mud series. Serial lockdowns put paid to that idea and getting my mojo back has been a struggle. Not driving anywhere for a couple of years to explore potential locations with a mind as to how close I can get to the viewpoint and park safely and also what terrain I'd have to hoick my large format gear across, and the astronomical cost of fuel and also of film all compounded to delay this restart but restart I have.
Looking East
This particular location - Martlesham Creek has all the interesting stuff on the South bank of the river thus is in the shade most of the day.
Just as with the Cattawade site, the Environment Agency have kindly placed guard rails over the sluice that sees the River Fynn exit into the tidal stretch that then feeds into the Deben. I can see that this viewpoint will feature in any shoots going forward. Planning for both the Sun's passage through the sky and dead low water on Spring tides will limit the choices along with lack of wind and rain. Wooden cameras don't fair that well in the wet and fishing one out of the ogin is not desirable either.
Turning 180 degrees
If it were not for the sea defence bunds then this would be mud as far as the eye can see
South bank
The North flood defence bund gives a reasonable viewpoint of the South bank, but that will always be contre jour so that perfect soft lightbox effect of thin cloud should be a desirable parameter.
Colour or B&W?
This winter sun through clouds certainly gives a high-key effect on the mud. I prefer the B&W conversion though.
I doubt I would have shot film this morning even if I had taken the Ebony with me. These digital images made on an Nikon D810 were challenging and the backdrop of the woods is always going to be better during Winter.
Yes, restarted but much more planning needed and also more estuarine mud on other rivers.
Holbrook Creek - River Stour Estuary
Not that far along the estuary from Cattawade Creek but here there is no confluence of the trappings of human activities such as railways and power lines or indeed a transmission mast. In the far distance, there is Wrabness. The creek freshwater supply is overspill from Alton Water reservoir.
As with Cattawade, the settling keels of boats at different tide states and wind direction carves out transient scuptures in the mud. I love this stuff and the narrative it conveys.
High pressure
A stable high always brings benefits, namely benign conditions with little or no wind and as in the case this morning 7th February, mists not thick enough to count as fog and freezing conditions. Two sheets of Kodak Portra 160 have been exposed but here are some digital shots taken before and after the film was exposed on the Ebony.
Carving a hollow to wallow in
Day 2 of a static high
Very much colder start today and thicker mist at -2 Celsius
63 minutes after sunrise and most of the interesting trails of birdlife have been quenched by the light.