They say that you have to sometimes suffer for your art,well that certainly happens when dragging your lifeless corpse out of bed at some ungodly hour to capture a sunrise.Ive certainly been called bonkers by a few people now for doing it,but a sunrise is truly spectacular to see.Its like seeing the blank canvas for the day,then seeing it painted in front of your very eyes.This one was a particular tough one as id been playing football the night before and my body had seemed to go into shutdown afterwards.The other problem i have with getting up for sunrises is that my brain seems to stop me sleeping,with constant reminders that i have to be up in a matter of a few hours and so i cant switch off.I think its also excitement because you just never know what your gonna experience that morning.It was dark when i got up and in fairness i wasnt too bad.Certainly eating a packet of chilli crisps and a mars bar at 4 in the morning is an 'interesting' experience for your stomach.It was still dark when i got to Happisburgh beach but it gave me time to walk a stretch of the beach before the main event.I find myself in this constant battle with the tide,with me almost goading it as i try to get the shot and the sea trying its best to soak me.I had a few squeaky bum moments as my camera sat on the tripod,then seeing the sea come in with me having to leave the camera sat there praying the tide didn't knock it over into the murky deep.Slippery rocks are another hazard with one false step and you seeing that your legs can bend into some very unnatural positions! The cloud was heavier too but watching the sun creep over the top still blew me away.While your out you have that buzz but you soon drop when your on your way home and having to take 2 naps that day just to feel human again is a small downside for something so rewarding.
Heading to Happiburgh that day was a random,sporadic choice but sometimes there the best ones.I had been due to meet my friend Simon Watson at Dilham (the location of previous capers) but started the day off brilliantly by getting lost on the way there.In all fairness i hadn't actually drove into Dilham before as we'd walked from outside the village in the past.After meeting up with Simon,He'd been told from person X (i leave the name out to spare Simon landing in the proverbial poo) about a lane flooded with daffodils as far as your eyes could see.Both of us had been skeptical considering the conditions which could only be described as arctic would not bode well with flowers in full bloom but still we headed there.In fairness there were lots of daffodils at the place but unless someone had come along in a horticultural rage and chopped all the heads off the plants then they hadn't come out.The person had seen a photo from the previous year and thought it had been recently taken.Well now we were stuck where to go so Simon suggested Happiburgh.I hadnt taken pictures up there before and he'd had luck previous times there with his camera.We really didnt have much to work with that day as the sky was grey and dull and the usual cold snap too.Think we both done well still,just forced us to be more creative with our photography.Certainly a place to revisit on a sunrise/sunset as it has alot of potential for some stunning pictures.
