Category: Out of hours

Watch and act

Sleeping by the sea means catching a wave at any time when conditions allow, early, late or later still. This is the #beachoutofhours. But before pulling on your wetsuit and reaching for your board, take a few moments to read the surf…

Such is the whimsy of the British weather that you never quite know what to expect when you peel back the curtains from the cosy embrace of your seaside bed. While a day lounging on the beach with a well-thumbed paperback fares better when the sun is sparkling, the sea’s there to be enjoyed come rain or shine.

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In fact, when it comes to surfing, a touch of mizzle can actually improve conditions, says Charlie Unsworth, who works as an instructor at Croyde Surf Academy in North Devon.

“The rain can actually help the surf as it ‘grooms’ the waves,” he says. “It can patten them down into a smooth state, making it a nice clean ride. You’re wet already, so a little bit of rain doesn’t hurt.”

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“Ideally, you want a unified wave – so one straight line, not little waves coming in from all angles. That tells you the surf is clean and going to be easier to surf.”

Wave wisdom

Before you spring into your neoprene, however, spend a few moments casting your eye over the horizon to gauge the state of the waves.

Catching a wave in Croyde Bay

Image credit: Lou Pamment @lou.lives.big

“Ideally, you want a unified wave – so one straight line, not little waves coming in from all angles. That tells you the surf is clean and going to be easier to surf.”

When it comes to wind, preferably you want it to be offshore, delaying the break of the wave and keeping it glassy. Charlie says: “Look for a steady blowing wind, ideally not over 15mph, otherwise you end up battling the wind and weather rather than surfing.”

Follow the locals’ lead

Tim Heyland has been surfing the beaches of Cornwall and Devon for over 50 years. For surfing novices, he recommends getting up early and keeping an eye on the traffic.

“A cheat’s way to read the surf is to look at the number of boards heading to the beach. If you see the car park filling up with surfers, you’ll know there’s going to be good waves.

“Obviously a calm day is preferable but those are never guaranteed. Last summer I’d just got in the water at Trevone when a freak hailstorm hit. It was wild but also hilarious.”

“Another tip is to have your surf early in the morning, as there’s very little wind first thing. As the land heats up during the day, the wind generally picks up. It then falls away again in the evening, so before sunset is another good time to get in the water.”

Trevone Bay at low tide

Image credit @steph__andr

Easy access

For people with disabilities, there’s more than just the weather and the groundswell to take into consideration.

“My advice would be to go in the sea just before high tide,” says adaptive surfer and open water swimmer Issy Kingdon, who surfs with The Wave Project. “You’ll have less distance to travel across the sand and you can enjoy it for a good half hour before the tide starts to recede again.”

While beach wheelchairs are available, they tend to book up quickly during the high season. Issy therefore recommends looking for beaches with slipway access to the sea. “Trevone Bay near Padstow is a good example of an accessible beach as you can drive right down and get directly into the sea at high tide” she says.

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“Nothing beats going to the beach to look at the conditions for yourself,” says Tim. “An app might say the surf is ‘poor’, but you can still have fun on little waves.”

“Obviously a calm day is preferable but those are never guaranteed. Last summer I’d just got in the water at Trevone when a freak hailstorm hit. It was wild but also hilarious. As long as it’s safe, you’ve got to make the most of it!”

On RNLI beaches, surfing zones are marked out with the black and white flags, helping surfers know where to paddle out and letting you know that lifeguards are on hand to answer questions and help when needed.

Surf trackers

If you can’t see the surf there and then, apps such as Surfline and Windy provide up to date reports, including information on surf height, swell, wind direction, wind speed and tide times.

While the data is usually pretty accurate, it pays not to be too reliant on technology.

“Nothing beats going to the beach to look at the conditions for yourself,” says Tim. “An app might say the surf is ‘poor’, but you can still have fun on little waves. Or, if it really is all over the place, swap your surfboard for a bellyboard and have a play in the white water.”

However, if the wind is in excess of 30mph or the waves exceed six feet in height Charlie recommends keeping your feet on dry sand: “There’s a phrase, ‘If in doubt, don’t paddle out’. It’s a good one to stick to if you are having second thoughts about getting in the water. Always play it safe rather than take a risk.”

Image credit: Charlie Unsworth

The #beachoutofhours means taking advantage of the conditions whenever they’re right. Find your place to stay to watch the waves and act when the timing suits…

Q&A – Wildlife Conservation Biologist & Photographer

Wildlife conservation biologist and photographer Kaushiik Subramaniam was drawn to documenting life below the surface by his research and the technical challenges of photographing below sea level – a unique sensory experience…

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How long have you been taking photographs of the underwater environment and what locations have you photographed in?

I’ve been photographing underwater since 2018, while doing research for my Masters degree thesis on whale sharks, and since then I have shot underwater in the UK, Kenya, Sri Lanka and, at the moment, in Mexico.

Image credit: Kaushiik Subramaniam

When did you decide this is something you wanted to do and what do you think attracted you to this work?

I’ve always felt comfortable underwater and it went hand-in-hand with my research. It’s something completely different to topside photography; there’s a lot more involved. Conditions are always changing underwater, minute to minute, and can be completely different depending on what light is being shot through the water, for example. It can be dangerous and exciting, on top of thinking about composition. That’s part of what drew me to it, alongside my fascination with underwater life.

“For the most part, I feel that underwater is a much calmer place than on land. A lot of people that scuba dive and freedive have that in common: a feeling of peace and tranquillity underwater.”

What affect does being underwater have on your senses?

It’s difficult to explain but it is almost like some senses are muted underwater and some are heightened. Hearing can be muted or dulled down but there are noises: fish make clicking sounds and even coral on a reef makes noise.

Eyesight is very important; although, the light can play tricks on you in the water and it’s not always easy to judge depth properly. So, it does take a bit of getting used to.

How do you approach photographing wildlife underwater?

First and foremost you’re trying to find the animal then you have to think about composition and lighting. It’s not like on safari where you can move a car to get the right shot. You are being moved by the ocean, sometimes against the current and really all kinds of different things can go wrong when you’re trying to get the shot you want. It’s a mix of waiting and being proactive to find the shot.

You’re also aiming to have minimal impact on wildlife behaviour so you are documenting wildlife in as natural environment as possible. Trying not to create stress and that varies not only between animal but also individual to individual within a species.

“To be able to see them in our waters was incredible They are really elegant, beautiful looking sharks and very fast too. So to have one stick around me and my camera was amazing.”

Just because a text book says a species is ok with people being nearby, it doesn’t necessarily mean the individual animal follows that. You have to approach it slowly and keep your distance, judge how the wildlife is reacting to you. It’s very obvious normally, when wildlife doesn’t want you around it. An animal will try and get away, as far as possible, and chasing it is almost the worst thing you can do.

What senses do the underwater animals you’ve encountered use around you?

In UK waters, I have spent the most time with grey seals and they are quite intelligent mammals. In many ways they behave like underwater dogs. The way they look at you. The way their eyes move. They are such curious little things and very sneaky. They will be behind you, keeping an eye on you. Then they will come closer and have a nibble of your fins, play with you. Being in the water with seals is so much fun.

Image credit: Kaushiik Subramaniam

On the other hand, shark species will keep an eye on you from a distance. For example, tiger sharks in the Maldives are big enough to know you are not a threat to them and they will look at you in the eye try to figure you out. The level of curiosity can vary from individual to individual, some will even prod you with their nose. Like other sharks they also rely heavily on their sense of small and electro receptors. Cameras give off more electrical impulses than humans, so sharks can be attracted to the equipment we shoot with.

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“Going out with a friend snorkelling on a shallow reef (a ridge of rock, coral or sand near the surface), wherever it may be, you can find incredible wildlife.”

Can being underwater ever be an overwhelming sensory experience?

For the most part, I feel that underwater is a much calmer place than on land. A lot of people that scuba dive and freedive have that in common: a feeling of peace and tranquillity underwater. It certain conditions it can be overwhelming; I was recently in the water with 15 tiger sharks and it was hard to know where to look!

What have been some of your most memorable encounters with underwater life?

I did a long spell researching whale sharks out in the Maldives and had a number of incredible encounters with them. They’re the biggest fish in the world with stunning patterning.

I was also lucky enough to swim with blue sharks. When we think about UK waters, sharks aren’t the first things that come to mind but we are very lucky that we have a rich abundance of shark species around the UK.

Image credit: Kaushiik Subramaniam

Blue sharks are very much endangered across the world unfortunately, the victim of shark fining and the shark meat industry. To be able to see them in our waters was incredible. They are really elegant, beautiful looking sharks and very fast too. So to have one stick around me and my camera was amazing.

I’ve recently been freediving, and photographing wildlife from the surface, in Mexico. At this time of year, grey whales migrate down from Canada to Mexico, where they calve. In this protected environment they are very curious and playful with humans. They will come next to the boat and look at you in the eye. The mothers almost encourage calves to come and interact with the boat, and you have these 40ft wales under your boat pushing it up and down, playing hide and seek. It’s a very unique experience!

Image credit: Kaushiik Subramaniam

What tips do you have for anyone interested in exploring the underwater world either for the experience, or to capture the experience through photography?

Going out with a friend snorkelling on a shallow reef (a ridge of rock, coral or sand near the surface), wherever it may be, you can find incredible wildlife.

With scuba diving, sorry for the pun, I would say just take the plunge. You can do a DSD, Discover Scuba Dive course, so you don’t have to have a qualification you just have to do one pool session and then you can go out for a shallow dive. Depending on the location, you can see incredible things and that might give you the push you need to do your certificates and increase your ability in the water.

If you want to do photography, it’s important to be comfortable in the water first before you put a camera under the water. You want to be able to concentrate on the photographs once you are confident with diving.

Image credit: Kaushiik Subramaniam

Discover Kaush’s work here, and follow his underwater adventures on Instagram.

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Take your work away

Is it time to take your work on holiday? Could a place by the sea be just the place to right the professional balance, giving you a new perspective on the daily routine and a fresher focus? We spoke to three coastal workers to find out how it affects their working life…

The world of work has had many cycles of change, but in the last couple of years, workers have experienced one of the most dramatic shifts, from working from home to hybrid working to working from anywhere.

It’s time for an ‘aworkening‘ to these new possibilities. Taking your work away to the sea could be more than just a change of scene. We caught up with three professionals working on very different projects and businesses to find out what being close to the sea means for their working life.

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Studio by the sea

Artist Kitty Hillier recently started working exclusively from her studio looking out to the Penryn River as it flows towards the sea. It’s a tidal stretch with a shifting landscape, and bustling boat community right on the doorstep. Whether it’s a fleeting encounter with a Redshank, to making a new home in a boat – “like a giant sculpture really” – being this close to the water has an important role to play in Kitty’s work.

“During the day, a key part of my practice is walking. From here, I can get on to the coast path straight away. In the spring and summer, when I open up the main door of the studio, I can see all the way through, down the river,” says Kitty.

“All year round, I feel very close to the tides, and the weather. If it’s really windy, I’m tuned into that: what’s happening around me, the sounds and direction of the wind. One of the boatyard community will let me know if we’re expecting a really high tide, when the water can come in just past the studio door.

“I’m constantly collecting stuff, starting points or something that helps me resolve a painting. On the coast path between here and Flushing, it’s often very quiet, and particularly at low tide you have these amazing encounters with wildlife; it massively informs what I’m making.”

As well as the solitary time watching the coastal wildlife, or on focused work in the studio, there’s the bustling boatyard and vibrant artist community round the corner.

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“The boatyard here is wonderful, everybody is helping everybody else, whether it’s helping you carry something or giving you some advice; it’s a great community.

“Not far from me are Jubilee Wharf, Fish Factory and Grays Wharf studios and art galleries, where I have shown my work and I’ve done workshops. Since I started working here, I have collaborated a lot more and I regularly meet up with artists in these locations.”

Discover Kitty’s work and workshops – with St Ives School of Painting and Grays Wharf – at https://kittyhillier.co.uk/ and on Instagram @kittyhillier

Seaside growing

Beside Little Petherick Creek and overlooking the Camel River as it flows into the coves and bays between Rock and Padstow, Ross Geach’s workplace is Padstow Kitchen Garden at Trerethern Farm.

Image credit: Gemma Shapcott

There must be something in the sea air by the creek, as well as supplying a selection of the best eateries in the area with a bevy of local, seasonal produce – from salad leaves to renowned sausages – the kitchen garden’s honesty box farm shop made it into the Financial Times magazine How to Spend It’s top 50 food stores in the world in 2021.

“The farm has been in my family since the 18th century,” says Ross. “Initially I trained be a chef with Rick Stein, but I enjoyed being on the farm more than the kitchen; being outside, with lovely views, what’s not to like. So I started growing here and its turned into quite a big kitchen garden; it’s around 7 acres now.”

Image credit: Gemma Shapcott

The exposed coastal position of the farm dictates the pattern of work. It means “beautiful views, down to Rock in one direction and over to Bodmin Moor in the other”, but often challenging weather conditions for growing. “Nature has a really good way of evening itself out. I’ve really noticed that over the ten years of working in the garden. If you have a really bad start you have a longer season. If you have a really good, early start to the season you’ll probably have a shorter growing season.”

The farm is workplace and space to get away from it all. “We do spend a lot of our time on the farm. My partner and kids, we’ll go out into the farm to have tea on a bench; it’s completely quiet, with no one else around.”

Image credit: Gemma Shapcott

When he’s not soaking up the vista from the fields, Ross heads down to the quieter spots along this popular stretch of coast to find a “rock to sit down, with a beer, and make the most of watching the tide come in or go out” or will head out on the water in the family kayak.

The Padstow Kitchen Farm Shop is open 7 days a week from 08.30am to 2.30pm during the winter months, with extended hours in the spring and summer.

Free your workflow

No matter what you’re working on, finding the space to think freely is essential. Novelist and non-fiction writer Wyl Menmuir’s home office is a mile from the beaches of Cornwall’s north coast. A world of constant change, the sea is a dependable source of creative inspiration, mental space, exercise, rest and much more.

“If I’m stuck with a plot, or I need to solve a creative problem, I won’t find that at my desk.”

“It’s a rare day that I don’t see the sea for one reason or another. It might be for inspiration. If I’m stuck with a plot, or I need to solve a creative problem, I won’t find that at my desk,” says Wyl. “I get myself out to the sea. It’s something about being able to see the horizon; the whole environment of it helps me to get into this creative space.”

On the other hand, when Wyl is taking a break from work, he goes for a coastal run, surf or swim to take him away from concerns he has or whatever is on his mind. It’s a cure all, “I use it for pretty much everything,” he adds.

He’s spent the past few months finding out it’s not just him, discovering “almost as many reasons to spend time by the sea, or in the sea, as people” for his first non-fiction book The Draw of the Sea. While scientific researchers have made recent discoveries about the mental health benefits of spending time near or in blue spaces, Wyl’s study – out on Aurum Press in July – is concerned with the human stories of the myriad relationships we have with the sea.

Image credit: Aurum Press

Out swimming with cold water swimmers, he discovered more about the primal relationship we have with the water, “there is this sense that the cold is uncomfortable, but there is this physical draw, a dependency on that cold-water reset.” It’s also somewhere where we relinquish control: “The sea is always reminding you that you have no control – and that can be freeing.”

Find out more about Wyl’s forthcoming book The Draw of the Sea, published in July 2022 and available to pre-order now.

Step beyond the office, choose a place by the sea to take your work away

Discover 10 compelling reasons for a Cornwall workation, blending productivity with relaxation amidst Cornwall’s stunning coastal scenery and vibrant local culture.

Out of hours at the beach…

Where the magic happens

“The golden and unpeopled bays
The shadowy cliffs and sheep-worn ways
The white unpopulated surf…”
– Sir John Betjeman, ‘Delectable Duchy’ (1974)

When Sir John Betjeman waxed lyrical about Cornwall’s ‘golden and unpeopled bays’, he immortalised in words something that so many of us hold dear: that special feeling of being on the beach outside of ‘normal’ hours – and of having these elemental expanses all to ourselves.

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Credit: Nick Pumphrey

Whether at first or last light, staying steps from the shore means freedom to explore the beauty of the coast without the crowds – taking in the sights, sounds and scents of nature undisturbed.

The gleeful liberation of a sunrise dip. The thrill of leaving the day’s first footprints in the sand. The peace of a sunset stroll in a sheltered cove. In these quiet, fleeting pockets of time at dawn and dusk, the magic of the beach feels magnified – bathed in a mellow golden glow and shimmering with promise.

But this glow isn’t just imagined, remembered through the haze of happy escapades. It’s a recognised phenomenon, and it has a name: golden hour. Prized by photographers and artists for the elusive but intense warm light it casts, golden hour refers to the window when day merges with night: the period shortly after sunrise or just before sunset, when the sun hovers at the horizon.

Out of hours Credit: Nick Pumphrey

Is there any science behind these seemingly gilded moments? When the sun is low in the sky, its rays have to travel much further through the atmosphere to reach us than they do at noon. This longer path lessens the amount of intense, direct sunlight we see, amplifying shadow-softening, scenery-illuminating, diffused light instead. Blue light becomes scattered as beams of sunlight hit molecules in the atmosphere, leaving warm, red-toned light in its place.

Depending on the season and where you are in the world, the time at which golden hour falls will vary (and it’s rarely exactly one hour long) – but its effects are universally enchanting. And while brief, the coastal golden hours we bask in leave their mark on us in memory.

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Credit: Alicia Ray Wellbeing

For people who live by the sea, it’s the freedom of these peaceful, often deserted moments out of hours that really counts.

In our new OUT OF HOURS series, we meet three inspiring locals who know just how to make the most of these golden moments between night and day. From the ocean photographer capturing aquatic dawns to the beach yoga instructor teaching calm in the dunes and the artist using paint to evoke the essence of moving water, take a few quiet moments to dive into their stories with us…

• “The evening light here is especially magical,” says artist Nell Kerr, who captures the ever-changing nature of the ocean’s surface in paint. “There are fewer people around and often the wind drops and the water takes on a glassy languor that is so beautiful and ethereal.” Read Nell’s story.

• “I think what makes the sunrise and sunset special is the serenity,” says beach yoga instructor Alicia Ray. “There’s a magic when you sense that others are connecting to the same energy as you.” Read Alicia’s story.

• “The blue hour, just before sunrise, is when it all starts to wake up – you can have incredible colour, sometimes the best colour is before the sun comes up,” says photographer Nick Pumphrey, whose project ‘Dawn Days’ has captured every sunrise swimming in the sea since 1 January 2021. “A few mornings there were three different colour shows, it was incredible. I’d be floating there alone, literally just hooting out loud at these natural displays. No one else around. It was pretty special.” Read Nick’s story.

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Out of hours Credit: Nick Pumphrey

Out of hours: At the beach with Nell Kerr

Cornish artist Nell Kerr evokes the ever-changing spirit of the ocean in paint. From roaring waves to sparkling ripples, her paintings get up close and personal with the surface of the water – exploring how the light interacts with it, how it swells and flows. Nell’s studio sits right next to a stream that feeds into the creeks of the beautiful Helford River, giving her unlimited access to the South Cornwall coast any time the mood takes her.

She downed brushes to tell us about the joys of having the beach to yourself, the hypnotic effect of the sea, and the art of capturing that magical last light, as part of our Out of Hours content series.

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Nell Kerr Credit: Nell Kerr

When I start a painting, the first thing I look for is the light.

The same scene can be completely changed by the conditions minute to minute, which is what makes living close to the sea so inspiring. The water reflects what is happening around it, meaning it’s different every time you look.

Having the coastline close by brings so many opportunities, whether that’s swimming, surfing, boating, walking the coast paths, or just sitting by the water. I feel incredibly lucky to have the Falmouth Bay and Helford coastline on my doorstep. It really is a beautiful place, with so much variety of landscape.

“The same scene can be completely changed by the conditions minute to minute, which is what makes living close to the sea so inspiring.”

What I love most about Falmouth and Helford is that there’s always something new to see and to notice. It’s in constant flux. Tide, light, weather – it’s an endless resource for paintings.

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I spend a lot of time in, on and next to the water. I think we approach life through the prism of our interests, so where some people see a surfable wave, I see a painting opportunity.

Psychologists have studied the human response to natural fractals such as waves, and the evidence suggests that there is a stress-reduction effect that is somehow triggered by a physiological resonance inside the eye. In fact, a 1986 NASA study measured a significant decrease in participants’ stress response when they were viewing fractal images. I think it’s something we can all relate to – who doesn’t love gazing at the sea? It’s hypnotic. I wanted to replicate this effect in my paintings.

Early mornings before the beaches get busy are always an inspiring time, the sun still low in the sky and very few people about. There’s something really special about having a beach to yourself, even if only for a little while. It’s a real privilege.

The evening light here is especially magical. There are fewer people around and often the wind drops and the water takes on a glassy languor that is so beautiful and ethereal.

Nell Kerr Credit: Nell Kerr

“There’s something really special about having a beach to yourself, even if only for a little while. It’s a real privilege.”

On a practical level, the surface of water is a challenging subject to study and so provides myriad learning opportunities for me as a painter. I enjoy playing with micro versus macro, and the illusory nature of scaling up the tiny waves that break on the shoreline. I also love the meditative exercise of attempting to capture the light in a way that transports.

My studio sits right next to a stream that feeds into one of the Helford creeks, which is a constant reminder that the river and its beaches are right there whenever I need them.

I usually take photographs and make sketches outdoors and then work from them in my studio. But there is definitely a more immediate quality when working from life that I hope to take advantage of now that the weather is being kinder.

I love being out on the water in our Canadian canoe with my camera to hand. It’s a wonderful way to get really close to the water’s surface much further out from the shore where the water behaves differently. It’s also a really fun and non-intrusive way to explore the coastline and see it from a different perspective.

Immersing myself in the water gets my eyes on a level with the surface, which I love. That experience then informs my work; it’s an effect I enjoy trying to replicate in my paintings.

“The evening light here is especially magical. There are fewer people around and often the wind drops and the water takes on a glassy languor that is so beautiful and ethereal.”

Spending so long gazing at the water, I see lots of seabirds and the occasional seal. Also, dolphins last summer – that felt like a very good sign. Working with the sea has given me a real appreciation for how essential it is that we protect and preserve our precious marine environments.

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Find out more:

nellkerr.com
@nell_kerr

Out of hours: At the beach with Nick Pumphrey

A 5am alarm – sometimes earlier. Pulling on the wetsuit, eyes half closed, as the first faint traces of monochrome light emerge. Rain, hail, raging gales or glassy calm, photographer Nick Pumphrey steps into the sea with his camera every morning while most of us are sleeping. Why? To get creative in the ‘blue hour’, connect with nature, calm his mind and capture the breaking dawn while floating in the waters around his home town of St Ives.

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Nick Pumphrey Credit: Nick Pumphrey

Before the pandemic, Nick travelled the world shooting for publications and brands including National Geographic, The Guardian, Roxy, Surfdome and Wavelength magazine. But immersing himself in the ocean on his doorstep every morning has sparked a new energy and insight he’s eager to share.

As part of our Out of Hours content series, we caught him one morning once he’d dried off, made a coffee and posted his 10 daily ‘Dawn Days’ images to his Instagram account.

Credit: Nick Pumphrey

Dawn Days came about in the early stages of lockdown last year. I wasn’t feeling too good – not myself. I wanted to get rid of the anxieties that were clouding my thoughts. I read a few books on mindfulness and studied the Wim Hof cold water submersion breathing – and I had this idea that sharing pictures of the sea might lift people’s spirits.

There was no real brief, no expectations. I thought, I’ll get in the sea in the dark, see the sunrise, float, photograph whatever’s happening. Then share it. I wanted to keep the whole motive as simple and honest as possible.

I swim with my camera for my own sanity, I swim to share stories with fellow swimmers, I swim to be present and to connect with something much larger than myself. I share images on social media with the hope of inspiring others to be creative and to connect with nature.

Credit: Nick Pumphrey

With the dawn wake-up calls, there’s always a bit of stubbornness, a resistance, there. But ultimately, I know I’ll feel better when I’m up – that it’ll be worth it. Once I’m on my feet and the wetsuit’s on, I’m not tired anymore. I haven’t missed a morning yet this year.

“I swim with my camera for my own sanity, I swim to share stories with fellow swimmers, I swim to be present and to connect with something much larger than myself.”

In the summer, it can be a 4am alarm to be in there for the blue hour. It drives you crazy chasing that first light. You get up and look out, and it’s like, ‘Oh no, it’s getting light already!’

The ‘blue hour’ is the hour before dawn, when you often get the best colours in the sky. I float there, literally just hooting out loud at these incredible colour displays above. You know it’s a good day when you’re hooting while shooting.

Nick Pumphrey Credit: Nick Pumphrey

Various people have joined my dawn swims along the way, and it’s seriously improved their wellbeing. James Hardy – a great surfer, he’s been doing it with me every single day since January. When he started, he couldn’t sleep. He’d had really bad sleeping problems for years, but after 14 days in the sea at sunrise, they disappeared. Then there’s Lydia from Wild Swimming Cornwall. She was battling mental health issues, and then immersion in nature has completely sorted her.

We’ve been out in some pretty wild weather – sleet, snow, wind, big swells. No two days are the same. You’re connecting directly with nature – starting your day positively. Not to mention all the benefits of cold water.

Out of hours Credit: Nick Pumphrey

There was one Dawn Day experience that turned pretty heavy. I was at Godrevy, and there was a heavy sea fog. I couldn’t see the sea, but I could hear it. My ego was saying: ‘I have to do it, people are going to be expecting my 10 photos,’ when of course they’re not really. My gut was telling me no, but I kept going. Even in the water, the current was pushing me back towards shore. Eventually I got out there, but then I got caught in a current, and ended up 100 metres up by the cliffs. I looked in and thought, ‘the beach isn’t there anymore, it’s just a rock face.’ I was alright, the tide was OK and there was enough space for me to climb up and call it a day. But you know, I’m experienced, and I still got caught out. It taught me how important it is to listen to your instincts and respect the sea.

Nick pumphrey Credit: Nick Pumphrey

“The ‘blue hour’ is the hour before dawn, when you often get the best colours in the sky. I float there, literally just hooting out loud at these incredible colour displays above.”

Porthmeor Beach was my playground. We came to St Ives when I was 6 months old, so I’ve spent my life around the sea surrounded by creative folk. I started surfing at 12, and I’m 42 now. I suppose I’m naturally drawn to the water, because I always have this burning desire to be in the sea, or at least close by.

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I’ve wanted to be a photographer for as long as I can remember, but I didn’t have the confidence to go for it at first. So I kept doing the ‘safe’ jobs to bring money in. It was only when I was 35, 36 – that I decided to properly give photography a go, 100%, without any compromise. Over the last 6 years or so, I’ve lived purely off my photography. I really believe if you go with those gut feelings and trust that it will work out, then it probably will.

Credit: Nick Pumphrey

My sea photographs are a combination of intention and experimentation. On dark mornings, I normally start with slow exposure as that lends itself beautifully to the movement – the ‘whoosh’ – of the sea. There are days that don’t look particularly inspiring, but if you take a photo at half a second, or a second even, you get some unexpectedly beautiful results. I move the camera with the wave, take the picture – and give the camera a little jolt, and it just pulls everything up. I love the anticipation, the not knowing exactly how it’s going to turn out. There are no rules.

I enjoy going through my shots once I’m out and dry with a cup of coffee. The coffee, the edit and the music – I love it.

You get some mornings when the sun’s going crazy, the waves are pumping, the light is intense, and you’re just reacting to what’s happening in front of you. They’re the best days – when you’re totally present.

When I do the dawn swims there’s the connection to nature; to the energy of the sea and the power of the sunrise. You’re getting a big dose of natural light into your eyes first thing. These days, it’s usually the opposite, with people waking up and looking straight into a phone screen. I know I used to do that, but not now.

Credit: Nick Pumphrey

“I love the anticipation, the not knowing exactly how the image will turn out. There are no rules.”

There’s been an awakening during this last year. People have realised that being out in nature makes them feel better. Growing your own food, leaving the city – there’s been a huge shift, a move back to our roots. It’s positive, because when you appreciate and understand nature, you want to protect it.

Credit: Nick Pumphrey

We’ve had some incredible encounters with wildlife. Every morning two little seal pups would come up and hang with us. They’re so inquisitive and innocent. I got a photo of one rubbing its head on James’ swim fin! We also witnessed a few gannet feeding frenzies, and schools of dolphins swimming by too.

This morning there was a white sunrise. It had an exotic, hazy feeling. When the sun finally showed itself it was this bright white ball – a bit like the moon. I took a few shots and then just put my camera down and looked at it. It was so peaceful. Really calm, no wind. It was just the oily textures of the sea and this white sun, with its reflection coming straight to me.

I’m not religious, but there’s a spiritual dimension to being in the sea at dawn. It’s like coming back to source, tapping back into how we were, how we’re supposed to be. It’s easy to see life as school, study, get a job, make money, buy a house – but ultimately, we feel at our best when we’re in these natural environments. You absorb energy from nature. It makes sense.

Experience the captivating beauty of dawn and dusk along the Cornish coast, as we compare and contrast these magical moments in nature’s theatre.

Find out more:

nickpumphrey.com
@nickpumphreyphoto
Fine art prints available at nickpumphrey.art

Out of hours: At the beach with Alicia Ray

If you spy a group doing downward dog in the Gwithian dunes at dawn, the woman leading the way is likely to be beach yoga guru Alicia Ray. Channelling insight gained from years of experience as a clinical psychologist, therapist, fitness instructor and yoga teacher, Alicia brings a holistic approach to wellbeing that incorporates her love of the Cornish coast.

As part of our Out of Hours content series, we spoke to Alicia about sunrise sun salutations, the restorative power of the sea, and what a flock of Canada Geese has to do with beach yoga.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

Credit: Alicia Ray Wellbeing

After 10 years of teaching high-intensity fitness classes, I needed something different. I was seeking space and a deeper connection with the outdoors. I found yoga through attending surf and yoga retreats in Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Costa Rica. My first yoga class was outside on a rooftop in Portugal. We practiced sun salutations at sunrise and after that I was hooked!

I don’t think I truly understood the value of connection with nature though until I spent six weeks doing my intensive yoga teacher training in Costa Rica. We’d start each day with yoga as the sun rose and I found there was something particularly magical about practising at this time of day.

I now teach beach yoga classes, surf and yoga retreats in Cornwall, yoga and wellbeing retreats in Sri Lanka, and advanced yoga and mindfulness training for aspiring young surf athletes in the Philippines.

The benefits of yoga for surfing are amazing, including increased strength and flexibility and a calm, focused mindset.

Alicia Ray Credit: Alicia Ray Wellbeing

“My first yoga class was outside on a rooftop in Portugal, we practised sun salutations at sunrise and after that I was hooked!”

The last 12 months have highlighted how essential the coastline is for my wellbeing. If I’m feeling stressed or low on energy then I find that being close to the sea restores me.

Living in Truro means I have both the North and South coasts within striking distance and so I’m utterly spoiled for choice. I love being on the South Coast for the sunrise and head there for sea swimming and paddle boarding in the calm waters; while I love the North Coast for its dramatic cliffs, amazing surf and epic sunsets.

Weekends are all about getting up super early, parking our van by the coast for coffee and soaking up the view. That time when there’s hardly anyone around is precious, breathing in the fresh air, the sea, the calm.

Credit: Alicia Ray Wellbeing

I like to hit the beach first thing and stay until that quiet time after sunset. I think what makes the sunrise and sunset special is the serenity. There’s a magic when you sense that others are connecting to the same energy as you.

“Weekends are all about getting up super early, parking our van by the coast for coffee and soaking up the view. That time when there’s hardly any people around is precious, breathing in the fresh air, the sea, the calm.”

I think the unpredictability of nature helps create perspective. It’s hard to worry about everyday problems when a sudden rainstorm erupts, or a glorious burst of sunlight appears from behind the clouds. There have been amazing rainbows out to sea during our beach yoga classes, and then there are incredible moments when someone spots dolphins in the waves. And there’s nothing like the sight and sound of a flock of Canada Geese flying overhead to snap you out of ruminating about work!

We can be so consumed by our devices and online commitments that we don’t see the beauty of what is already around us. Outdoor yoga enables a calming of the nervous system so that our full attention is present in the moment. Practising in nature allows us to absorb so much more of our environment, which we can easily miss when we’re rushing from one thing to the next.

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Alicia Ray Credit: Alicia Ray

I would encourage everyone to try yoga at sunrise. During my Sri Lanka yoga retreats we’re on the beach at 5.45am each day – which can be a shock at first! But by the end of the week, everyone is hooked, and all agree that the magic you experience at this time of day is well worth the early start (coffee helps!).

“There’s nothing like the sight and sound of a flock of Canada Geese flying overhead to snap you out of ruminating about work!”

Gwithian was the first beach we visited when we moved to Cornwall and I have many fond memories of this amazing stretch of coastline. I love how open it is. You can get off the beaten track quickly, you can find a space for yourself, or share it with others. Everywhere you look there are inspiring views, ocean sounds – you really feel the entire landscape. The sand dunes are just stunning and I can spend hours amongst them walking, reading, practising yoga.

My favourite light for beach yoga is the golden sunset tone you get at Gwithian in September and October. This warm, low light is pretty special.

Every outdoor yoga class has a totally unique feeling as the light changes throughout the seasons. In spring, the colours are bright blues and then into high summer they change into vivid yellows and greens.

Our practice is often influenced by the change in energy from the environment around us and the changes in the ocean. Through the summer months the ocean is calmer and the energy picks up in our Autumn classes as the waves become stronger and more powerful.

It’s amazing watching the change in people from the start of a beach yoga class to the end. The walk back across the dunes is calmer, more zen – I notice that people pause to take in the scenery, listen to the sounds.

“I would encourage everyone to try yoga at sunrise. The magic you experience at this time of day is well worth the early start (coffee helps!).”

I’ll be teaching regular classes from Gwithian beach on a Saturday morning and Wednesday evening from this Spring to Autumn. From regulars to newcomers, everyone is welcome! We practise during all weathers and embrace the changes in the elements. I also offer bespoke individual and group yoga, surf and wellbeing packages so that people can enjoy a wellbeing retreat day or a surf and yoga weekend as part of their holiday in Cornwall.

Discover our bespoke holiday cottages in Hayle, a short drive from St Ives and Pendeen.

Find out more:

aliciaray.uk
@aliciaraywellbeing