Wednesday 20 May 2009

Sennen Cove, waves, changing weather and light



Sennen Cove in changing light last week. The last 3 are from last September when we had a wild stormy day with heavy rain. The lifeboat launch ramp, that shows in one of the last, is currently demolished and being rebuilt, so it doesn't show in recent photos. It wasn't an easy job for the builders, having to consider the tides :>)

This is why I love Cornwall so much - it's beautiful even in lousy weather :>) Though as you can see from the gorgeous blue skies and seas at the beginning, we were very lucky with the weather generally as most of the country had heavy rain.

The camera never picks up all the colours the eye can see and it can't cope with the same range of tonal values at once - so that's why it's so good to work plein air. You also have the scents and sound that somehow infiltrate your work. I never enjoy working from a photograph as much as working from the 'real thing'.

Take a look at these images of a storm there last year - they are WELL worth looking at.

Storm pictures

now with global warming making the seas rise and giving us more storms would I really want to live there? probably yes :>)

9 comments:

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Considering the storm photos, hope you'd choose to live high on the hill :) Wow, now that's surf!

Jeanette Jobson said...

That's a fabulous spot Vivien. And I agree, the sea is best painted from life as photos can never hope to capture its true colours.

Surf, I just LOVE heavy seas.

Lindsay said...

What amazing storm photos but really scarry for the villagers. Those waves
are really huge.

My daughter caught the expression on my face when viewing your slide show...wistful. Some day I'm going there!!!

Sarah said...

oh isnt cornwall the best! My friend is one of the lifeboat men there and he now has some of the wood from the old slipway as part of his "new " shed, amazingly heavy and strong, the wood not my friend, well he is strong!

vivien said...

:>) gorgeous isn't it!

Sarah your amazingly strong friend sounds lovely too! .... not to mention brave. Wild seas are wonderful from the land but the idea of going out in them ...NO!!!


You'd love it there Lindsay I know.

Anonymous said...

I love a good storm - and that looks like a beauty. We live a couple of minute's from the Tasman Sea - I really should go down to the beach more often when the weather's bad. All too easy to hide inside where it's warm.

Anonymous said...

The sea provides so much material -- an ever changing landscape. I live in the Caribbean, and there is nothing so amazing as the waves, the light, and the color of the sea after a tropical storm has just passed.

vivien said...

Diddams and Cath - yes, the sea is wonderful

Caribbean - sighs wistfully .....

Laura Frankstone said...

What gorgeous expanses of sea and shore and sky. Cornwall IS lovely.