RK006/Port St. Mary Harbour

The low light levels in this pre-dawn shot resulted in a 30 second exposure which has blurred all definition in the waves. This, coupled with the movement in the clouds, contrasts with the static rocks and breakwater to create an unusual image.

RK038/Langness Lighthouse

I used the steeply inclinded rocks of the Langness peninsula to provide some foreground interest in this image. The slow exposure (4 seconds) has resulted in the breaking waves appearing as mist which gives the image vitality.

RK040/Fenella Beach

I had set up for the more traditional view of Peel Castle, when I noticed the sun appearing from behind the clouds. I worked as quickly as I could before the sun was lost, waiting until the waves receded before making my exposure. This helped reveal the rocky shore and leads the eye out to sea. Looking at this transparency on the lightbox, it was as if the sea was drawing breath!

RK084/Douglas Bay
One of the idiosyncrasies of film is that during long exposures it can shift towards certain colours. This is certainly true of the film I use which shows a strong magenta shift during exposures of several seconds. This is beneficial when shooting landscapes as it warms-up the colours making them appear more saturated. It may surprise some then, to here that this image is an exact copy of the transparency I received back from the lab.

RK046/Peel Bay

I had decided on the sweeping view of Peel Bay with the castle in the distance. All I needed was some foreground interest which I found in this last remaining remnant of a groyne. I framed the castle between the two uprights and used the back swing on my technical camera to focus on the groyne and the end of the breakwater at the same time.

RK044/Niarbyl

One of the most popular places on the island is Niarbyl with its fisherman's cottages and views down to the Calf of Man. I wanted to create an image which included both of these elements. Luckily, there was a fishing boat on the shore which I placed in the left of the frame allowing the distinctive range of hills to lead your eye south.

RK051/Port Erin Bay

I make a habit of always carrying a plastic bin liner with me whenever I go out with the camera. On this day it was invaluable as rain and hail showers passed frequently overhead. As I waited for the sun to appear I watched as the tide retreated to reveal a freshly washed shingle beach.

RK064/Port Cornaa

Port Cornaa is situated just south of Maughold Head and is unique in the fact that at high tide the sea floods the low lying valley. This image was taken at dawn one cold December morning and is a good example of the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid!) principle. The river, flowing out to sea, leads the eye to the sun, which had just risen above the horizon. Simple but effective!

RK061/Scarlett Point

This view of Castletown from Scarlett Point, had been stored in my memory for some time. I was attracted to the well defined bedding planes of the rock formations, zig-zagging their way into the distance. The deep blue of the sea and sky compliment the orange hues of the rocks perfectly, while the angle of the foreground rocks echo the sloping rock in the middle distance.

RK081/Port St. Mary Harbour

This image is taken from the same angle as the one at the top of the page, however, the mood of the image could not be more different. Here, cool blues and greens dominate and the image has a fresh vitality about it. The crystal clear water reveals a tantalizing view into an aquatic world normally hidden to human eyes.

RK076/Niarbyl Bay

I had spent several evenings exploring Niarbyl Bay with the intention of getting the 'classic view' down to the Calf of Man. On this evening, the extremely low tide coincided with soft, hazy sunlight, producing a beautifully peaceful image. The success of this image is dependent on the careful balancing of the isolated rock with the mountainous profile in the distance.

RK092/Niarbyl

This image shows the viewpoint looking north-west and illustrates the enormous potential the coastline around Niarbyl has to offer. To retain detail in the sky I used 2 ND Graduated filters which darkened the sky by a total of 4.5 stops. There was no wind on this day, the silence only broken by the gently lapping sea and the 'explosion' of colour overhead.

RK096/Peel Bay

This wide stretch of sandy beach is understandably popular with local residents and visitors alike. The only downside to this as a photographer is that the beach is nearly always littered with footprints. On this occasion I timed my visit to coincide with the turning of the tide which has erased all marks. The wet sand also reflects the setting sun and impressive cloud formation. This is one of the joys of beach photography, you get a fresh canvas to work from twice a day.