Puffin Island under stormy skies, Anglesey, North Wales #8

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The story behind this image

If you're looking for drama then the North Wales coast doesn't disappoint.

The light, coastline geology, weather, tides and shoreline features all combine in an ever changing sensory dance that makes every trip here an adventure.

However, some coastal locations, at certain times, have that extra 'wow' factor.

And one such is dawn at Penmon Point on the southeastern tip of the Isle of Anglesey.

I was up very early on midsummers day to drive there back in 2007, in order to catch the 4.45am sunrise over Puffin Island, just offshore from Penmon.

It was one of those wonderful and rare occasions when everything came together to capture highly dramatic photos, with heavy storm clouds over the sea, with just a small gap at the horizon to allow the sunlight to shine through like a spotlight.

With waves breaking onto the eroded limestone foreshore and Puffin Island outlined against the threatening skies I wasted no time in taking as many photos as I could before the gap in the clouds finally closed up and the fantastic lightshow was over for the day.

And I still had plenty of time to drive home and get ready for the working day, abuzz with my early morning excursion.

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Image location

Penmon Dawn Video #1
Penmon Dawn Timelapse #1
Penmon Dawn Timelapse #2
Penmon Dusk Timelapse #1
Penmon Sunrise Timelapse #1
Penmon Tide Timelapse #1
Penmon Tide Timelapse #2
Penmon Tide Timelapse #3
Penmon Tide Timelapse #4
Penmon Timelapse #1
Penmon Timelapse #2
Penmon Timelapse #3
Penmon Timelapse #4
Penmon Timelapse #5
Penmon Timelapse #6

Image data

Filename - anglesey puffin island 08

Camera - Canon EOS 5D

Lens - 17-40mm zoom @ 40mm

Exposure - 1.3 secs @ f/11, ISO100

Filters - Polarising filter used to reduce glare and enhance colours. 2 stop neutral density graduated filter used to reduce the brightness of the sky.

Location - Penmon Point, Anglesey, North Wales

Image enhancements - Adobe Lightroom

Comments - Tripod, mirror lockup and remote release used to prevent camera movement.