Talk-Walk-Talk Coastal Experiences The Talk-Walk-Talk Programme is a collaboration between the Digital Imaging and Landscape Special Interest Groups. Our aim is to provide opportunities for learning development and social interaction between members without the need for travelling large distances. Photographers attend a talk, delivered via Zoom, aimed at stimulating ideas for photography within the project environment. The talks aim to provide interest for photographers of all levels of experience, and a wide variety of subjects. Walks are then delivered over a period of about 6 weeks, at sites across the country. (In future iterations of the project there will be options for international members). The final part is a meet up, ideally in person, but where distance makes that difficult on Zoom, to discuss the work, and share a few images.
An image from Peel harbour, Isle of Man by Lara Howe
The visitors to Llansteffan beach couldn’t decide on one image, so gave us a compilation, Authors G.Davies, H. Otton, J. Simpson, and M. Cooper
Some groups chose to share images portraying the decaying remains of past industry Ian Clements shows us the Old landing posts at Wembury And Leigh Foster similar structures at Sandsend in her image called ‘Waiting for the next tide’
At Newhaven the group were very lucky to get fabulous waves. Philip Shaw’s West Pier’ image got the group vote.
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One of the only groups to get a fabulous sunset rewarded Alan Cameron with an amazing sky for his ‘Pinwheel on the tower’.
The Fife walk went along the Fife Coastal Path between Elie and St. Monans. The image selected by the group was the one by Viv Cotton, they felt that it best represented the coastline of the walk. The minimalistic image by Susan Dell gives no clue as to where she saw the calm scene (secret Dorset), but still very effectively tells us about what she felt about the place.
The Arbroath group felt that Manuel Brieske’s image, ‘Paddling pool’, was a carefully seen and captured snapshot of what they collectively felt that the Arbroath seafront was about. That slightly grandly faded glory feel was redolent of much of towns along the UK coastline, hinting at childish fun, but also of the social decay. It balanced hope with pathos. Colin Balfour’s on the other hand illustrates the busy Forth bridges, showing both old and new architecture.
Several groups opted to share intimate scenes, Pauline Warner at Rockcliffe shows us interesting shapes in her ‘Seaweed at the tideline’ whereas David Bell was interested in the textures, in his ‘Sea textures’, and Valerie Huggins in Torbay shows us a great reflection of herself in her ‘Coastal Immersion’
The Godvery point group chose Sharon Sim’s image showing typical coastal vegetation in context, and Richard Farrar gave us an intriguing botanical image “Against all the odds”
Norfolk and South Gare groups showed us some of the decaying structures on their sites. Alison Taylor gave us a boat called ‘Jennifer’, and Kevin Gibbin a rusty groyne.
Sharon Diffley took advantage of a rather flat light day to capture the shape & pattern the seaweed made on the sand, it could have been arranged by an artist rather than the sea. Rendering it in B&W captured the beauty of the shape without being distracted by colour.
Clive Dunkey also took advantage of the lighting to show us the patterns created by the water on the sand.
Man made structures gave inspiration to Melanie Chalk at Folkestone Inner Harbour, and Carol Hudson in South Sheilds
Kevin Goodwin’s “Side glass and plastic chairs’ and Lynda Piper’s ‘Seaton to Beer promenade’ tell the story of a very British seaside experience
Colin Smith was balanced precariously looking down whilst photographing the caves of Westerkirk, meanwhile Anthony Burdell chose the opposite viewpoint for ‘View from below” under the Severn Bridge.
Linear features took the eyes of Nigel Byrom in Guernsey for his ‘Dunes repair’ and Steve Williams who contended with gale force wind and torrential rain on Southwold beach
Janet Lowe created a calm peaceful image at Southcliffe beach, whilst Paul Bullock also used longer shutter speed to create an interesting perspective on the New Brighton coastal defences.
Thank you to everyone who took part in the Coastal T-W-T, either as a leader or participant. The support of the leaders for the project is much appreciated!
We hope you will all want to take part in the next T-W-T programme in early 2024!