The Grit and the Glory: Capturing Light at South Gare
There is nowhere quite like South Gare. Nestled at the mouth of the River Tees, it’s a place where the towering silhouettes of industry meet the wild, unpredictable North Sea. For a photographer, it is a playground of textures—rust, concrete, marram grass, and shifting sands.
I recently headed out to the Gare to capture the low winter light, and I wanted to share the story behind this particular shot of the footprints leading toward the sun.
Finding the Composition
When I arrived, the sun was sitting low, casting that long, golden "raking light" across the beach. In photography, light like this is a gift—it reveals every ripple and texture in the sand.
I noticed these footprints (likely from a very happy dog!) trailing off toward the horizon. By getting the camera low to the ground, I was able to:
Create a Leading Line: The prints pull your eye from the foreground right through the frame toward the sun.
Catch the Flare: I purposefully angled the shot to catch that soft lens flare, giving the image a warm, ethereal feel that contrasts with the Gare's usual industrial reputation.
The Technical Side
Many people struggle with shooting directly into the sun—you often end up with a "silhouette" and lose all the detail in the sand. The key here was balancing my exposure to keep those golden tones without blowing out the sky completely. It’s these small technical "lightbulb moments" that turn a good snapshot into a piece of art you’d want on your wall.
Want to master your camera this year?
If you’ve ever looked at a scene like this and wondered how to make your camera "see" what your eyes see, I’d love to show you how.
I run full-day Photography Workshops at some of our region's most beautiful spots, including local RSPB reserves and the stunning Sewerby Hall.
What’s included for £75:
Full Day of Tuition: A mix of classroom theory (understanding those pesky buttons!) and hands-on practice in the field.
Professional Take-Home Resource: You’ll receive a high-quality, glossy workshop guide packed with tips to keep in your camera bag.
Small Group Sizes: I keep numbers limited so I can spend one-on-one time with every student.
Whether you're a total beginner or just want to get off "Auto" mode, come and spend a day with me in the workshop.
Too book your place on one of my workshops the have a look through my date on the group photography workshop page
