Winter light over Mevagissey (left)

Mevagissey is a picturesque fishing villiage, typical of the south coast of Cornwall, nestled in a small valley a few miles south of St Austell.  Centred around a busy harbour, the narrow streets and paths wind up the steep hillsides to the top of the town, with views back down to the harbour and back along the coast towards Plymouth.  

The light in Cornwall is like no other place I've been, whatever the time of year, and that's certainly the case with this picture.  Looking down into Mevagissey harbour with the winter sunlight catching the smoke rising over the rooftops and adding to the mist rising up the valley, diffusing abd softening the shadows and reflections.  I just love the atmosphere it creates - I can almost smell the smoke when I look at this picture!.

Colmer's Hill in Infrared (right)

I like to think of Colmer's Hill as the most perfect hill in the UK!  Located just outside Bridport in Dorset, the distinctive conical sandstone peak is just a few miles from where I live and I've had a picture in my head ever since I drove past it for the first time!  This picture isn't it!  This one was taken on my first proper visit ealirer in the year - a rare nice day during the miserable winter of 2013/14 and an opportunuty to get some fresh air and walk the dog!   Whilst the winter light does give a more subdued infrared effect, it does still retain the distinctive characteristics such as the dark sky and pale foliage.   

Stormy Burton Bradstock (left)

The winter storms of 2013 / 2014 hit the South West particularly hard, but this was one of the calmer days for this stretch of the coast!  It promised to be a bright and breezy day just after Christmas, so it was the perfect opportunity to head down to the coast and walk off the Christmas excesses.  A stormy sea was almost guaranteed after a winter storm had passed through overnight - we could barely open the car door due to the wind!  Salt spray and spume was blowing far up the beach, which actually made conditions very difficult for photography - the camera lens was quickly soaked in salt spray, which is never a good thing!  However the combination of the spray and the sun finally breaking through the back edge of the weather front lit the waves perfectly.