Flamborough

On starting to see and work the chalk

Flamborough is a place that means a lot to me. My grandfather retired to Bridlington in the 1970s and every other weekend we would drive up and frequently visit the head, especially Danes Dyke. He lived close by, just off Bempton Lane. I photographed Flamborough early on in my large format journey when few photographers spent the time there and I took my dad to Thornwick Bay several times including on one memorable summer evening.

Over the years I found it difficult to make images I was satisfied with beyond the obvious. The year before, in winter 24/25, I had spent a couple of days in Bridlington trying to open up the chalk peninsula for some project work that was underway. That last visit started to crack the puzzle and this particular trip benefited from that work. It was a simple day trip with the goal of spending the afternoon photographing the chalk formations as the tide fell. The first image - the alternative image - was made as the water had just left the chalk floor near the cliffs. I set up and made an abstract that built on those ideas. It made a satisfying print.

I then turned my attention to the main image. There were very few people around that day - very like it used to be when I came here years back. I followed the water as it retreated and set up the main image of the sea stack and cliffs late afternoon as the sky started to colour.

Although it was ostensibly a session aimed at forward-looking project work I couldn’t help but remember the many times I had been here with my dad and grandparents as I packed up and climbed back up the cliff.