Elizabeth Dock
Elizabeth Dock forms the heart of Maryport's working harbour, a quaint little fishing port where the River Ellen meets the Solway Firth. What makes this spot so photogenic is the tide. When the water pulls out, the fishing boats settle onto the sandy harbour floor and just sit there, leaning at odd angles with their hulls fully exposed waiting for the water to return. The River Ellen shrinks to a narrow channel winding through the mud, and the whole harbour takes on this quiet, almost abandoned feel that is incredibly fun to experiment with. Then the tide comes back in, everything floats again, and you have a completely different scene. Both are worth shooting. At low water you can cross the Ellenfoot pedestrian bridge for an elevated angle looking down over the grounded fleet and the exposed harbour bed. When the tide rises the bridge lifts to let boats through. The quayside gives you plenty to work with too. Black iron bollards, ropes, colourful hulls, and the stone harbour walls all layer nicely. On a clear day the hills of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland sit right on the horizon across the Solway Firth, and sunset can be impressive when the sky cooperates. Overcast days suit this place just as well with the flat grey light bringing out the working character of the harbour. Plus the cast iron Maryport Lighthouse near the harbour entrance is worth exploring after you finish shooting the docks. The whole area is easily accessible, just be sure to check the tide tables before setting out on your shooting adventure. (Maryport, Cumbria, England)
