Pin Mill Smack race 2012

Saturday saw the 7th Annual Pin Mill Smack race set off along the Rivers Orwell and Stour. I was lucky enough to join the committee boat at the start of the race so was in an ideal place for taking photographs. After all the rain and wind we had the previous day it was good to wake up to a dry and bright morning. Unfortunately the weather earlier in the week had put off several boats from traveling to join the race so the start line was limited to about 10. Despite the reduced numbers the gathering of these beautiful classic craft was still a spectacualr sight.


Starting line of the 2012 Pin MIll Smack Race


The course ran from Pin Mill along the River Orwell to Shotley point then turned and ran down the Stour. The largest smack, Colchester based Pioneer, was the eventual winner.

CK18 Pioneer

CK258

CK328

LO195 Gladys of London

Photographing the Suffolk Coast

The Suffolk Coast is a beautiful place; its different habitats create a unique and visually rich environment which is fantastic for photography. If you are a visitor to this wonderful coastline then the question surely is "where are the best photographic locations?"
Some would say Southwold for its amazing skies, sandy beach, rows of colourful beach huts, or its graceful pier whilst others would argue that Aldburgh with its fishing industry and beach side scallop shell is the place to go. However, whilst I love both places I believe that the beauty of the Suffolk Coast lies in its detail and the challenge for a photographer is to look beyond the obvious. My choice of a great location would be an estuary mudflat or a vast expanse of shingle in preference to the more iconic locations found along this stretch of coastline.
So here are my top five favourite locations along the Suffolk Coast:

1. Shingle Street.

This wild and windswept spot at the mouth of the River Ore is an amazing place to visit. Its row of white coastguard cottages form a back drop to the vast shingle beach which is one of the best areas of vegetated shingle in Suffolk.

2. Landguard Point

If it is variety you are looking for then Landguard Point has it all. An historic fort, Britains largest container port, a nature reserve, the remains of an old pier and a bird observatory - there are a huge range of photographic possibilities here.

3. Pin Mill

Pin Mill on the River Orwell is the home of Thames barge racing and the setting for two of Arthur Ransome's stories. It is a tiny settlement on the river with a pub, a boatyard, a few picture postcard houses and some amazingly characterful old barges.

4.Orford

Orford has an attractive Quay on the River Ore, an historic castle and is the gateway to Orfordness and the RSPB reserve at Havergate Island.

5. Ramsholt

The tiny hamlet of Ramsholt on the River Deben is a photographers paradise. The sunsets here can be stunning and the boats on the river make great subject matter. Take a walk along the river path and you will pass many different habitats including saltmarsh, reedbeds, marshland and mudflats. Ramsholt also has a very picturesque round tower church which stands on a small hill overlooking the river