Show Notes

The last part to this mini-series about a day exploring the Moray Coast. In part one I spent the sunrise at Bow Fiddle Rock and then I continued my day exploring the coast line eastward before arriving in Fraserburgh. My last stop and a new location for me to explore. 

I had been out for about 14 hours when I started filming this last vlog. I was quite exhausted but I was intrigued by the location. The beach at Fraserburgh has wonderful sand dunes, a landscape almost unknown to me, and I will forever associate sand dunes with the Moray Coast where it is possible to encounter several different areas. 

Because sand dunes are so alien to me, I decided that it would make the perfect first subject for landscape photography. I framed a couple different images of the sand dunes, trying different ideas with the marram grass and golden yellow sand. 

I then spotted the lighthouse, and I tried to frame the dunes with the lighthouse but it wasn’t possible as the lighthouse looked too small in the frame. I continued down to the beach where I framed the lighthouse as the sole subject with the sky and the sea surrounding it. A minimal landscape photograph but I was beginning to struggle with thinking of compositions. 

So, I reverted back to my earlier pursuit of photographing the waves and the sea. Trying to freeze the water in a pleasing way before, for the third time that day, resorting to ICM photography to get an abstract image that focuses on the colours of the sea. Like an abstract painting. 

I was getting frustrated with how the end of the day was going and convinced myself that there would be no sunset colours, so I went back to the car and while I recorded a piece to camera rounding up my day the sky lit up with deep pinks and purples. 

After I finished the piece to camera, I got out of the car to try and capture something. Forgetting to film the ultimate shot of the day. The lighthouse was not visible from where I was stood, so an ICM of the sunset colours over the sea was all I could manage before making the long drive home. 

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Onto the Images

Not the most dramatic composition but I wanted to express the magical sense that the sand dunes and marram grass give me. Where I’m from sand dunes do not exist, so to see swathes of them across the Moray Coast is endlessly fascinating for me. The dunes wouldn’t exist without the marram grass creating a mat of roots through the sand, holding them together and accumulating the drifting sand into small hills.

A slow shutter speed to help the ethereal feel I wanted to show with this image, the grass dancing in the wind.

The contrast of the soft green marram grass, the golden sand and the blue clouds and sea in the distance. Those were the elements that drew me to this composition. It was another attempt to capture the majesty of this landscape. Something so alien to me.

After I took the landscape orientation image above, I decided to try for a portrait orientation. It was my attempt to make the wall of sand larger and more prominent in the landscape. The marram grass was still an essential foreground anchor adding depth to the image.

The lighthouse proved difficult to frame. I initially tried to frame it with the sand dunes and marram grass but the lighthouse appeared very small in the frame, so I moved closer to the sea. I changed to the longest lens I had with me, a 70-200mm lens and shot it at 200mm in an attempt to make the lighthouse bigger.

The problem was that I couldn’t fit anything else in the frame other than the sea and the sky. I put on my 6 stop solid ND filter to slow the waves and colours and tones, giving a more tranquil minimal scene. But I was annoyed by the white ship on the left as well.

I was getting frustrated so I changed subject. Earlier in the day I had experimented with capturing the sea, so I returned to this pursuit.

As earlier in the day, there was a lot of surfers on this beach, and if you watch the video you can see why, the waves were amazing but not too challenging. Perfect for a surf school. The waves were such an essential part of this beach I attempted to capture them again.

I still feel that waves work best when they are more dramatic and you zoom in closer. Next time I visit Fraserburgh, I will take along my 100-400mm lens. That might give me enough reach for the lighthouse and the waves!

I was still discontented with how the evening was going, so to lift my spirits I was back doing ICM photography. Capturing the tones and colours of the sea and the waves in an abstract way.

I was completely exhausted from the day and I convinced myself that there was not going to be any sunset colours and that I was standing in the cold and wind for nothing. So, I made my way back to the car but I was completely wrong!

While I was recording my end piece to camera, rounding up the day and this video the sky came alive with pinks and purples. I was now nowhere near any interesting subject. The lighthouse was not visible from where I was, so I resorted to the only thing possible. . . .

An ICM abstract image just to capture the colours in the sky and the sea. My last ditch effort to recover the sunset.

It was a big lesson in not giving up and sticking with it. No matter how tired and cold. It always happens that when you turn your back and think it’s all over, that’s when everything happens! And you won’t be in a good place for it or you won’t even have a camera. I’ve lost count of how many times that has happened!

Hopefully on my next journey I won’t miss out on any images! Subscribe to my YouTube channel to keep up to date and see what comes next!

About the Film

Just a little information about the film and how I made it, as well as some links to equipment.

I edited the film using the Free Version of DaVinci Resolve. It’s an incredibly powerful piece of software that I am still trying to understand and will possibly write an article about in the future.

The tracks featured in today’s film were licensed via a subscription with Epidemic Sound. (By following that link, if you purchase a subscription then I will be gifted with a month free for referring you to their services)

• Ultra Chill by Imprismed 

• I Don’t Wanna Wait by Spring Gang 

• Doors Unlocked by Deanz 

• Fading Fast by Scipio 

A short Kit List

These are affiliate links, which means if you follow them and make a purchase I will earn a small commission for referring you to Amazon UK. You can find out more about affiliate links here.

Main Vlog Camera is a simple Panasonic G80 with the kit lens, its a great little mirrorless camera that I got for the sole purpose of creating YouTube videos. It’s capable of filming in 4k and seems to do everything that I want it to.

Rode Mic, I got this little microphone to boost the audio quality from the inbuilt microphone.

Action Camera, I use this to film myself when walking. It’s a simple DJI Pocket Osmo camera that has a motorised 3 axis gimbal head, which means that I stay in focus and static while the landscape around me moves. It’s also capable of filming in 4k and the audio quality is quite good.

Voice Recorder, to boost the audio quality when it’s windy or I’m using the action camera I use this handy little voice recorder with a lapellier microphone to record audio.

For a complete Landscape Photography Kit List you can read through what equipment I take with me when I go out here.

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Written by Daniel Long

Daniel Long created DRL Photography as a place to showcase his work as a photographer. Daniel has learnt a lot about photography and wishes to impart this knowledge with you, although the world is an ever changing place and he always says “you can never learn everything.” So as he makes his way, he continues to learn knew techniques, skills and information about photography. He focuses on Landscape and Wildlife photography and Daniel has a special focus on Scotland, his home away from home. As well as writing about photography and taking pictures out in the field, Daniel offers guided photography days so he can share his knowledge and locations in an effort to give his clients the best opportunities possible. Have a browse around this website to see his images, guided experiences and articles about photography. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to get in contact.