There is a particular feeling you get at dawn on the Moray Coast; a quiet anticipation, a sense of the day slowly unfolding. That’s what I wanted to convey with this picture.
The scene presented a fascinating contrast: the rough, dark textures of the rocks against the soft, pastel hues of the sunrise. That large, rounded boulder in the foreground immediately caught my eye. It was a focal point, a grounding element in the vastness of the seascape.
I knew I needed to emphasize the texture of the rocks, to show their rugged, weathered quality. The light was just beginning to touch the scene, creating subtle shadows and highlights. I positioned myself to capture the boulder with the rising sun behind it, allowing the light to accentuate its form and texture.
The long exposure of 13 seconds was crucial for capturing the movement of the sea, to create that smooth, almost ethereal quality. It also helped to soften the light, to create a sense of tranquility. I wanted to balance the sharpness of the rocks with the fluidity of the water, to create a sense of harmony.
The green algae around the boulder added a vibrant splash of colour, a contrast to the dark rocks and the pastel sky. It was a detail that added depth and visual interest to the scene. I made sure to capture the texture of the algae, the way it clung to the rocks and the way it reflected the soft light.
Compositionally, I wanted to create a sense of depth, to lead the eye from the foreground boulder to the distant horizon. I used the lines of the rocks to guide the eye through the scene, to create a sense of flow.
It was about using the camera to translate the feeling of standing there, watching the sun slowly rise over Hopeman Bay, and showing the subtle, beautiful details of the Moray Coast.
