beach – Words & Pictures – The homepage of JM Shackleton

Slightly Out Of Focus – Bognor, 2024

21/01/2025

One of the things I love about film photography is the feeling of anticipation when you get a roll processed – will the photos look like I remembered? Will there be anything there at all?

Most of my cameras are quite old – at least 40 years – so I have my share of nothing coming out at all. In this case the photographs from my 86 year old camera were correctly exposed (or near enough), but all slightly out of focus.

So I felt a bit disappointed as I clicked through the scans, until I came to this one, which I quite like.

In this case the blurry softness makes it feel more timeless, with just enough detail to give a sense of place.

Autumn Swim

15/11/202214/12/2022

I have swum in the sea at this time of year, but never intentionally!

But most days on Shoreham Beach, you see people taking a dip – sometimes on their own (like this gentleman), but mostly in groups of three or four.

People say it boosts health, like a cold shower, but more scenic.

Two More Yachts

15/10/202215/10/2022

Another day on Shoreham Beach. A darker sky – and now the sea is a deep green. A fair way out, two yachts sail back towards the harbour. Unlike before, there is a steady wind, whipping up waves which crash on to the beach.

Although you can’t see them, there were some swimmers.

Two Yachts

09/10/202210/10/2022

The first sunny day of autumn. A steady offshore breeze. A group of yachts venture out from the harbour. Warm in the sunshine, with a sharp chill waiting in the shade.

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