A Wet Walk to Nash Point (and a Soggy Photographer and Toby)

Okay, grab a brew, settle in. This might be a long one!

Right then, fancied stretching my legs the other day, and Toby the dog was giving me 'the look' – you know the one, pure boredom mixed with impending zoomies. So, leads clipped, camera bag hefted, off we went for a proper stomp along the cliffs. Started off near Llantwit Major, aiming generally towards the majestic (and often moody) Nash Point. The forecast hadn't exactly promised tropical sunshine, but hey, that's what waterproofs are for, right?

Walking along the clifftops is always a winner, stunning views out over the Bristol Channel. About halfway along, just past the usual paths, I stumbled across this little cove area I hadn't properly explored before. Some really interesting rock formations and potential compositions down there. Looked very promising indeed. Definitely got the old cogs whirring – made a mental note: must come back here sharpish, maybe on a different tide. Could be a whole other blog post in that spot alone, reckon I could get some cracking shots. Keep your eyes peeled for that one in the future, eh?

Anyway, mission focus! Pushed on towards Nash and eventually found the path (more of a scramble, if I'm honest) down onto the rocks near the beach. Blimey, it was looking wild down there. Proper choppy seas, waves having a good old bash against the shore, and the sky looked like it was getting ready for a proper scrap. Dark clouds were massing out over the water – definitely had 'imminent downpour' written all over them. Perfect! Sometimes, the grimmer the weather, the better the photos, right?

Decided it was definitely a day for digging out the filters and embracing the long exposure. Haven't done loads recently, and you always wonder, don't you? Do people just want sharp, instant shots, or is there still love for that smooth, ethereal water look? Only one way to find out, I suppose – get the camera out and give it a whirl! Embrace the blur!

Found a decent spot overlooking a channel leading out towards that marker buoy you often see from Nash. Got the tripod dug in, filters screwed on. Right then, check this one out:

Classic bit of coastal moodiness, isn't it? The sky was doing its usual dramatic performance – all brooding greys and clouds threatening to do something. You've got those rugged rocks in the foreground, looking like ancient teeth sticking out of the water. Got the filters out for this one, wanted to smooth out that water and give it that misty, ethereal look. Makes the sea look deceptively calm, eh? Way out in the distance, you can just make out that marker – looks a bit lonely sticking out there on its own. There was just a hint of light trying to break through the cloud cover over on the left, giving it a little lift.

Of course, just as I'm hunched over the viewfinder, trying to get the composition nailed, what happens? Toby decides it's prime ball-throwing time. Nudges my leg, drops the soggy, sandy ball right by the tripod leg. Little menace. Had to quickly compose, fire the shutter, then grab the ball before he barked mid-exposure!

Moved down the shoreline a bit, trying a slightly different angle. The clouds seemed to be getting even heavier now, proper menacing.

Ah, right then, recognise this spot? This is down at Nash Point – you can see why they call it 'Moody Nash Point' in the filename, eh? Look at that sky! Heavy, dark clouds rolling in. Got down low for this one, used those foreground rocks to lead you into the scene. Whipped out the filters again for a long exposure – standard procedure! Love how the water swirls around the base of the rocks, all soft and misty. You can spot that little marker out there again, battling the elements. And there's still that persistent bit of light trying to muscle its way through the gloom on the horizon. Definitely captured the 'moody' part here!

Honestly, trying to keep the camera perfectly still for a 30-second exposure while a soggy terrier patiently (ha!) drops a slobbery ball at your feet, whining softly, takes zen-like levels of concentration. Or maybe just deafness in one ear.

Saw this solitary rock just sitting there as the tide swirled around it. Sometimes the simpler shots work best.

Here's one that's a bit more minimalist. Sometimes you don't need sweeping vistas. Spotted this solitary rock just offshore as the tide was doing its thing. Looked like it was bracing itself. The sky, as you can see, was its usual cheerful self – dark, stormy, and generally looking like it was about to kick off. Got the filters on the Canon again to blur that water. Love how it makes the sea look soft and streaky as it flows around the rock and up the beach. Really isolates the subject. There's something quite stoic about that rock, just sitting there. Kept the composition dead simple.

Every time the shutter clicked open... nudge... "Throw the ball, Dad!". Every. Single. Time. He’s got impeccable timing, that dog.

The tide was really pulling back quite fast now, revealing more of the beach and creating some fantastic shapes in the wet sand. Always worth looking down!

Right, here we are again at Nash Point. You can see the tide was well on its way out this time. Forget the rocks for a second, just look at the sand in the foreground! Isn't that fantastic? All these intricate patterns and textures left behind by the water. It's like Mother Nature got her sculpting tools out. Further out, you've got those familiar rocks, looking a bit stranded now in the shallows. And overhead... well, guess what? More moody clouds! Got down reasonably low with the Canon for this one, really wanted to emphasise those textures.

At least the patterns stayed still while Toby zoomed about chasing his ball across the newly revealed sands. Small mercies!

But I spoke too soon about the weather holding off. Just as I was lining up one last shot of a particularly interesting rock formation, the heavens properly opened. That dark sky finally made good on its promise.

Ah, Nash Point again! And mate, let me tell you about this shot – it was absolutely tipping it down! Proper stair-rod rain. I was getting a right soaking standing out there, trying to keep the drips off the lens. But the tide was out, and it left this brilliant, chunky rock formation exposed on the sands. Look at the texture on it, all barnacles and craggy bits, glistening with the rain. Even with the deluge, I thought it was worth getting the shot. Whipped out the trusty Canon 5D and the filters, slowed everything right down. It gives the water that smooth, glassy look, reflecting the gloomy sky. You can see the cliffs stretching off on the right there. Captures that rugged, damp atmosphere you only get on a truly miserable day by the sea.

Trying to shelter the Canon under my rapidly-soaking coat while simultaneously lobbing a tennis ball for an equally soaked dog, wiping rain off the filter with one hand while trying not to move the tripod with the other – peak landscape photography glamour, right there!

Right, that was my cue! Absolutely drenched through, I whistled for Toby (who was, unbelievably, probably still drier than me under all that fur), packed the gear away sharpish before it decided to seize up entirely. Only one thing for it in that situation – the Plough & Harrow pub was calling my name, practically singing a siren song of warmth and dryness. Thankfully, it's only about half an hour away from Nash, and I spent the entire walk in the driving rain mentally urging them to have the fire lit.

Nothing quite like peeling off waterproofs and drying out by a roaring pub fire after successfully (mostly) battling the elements (and a ball-obsessed terrier) for your art, eh? Still, came away with some satisfyingly moody shots, had a good play with the long exposures, and got thoroughly windswept and rained on. All in a day's work for a landscape photographer in the Vale! Now, where's that pint of Pitchfork....