West Mersea

West Mersea is one of only a few photogenic locations in East Anglia that benefit from the colours and light of the setting sun. For those of us who enjoy the prospect of greeting a sunrise with the same anticipation with which we look forward to a walk on hot coals, places like West Mersea are a godsend.

Compositionally, harbours and other sites where boats congregate can be very challenging. So often we survey the scene and mutter, “too cluttered”. One solution may be to identify a single strong feature - such as this u-bend of water carved in the classic Mersea mud - and allow it to dominate, while ensuring that the boats that define the character of such a place as West Mersea continue to play a discreet but nevertheless vital role in the scene.

Canon EOS 5D and EF 16-35mm lens.

Exposure of 1/12 second at f/16.