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Christopher Cockroft

Christopher Cockroft - an accountant from Havenstreet - used to play golf “very, very badly,” so took up photography instead in February 2019.

Self-taught, Chris watched videos and tutorials on YouTube and learnt “on the fly,” quickly becoming “quite obsessed with it.” “I developed a deep appreciation of the special landscape that is the Island, which looks even better under that lovely golden light at sunrise and sunset,” he explains. Many of these shots were taken as part of a project to take 12 significant photographs of your local area, which you can find out more about at www.12significantphotos.com Chris currently has a Nikon Z7ii and previously used a Nikon D800.

Opposite: Newtown, sunrise, March 2021. It was really grey and overcast and then just before sunrise there was this amazing light. I had to wait for the scene to develop as the light came up over the south of the Island. I love exploring around Newtown.

Above: Bluebells at Mottistone, May 2021. The bluebells were late last year. I’d just gone to the Longstone and on the way down through the woods there was a slight mist forming. I had to wait for ages for the sun to cast light down through the canopy of the trees, which lifted the scene.

Above: Brook Down, April 2021.

I got absolutely soaked getting up here, and the sun just broke through when I got to this point.

Right: St Helen’s Duver, April 2021.

This one was taken the same day as the boats in Bembridge Harbour. I knew about this spot, and had been thinking about it for some time, but I wanted that mist across the harbour. I love the little white spring flowers and the blossom starting on the hawthorn hedge.

Above: Pepperpot, January 2021.

It was one of those very rare days on the Island when a very heavy frost was forecast. I got to the Pepperpot and it was thick fog, and as the sun rose the clouds parted and there was a fantastic view of the coastline. The Pepperpot seemed to be almost glowing, when ten minutes before you could hardly make it out.

Left: Bembridge Harbour, sunrise, April 2021.

I hadn’t planned to go there, but as I drove across the downs, I noticed the mist coming off the harbour.