Durdle Door Beach, 11 Oct 2021, 10:00

Yes, this really is Durdle Door beach, but not the view you normally see as the arch, or 'door', of Durdle Door is nowhere to be seen. I am standing with the famous arch of Durdle Door behind me, over my left shoulder, and it is a bright, sunny scene this day that feels almost Mediterranean.

In contrast to the frozen-droplet action of my 'Between Forest and Sea: When the Sea Bites Back' post, this view provides a softer, almost abstract interpretation of wave action. A long, 3-second exposure, achieved using the Spectre Photo App, blurs each element of the crashing waves. The white foam, the dark underside of the curling wave, the turquoise wave crest and the bright azure sea beyond blend into an ethereal suggestion of the wave's crashing motion; you can almost feel the undertow as it draws back into to the churning sea. 

Interestingly, if you Google images of Durdle Door you will find that, apart from late evening in winter, the position of the sun leaves the side of the door facing the beach in permanent shade, giving it a slightly foreboding countenance. As famous as the arch is, it can be difficult to do both the beach and the arch justice together so, paradoxically, for the most inviting view of the beach, you may have to miss out on its most famous feature! As I said in the 'Sunrise fomo: The Other Side of Dawn' post, don't forget to look behind you, you never know what may be hiding in plain sight.

Photo Details - iPhone 11 Pro 13mm  f2.4 3 sec. Spectre Camera App. Processed in ApplePhotos (iOS)