Through June, I visited Cape Cornwall, Start Point and Dartmoor. All three shoots where all-night affairs with quality astrophotography conditions. The first trip was an hours journey to the rugged, dramatic coast of West Cornwall. The cold granite cliffs and hidden coves make it a magical place to shoot under the stars. Our desired shooting location was a rocky headland towering over Porth Ledden, about a 30-minute hike along the coastal path from the car. The skies were starry, striking and surreal with only a hum of a teenage rave on the cliffs breaking the silence.
The Milkyway, Jupiter and Saturn over Cape Cornwall.
After a few hours on the headland, we hiked to Kenidjack Castle as our second location. This is an interesting ruin highly elevated which looked amazing with the Milkyway Backdrop. This night being the summer aquanauts meant the hours of darkness were short and we had to rush to make the most of this second location. Soon enough, the light of dawn would be upon us.
Kenidjack Castle.
To finish off this night, we where treated to a magical display of Noctilucent Cloud glistening like spiders silk on the northern horizon. The display intensified as dawn approached, my third ever sighting of this striking phenomenon.
My second jaunt took me and my friend to Dartmoor. We ventured to a remote part of the west Moors travelling over Brat Tor to a remote ruin. Skies looked unbelievably clear and dark. I love the concept of ruins, time and stars and felt this scene fitted in well to that. Didn’t take many photos this night but it was great to chill under the stars on this warm clear night wondering on the story to this place.
Brat Tor Ruin under t he watch of the Milkyway.
My concluding shoot of June took place on the south Devon coast to an amazing beach I’ve nicked named termite bay. This is a sentimental place for my and my partner Cait and ranks in my top three Cornwall and Devon beaches. This cove is nestled along side Start Point and this night the skies where breathtakingly salient, clear and striking.
A few beach campers enjoying the starry skies with Jupiter and the Milkyway.
After capturing a few images from the cliff, I wandered down to the beach to photograph some waters edge details. My final image of the night and a fantastic way to sign of a good month of Astrophotography
Mattiscombe Beach.