Welcome to the Stu Brown Photography Blog, sharing stories and photography from Saltburn-by-the-Sea, the North Yorkshire coast, and the Cleveland Way.
Here you’ll find field notes from landscape and wildlife shoots, updates from my photography workshops, and insights into working along one of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in the North East of England.
I spend most of my time outdoors — watching the tides, the weather, and the changing light across the moors and cliffs. This blog is a place to share those moments: coastal landscapes at sunrise, wildlife encounters around Saltburn and the North Yorkshire Moors, and the quiet details that make this coastline so special.
Whether you’re here to discover new locations, improve your photography, join a workshop, or simply enjoy the view — I hope these stories bring you a little closer to the landscape.
Teaching Photography Basics at RSPB Saltholme
Yesterday I was back at RSPB Saltholme teaching another of my Photography Basics: The Complete Beginners Workshops, and it turned into exactly the kind of day I enjoy most.
Everyone arrived with different cameras, different levels of experience and, as is often the case, a few questions about buttons and settings that had never quite made sense before. Some had been relying heavily on Auto mode, while others understood bits and pieces but wanted everything brought together in a way that felt clear and manageable.
That is really what these beginner photography workshops are all about.
Photographing Puffins in Flight at RSPB Bempton Cliffs – When the Wind Becomes Your Friend
Some days, wildlife photography teaches you that the conditions you think are working against you can actually become your greatest advantage.
That was certainly the case during my latest visit to RSPB Bempton Cliffs.
Standing on top of those magnificent chalk cliffs overlooking the North Sea, I was greeted by one of the strongest winds I've experienced there. It wasn't just breezy; it was relentless. The wind was being forced up the face of the cliffs with such power that every now and then I had to take a few steps backwards just to catch my breath. It felt like the air was being pushed straight through me.
More Than Just a Sanderling
A few days ago I found myself lying flat on the beach at South Gare.
To anyone walking past, I probably looked completely mad. Camera balanced just above the shingle, elbows digging into the stones, waiting for a tiny little Sanderling to wander back into the frame.
The funny thing is, I didn't care.
If you'd asked me a few years ago why I spent so much time photographing wildlife, I'd probably have talked about cameras, lenses and getting sharp photographs. I'd have told you about the challenge of capturing a bird that never seems to stop moving or the excitement of finally getting the shot you'd imagined.
Workshop at RSPB Bempton Cliffs – A Day of Wildlife, Laughter and Learning Photography
There are some days that remind me exactly why I've spent the last 14 years teaching photography, and my latest Photography Workshop at RSPB Bempton Cliffs was definitely one of them.
As everyone arrived first thing in the morning, there was a real buzz in the room. Some had only recently bought their cameras, others had been photographing for years but wanted to understand them a little better. That's one of the things I love most about my workshops – it doesn't matter where you're starting from, everyone is there for the same reason... to enjoy photography.