Featured Photographer, Lindsay Southgate LRPS

Lindsay’s happiest memories since childhood are related to spending time on a beach. As is often the case, these experiences form us and are reflected in the work that is produced and probably explains Lindsay’s preference for heading to the beach to create images. Lindsay has lived in Cornwall for the last twenty years, where the wide open beaches have inspired her to try and capture the feelings of peace and calm to be found whatever the weather and however ferocious or calm the sea. The far distant horizon, the movement of the water and how the sea, sky and land intersect all fascinate Lindsay.

My happiest memories since childhood are related to spending time on a beach. As it is often said that the experiences which form us are reflected in our work that probably explains my preference for heading to beaches for my photography. Having lived in Cornwall for the last twenty years that is far from a hardship!

On a wide open beach, with an outgoing tide, I love to capture the feelings of peace and calm to be found whatever the weather and however ferocious or calm the sea. The far distant horizon, the movement of the water and how the sea, sky and land intersect all fascinate me and encourage me to try to capture the emotion I feel just being there at that moment in time. Unlike some landscape photographers, I do not plan my visits according to the time of day, for sunrise or sunset. The state of the tide matters more than the weather or time of day so I will visit just as high tide is turning and follow the sea back down the beach. I will use whatever light is available according to the time of day dictated by the tide.

Similarly, I am happy to experience roaring waves or gentle lapping of the water. By using long exposures of varying lengths I represent the rhythm of the sea and show its mood on any particular day. Long exposures also enable me to reflect the textures of the sea and sky, which so often mirror each other, as I look out to the horizon.

In terms of composition, I prefer to create minimalist images with a relatively soft focus but will often include an element of the land to anchor the image and reflect its sense of place. Tonally, my preference is to use pastel colours to impart the feeling of peace and calm, which is my emotional response to the location and conditions at the time.

After the first lockdown in 2020, I relished the opportunity to get back to my favourite beaches and create images, having been unable to visit for some time. The variety of online talks and courses put on by the RPS in those intervening months had encouraged me to undertake more project-based work so it was important, therefore, to do more than just produce individual images. To celebrate the freedom of being on the beach again and as a believer in the power of words as well as images, I decided to create a series including a verse or quote about the sea. Selecting quotes which resonated with me and comparing them to the images, I carefully chose each one to create a match. In doing this, I wanted to ensure that the whole series is worth more than the individual sum of the parts; that the images and words benefit from being placed together. I hope that the viewer is encouraged to linger over each image, reading the quote, viewing the image and reflecting on the two together on the same page, as well as enjoying a little bit of Cornwall.

All images © Lindsey Southgate LRPS