Patricia Anne Ruddle MA ARPS

Patricia Ann Ruddle MA ARPS

A glorious day at the seaside during the summer when hope was on the horizon. Although no stranger to Scarborough, this was my first visit to North Bay. The day was cloudy and bright, and it was a joy to breathe in the fresh, crisp air. Lots to photograph from the rocky outcrops and rock pools to the long stretch of sands overlooked by Scarborough Castle. I found myself intrigued by the rocks at the edge of Scalby Mills, alongside the old sea defences that created a trickling weir.

I’m no geologist, nor do I know one type of rock from another, but I was gob-smacked by the sheer variety of the different types – all in one short sweep of the beach. I scrambled up and down, here and there, taking many photos.

This one day free from being cooped up in quarantine gave me a sense of contentment. The photographic process became meditative.

These rocks connect to the past and to the future, with their many layers they display resilience in the face of a millennium of weathering. Their essence may be stability, but they also have the capability to evolve and adapt.