Kimmeridge bay
It was Saturday, and I had just finished my coffee. A thought crept in: maybe I should go and take some pictures! Find out if I can still use that camera of mine.
Great idea, why not? The weather was more than fine—the sun was up, with just a few clouds scattered here and there. So, where should I go? Perhaps Corfe Castle! Maybe I could capture some shots from afar, from a nice viewpoint. Yes, that sounded perfect.
The Vehicle of Choice: Motorcycle!
I hadn’t touched it in over three months and wasn’t sure if it would start. Maybe the battery had gone flat?
I prepared my camera bag and selected the lenses I planned to use. My lenses are consistently heavy, which can be punishing when I carry them all and walk a lot. That’s why it’s important to plan the day and decide on the type of photography I’ll focus on.
For the day: the zoom lens, as I planned to shoot from a distance. But just in case, I decided to take the wide-angle lens too. It wasn’t much heavier—just 800 grams—and it could be useful if I decided to get closer.
I put on my motorcycle gear and boots, packed my backpack, grabbed my tripod, and headed to the garage. The backpack was loaded into the top case, the tripod secured on the seat (since it didn’t fit in the top case), and I was ready to go.
The moment of truth: starting the motorcycle. Success! The advantage of having a garage meant the bike stayed in better condition over the cold winter days.
On the Road
I left Poole and headed toward Wareham, retracing one of my cycling routes. I passed through a nature reserve I’d enjoyed before—Arne Nature Reserve. Thankfully, I managed to find my way.
I stopped here and there, taking pictures, observing, and searching for better frames. Corfe Castle appeared in the distance, and I tried to get a good picture of it. Unfortunately, the lighting wasn’t quite right.
I got closer, hoping for better results, but it still didn’t work. The light was uncooperative. I decided to try something else. Checking the map, I searched for the nearest beach, bay, lighthouse, or some stones in the water. Maybe I could experiment with long exposures. I had the tripod, the lens, and hopefully the filters too.
Google Maps suggested Kimmeridge Bay, just ten miles away. I entered the destination into my bike’s GPS and set off.
The route took me through narrow, scenic country roads—beautiful but dangerous! Wet, muddy, with sharp bends and climbs, and I’d forgotten how to handle them. Still, I arrived without any real issues.
Arrival at Kimmeridge Bay
From afar, I could see the breathtaking view: the road descending toward the water, the hills, the sea, and the sand. It was stunning! I paid the entry fee—a pound and a half for motorcycles, six pounds for cars. Another win for taking the bike! The attendant was quite chatty, pointing out where to go and what to look for. She commented on the lovely weather, describing the fields as painted with “all shades of green.” Magical.
I parked the bike and looked for coffee to warm up, as the cold had started to seep through my thick motorcycle gear. Luckily, a van in the car park was serving coffee. I ordered a coffee, a baguette, and a “naughty” muffin. It warmed me up, and I didn’t complain.
Exploring the Bay
I descended toward the sea, trying to capture images of the rocks and water. But the harsh midday sun wasn’t ideal for photography, and the results were disappointing.
Cold and a little disheartened, I was preparing to leave when a friendly, chatty woman approached me. She was an amateur photographer too and suggested I wait for the sunset and head in the opposite direction for better shots. I was ready to leave, but her enthusiasm was infectious.
We talked about cameras, lenses, cars, computers, weather, and photographers. Her energy convinced me to stay a little longer and try my luck again.
Walking along the bay in full motorcycle gear, heavy boots, and carrying a loaded backpack wasn’t the best idea, but I soldiered on.
I scouted frames, checked the light, and moved from spot to spot, slowly improving my results. Patience was key as I waited for the tide to come in and the sun to descend.
The woman—was her name Sue? I’m terrible with names—joined me again. She wasn’t happy with the light and decided to try something different. Meanwhile, I continued shooting.
Eventually, I met her again as I was heading back to the motorcycle. She showed me her pictures, and I was speechless. WOW. She had used a filter and captured stunning long exposures: colorful rocks embraced by creamy water, dramatic skies, and an orange sunset. Incredible work! I need to get back there someday and bring a filter of my own.
Heading Home
The sun had set, leaving no light. It was cold, and it was time to head home. The ride back was challenging—narrow, muddy, and wet roads with sharp bends—but it was worth it.
I had a lovely chat, took some decent pictures, and learned a thing or two.
