Costal Abstracts at Paddy’s Hole By Iain Kitt

Costal Abstracts at Paddy’s Hole By Iain Kitt

When I mentioned to my partner that I was going to Paddy’s Hole to take some photographs her response was “that doesn’t sound like a very attractive location”. And at first sight I’m sure many people would agree with her.

Paddy’s Hole is a small harbour at the end of a long breakwater on the mouth of the River Tees. It is named after the Irish navvies who built it using slag from the nearby Redcar steelworks. Outside of the harbour, large ships slip in and out of Teesport but inside is a safe haven for a motley collection of small boats which are left high and dry in the mud at low tide. On the banks are a collection of what are best described, with no disrespect to their proud owners, as shacks, the whole area may not be beautiful, but you sense there is a strong community amongst the people who frequent it.

The site has numerous possibilities. The contrast between the small harbour with its small boats and the cranes and chemical works on the opposite bank of the Tees has formed a subject for several photographers. However, I was there to take part in “Coastal Abstracts”, an RPS workshop run by Mark Banks. We were going to look through the other end of the lens, so to speak, and focus down on some of the small details, picking out interesting features from amongst the fishing paraphernalia. One of the challenges Mark set us was to dispense with our zoom lenses and instead just use one of fixed focal length, as a way to focus our attention much more on getting the composition right. I use an Olympus EM1, Mk II so I chose a 60mm macro lens, giving an equivalent focal length of 120mm. Our first exercise was simply to photograph a flat feature. The weather to start was rather bright and sunny which made choosing a suitable subject slightly tricky as many of the surfaces were quite reflective. An umbrella to cast some shade turned out to be a useful accessory (and would also come in handy later when it rained). Images one and two were my best attempts.

© Iain Kitt

After lunch the weather improved, in photographic terms, becoming overcast with the occasional heavy downpour. Our focus moved on to looking at how to ensure images of subjects with depth were pin-sharp throughout by using focus stacking. As a technique focus stacking sounds simple enough. Take a photograph focussing on the nearest point to the camera then take several more focusing progressively further away but in practice I found it to be quite tricky requiring considerable concentration. A rock-steady tripod is essential as is being careful with your feet, so you don’t inadvertently knock it, not always easy when wearing wellingtons and standing in slippery mud! After several attempts, I produced this image which shows the value of the technique. I really like the way that using focus stacking highlights the texture of both the chain and the wood.

© Iain Kitt

The area abounds in objects which can provide significant opportunities for homing in on interesting features as the next images demonstrate.

© Iain Kitt

© Iain Kitt

© Iain Kitt

© Iain Kitt

A location like Paddy’s Hole shows the potential of sites that are unlikely to feature in any tourist guidebook, but which hold endless fascination for photographers who are willing to look beyond the routinely picturesque and see beauty in the seemingly mundane and everyday.

© Iain Kitt

Practicalities: Paddy’s Hole is on the South Gare breakwater on the south side of the Tees estuary. The road from Warrenby along the breakwater, round the back of the now disused steelworks, is marked private but it is fine to drive along. There is plenty of parking off the road towards the end. The postcode is TS10 5NX and What3words location is ///zealous.foot.ankle. The harbour is very muddy at low tide, so wellingtons are recommended. There are no restrictions on access (contrary to what it says on some websites) but it is a working harbour so please respect the people who work (and some may even live) there. Thanks to Mark Banks for running the workshop and his expert tuition which helped me produce the images in this article.