PORTREATH FIRE BALL
‘Portreath Fire Ball’ is an early photo from a series I took in the seaside village of Portreath on the north coast of Cornwall. I had originally found my way out onto the cliffs shouldering the harbour to capture some panoramic landscapes of the coastline. However, an aggravated sea state had turned the harbour into a cauldron of activity, with burgeoning waves crashing over the harbour and pier. A particular focal point was the village’s iconic monkey hut. Once used as a lookout by local pilots stationed at Portreath to watch out for vessels and guide them safely into the harbour, it now sits empty on the end of the harbour wall and is often the subject of local photographers – and storms.
For this shot, the hut served as the subject of both the sea’s might and the focus of my lens. To create this particular image, I chose a position horizontal to the harbour and used a neutral density filter along with a long exposure to capture a slowed perspective of the waves hitting the wall. Making it even more special is the sunlight bathing the water in the top right corner, radiating an almost fireball-esque quality. Formed from a fleeting break in the clouds, the beautiful illumination was only a momentary treat, adding beautiful golden tones to the scene and highlighting bright flecks within the sea’s wild spray. To me, it is a picture that is both chaotic and balanced, turbulent and smooth.
Additional Images
Certificate of Authenticity
Portreath Fire Ball is a fine art landscape photograph with a limited run of 100 prints.
A Certificate of Authenticity will be supplied with every print after it has passed the Tide & Land quality check, numbered and signed.
Tide & Land photography prints are not massed produced, but are hand made to order, guaranteeing the best quality with every print.
Further Information
+ PRINTING
Each of my images is printed using an Epson SureColor SC-P800 Printer. This printer is designed to produce high quality professional prints using UltraChrome HD ink that gives a true-to-life finish. Shadows are notably crisp against the vibrancy of the colour palettes across all size ranges of my photography.
+ PAPER
I print my images on Innova Resin Coated Photo Metallic Gloss paper which works extremely well on the Epson SureColor SC-P800 Printer. This 260gsm photo paper has a natural white base tone that contains metallic pigments in its microporous coating. Not only does it provide a high gloss finish, the pigments offer an extra dimension of subtle colour shifts under changing light conditions, and is suitable for colour and greyscale prints.
+ MOUNTBOARDS
I use white mountboards with my photographs. Bainbridge Alphamat Artcare Mounts provide art work with high quality protection from air and acid pollutants, as well as being 100% fade resistant and bleed proof.
+ FRAMING
I offer a range of glass-fronted frames in wood (Birch), and aluminium (Frosted Silver or Jet Black Polished). I have chosen these frames for their strength and quality, and because they perfectly complement the mountboards and balance my images.
+ OTHER MATERIALS
Besides these key components it is also worth noting that I use archival back boards to provide your print with further added protection, and when purchasing framed photography the mounts are secured using acid-free tape.
+ DELIVERY
Framed prints are made to order and will try and dispatch within 7 working days however this can be shorter or longer depending on workload. Ink need the time to properly set to the paper before being handled and this can take a few days.
All framed prints ship in a bespoke and secure packaging system via insured courier. I try to recycle cardboard ink within my packaging materials where I can to add to security to the shipment.