Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004

Last year a BBC weather watcher picture caught my eye.  The featured photograph showed multi coloured beach huts lined up in rows.  The caption gave the name of the place as Walton-on-the-Naze.   The picture was fascinating and I said to myself “I must visit this place one day”.  When the opportunity arose to speak at a conference in Colchester, I planned a visit to the seaside towns in Essex before arriving at the conference.  The idea was to take pictures of these colourful beach huts starting at Walton-on-the-Naze.  

Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004
Taking time out in the sun.

Arriving in the town, I went to the viewpoint on the cliff that overlooked the pier.   Behind me was the Victorian architecture of the town and in front the rooftops of the Beach huts lined up along the promenade.  Walton-on-the-Naze is a picturesque seaside resort. In early October, the holiday season was at an end, and the doors of the beach huts were shut.  I went down to the promenade walked past the pier and immediately came face to face with the colourful fronts of the numerous beach huts.  

Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004
Rows and rows of Beach huts at Walton-on-the-Naze
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004
Looking back from the promenade at the beach huts.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004
Walking the promenade.

As a photographer, I just self-indulged in taking pictures with all those vibrant pastel colours.  I walked around them and even climbed up the cliff steps taking in all the different rows.  As well as their colourful designs, people had called their beach huts various names.  I walked for a good half a mile along the promenade admiring the various huts.  The tide was in and the sea was splashing upwards and I had to take care of the camera.  The sun was shining and there were countless opportunities to take pictures of the people who were out and about walking up and down the promenade.   

The design of the huts changed as I moved towards Frinton-on-sea and some of the beach houses were on struts with walkways leading up to the door.  Looking at my pictures you can see the different varieties.

Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004
The changing style of beach hut.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Walton on the Naze, Essex, 2004
Pastel colours

Next stop was Frinton-by-the-sea and here the cliff wall was higher but I went down and once again came across a long row of the beach huts facing the sea.  I even found one couple had opened the doors of their hut.  They were enjoying the sun and catching up with what looked like work.   

Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Frinton-on-sea, Essex, 2004
Beach Huts along the Essex coast, Frinton-on-sea, Essex, 2004
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Frinton-on-sea, Essex, 2004
Enjoying the sun in October.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Frinton-on-sea, Essex, 2004
The beach is in easy reach.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Frinton-on-sea, Essex, 2004
Frinton-on-sea.

Following my visit to Frinton-on-sea, my next stop was Clacton-on-sea or simply Clacton.  The town was busier and whilst there are only a few beach huts, there was a very grand pier which was open to the public.  The pier was quiet and none of the amusements were working but there were some good views of the coast.  I walked along the promenade and visited the area where Butlins used to be situated.  The area is now a new housing estate and the information boards gave details of what the place would have looked like in post war times. 

Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Clacton, Essex, 2004
Clacton pier was quiet.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Clacton, Essex, 2004
Roller coaster against a clear blue sky.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Clacton, Essex, 2004
A few of the beach huts at Clacton.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Clacton, Essex, 2004
The wall of the Martello Tower in the foreground and in the background the housing estate built on the former Butlins holiday camp.
Beach Huts along the Essex coats, Clacton, Essex, 2004
Where to find your beach toys.

The tide was going out and so I was able to get on the beach and take in the sea air.  This visit has satisfied my desire to see beach huts.  I did enjoy the colours in each town and all the different characters of these charming seaside resorts. There was the cleanliness and gentility of Frenton-on-Sea to the brash busy streets of Clacton.  Walton on the Naze enjoys a beautiful coastal location with the added attraction of the Neze Tower. A lovely day out at the Seaside.

Please read my companion piece on the Naze tower.

I have occasional meetings in London and I always plan to get down early and plan a photographic walk. I have never been to Little Venice so I jumped onto the tube and made it to Warwick Avenue. From here I got on the canal. It was a beautiful morning and the light was just pouring out of the sky. Reminds me of one of my favourite songs “The light pours out of me” by Magazine. There was a wonderful haze around the canals. I had my wide angled lens with me which I find pulls in all of the scene into the camera. I moved through Little Venice into the Paddington branch where many people where moving around on their way to work.

Little Venice
Onto Paddington
Hazy sun

Bridges and people

Lines of lights
Buildings and water

Looking down the canal

There was plenty of opportunities to take pictures where water, people and sun interacted. When I got back home, I immediately converted them into black and white and found that I had captured much more than I had hoped. I will be back to visit again in the future.

Little Venice in Colour

The sun came back after a really dull week and so I jumped into the car down to one of my favourite locations for photographs.  Kingswood Junction is near to Lapworth and is where the Stratford-upon-Avon canal meets the Grand Union canal via a small connection under the railway bridge.  I played around with long exposure, long focal length lens and an old fish eye lens that I have.  All good fun and long may the sun shine.

A small boat in the marina

Which way?

Via the Grand Union

The connection between the two major waterways

Long exposure

Long exposure with black and white treatment

The Fish eye view

A pleasant sunny day

The iPhone is so versatile and useful to have on you.  So I always bring it with me when running as you can often capture interesting pictures.  This series shows a few I did on a recent run.  I did see a couple of Herons but the iPhone was not the right camera especially when they flew away.  However there will be other opportunities with another camera.  I remember someone saying the best camera is the one you have with you.  Never so true a statement.

Copt Heath Golf Course

Under the M42

Bottom of Knowle locks

Grand Union Canal

20160930_sainsburys-car-park

The changing nature of the weather is so fascinating. The colours at dawn and dusk can be amazing. During the day there may be storms, rainbows and even sunny weather that just has to be captured. I regularly post to the BBC Weather Watchers page as it is always fun to get your picture on the Television. The Weather watchers page will tag your photos with “Editors Picks” and then you will know thet the picture has been featured on the television. I was one of the first weather watchers to be selected as a feature of the pages and able to share my experiences of taking pictures of the weather. I also contribute to the Yahoo Weather Project for the mobile phone where your photographs are selected from the Flickr Group.

Dammo’s Weather Watchers Profile

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