Seven Days on the Edge

Two men, Two Cameras, and Some Cakes...

A week of immersive photography on the Northumberland coast.

Back in March, fellow photographer Jon Gibbs and I spent a week immersed in the wild, windswept beauty of the Northumberland coast. Seven days of nothing but chasing light, battling the elements, and, more essential, sampling every coffee and cake combo the region’s cafés had to offer.

The weather didn’t make things easy. Cold winds whipped in off the North Sea, and some days it felt like winter still had a score to settle. I even had to buy a new hat to keep my head warm! But if you're after moody skies, shifting light, and drama in your landscapes, Northumberland delivers. And in challenging conditions, the rewards often outweigh the discomfort, but not always.

We based ourselves just South of Berwick-upon-Tweed close to the coastline, giving us easy access to some of the area’s most beautiful spots, Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Budle Bay, and of course, the mighty Bamburgh Castle.

The Fog at Bamburgh

One morning stood out above the rest. We arrived at Bamburgh before dawn, the wind stilled and the usual coastal clarity swapped for thick, rolling fog. At first, visibility was poor, almost nothing to shoot. But as the light began to rise, the castle slowly emerged like a ghost from another age, wrapped in mist, surreal and cinematic.

The fog gave everything a softness I don’t often get on the coast. Compositions turned minimalist. Lines, layers, and negative space became the story. It was one of those rare moments when nature hands you a gift, brief, unexpected, and unforgettable.

Cameras, Cakes, and Coastal Light

Between early starts and late finishes, Jon and I made it a point to support the local café scene. Turns out, nothing fuels long exposures like a slab of Victoria sponge and the odd bacon roll thrown in for balance.

The rhythm of the trip settled into a satisfying loop: shoot, eat, shoot again, although as the inevitable tiredness kicked in my compositions duly suffered.

As always, traveling with another photographer brings a different energy. Jon’s a master of compositions that I might have overlooked, and bouncing ideas back and forth out in the field kept both of us sharp.

What I Took Away

This trip reminded me why I keep returning to the Northumberland coast. It’s not just the castles and cliffs, it’s the rawness, the space, and the way the weather can completely transform a scene within minutes. You never get the same shot twice. And even if you did, you wouldn't want to.

I hope you like the few images I’ve uploaded here, maybe some day I’ll manage to find time to process the rest :)

Until next time
--Rick--

BTW if you haven’t already subscribed to Jon’s publication yet I’d highly recommend you do .