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The story behind this image

Waves crashing onto rocks is an ever popular photographic subject, as such scenes can be both beautiful and visually metaphorical at the same time. Think static versus dynamic, solid versus fluid, the irresistable force meets the immoveable object and so on - I'm sure you get the picture.

I photographed this particular example of 'wave art' while exploring Loop Head, on the west coast of Ireland. The waves were particularly impressive as, after all, this is the first bit of solid land after 3,000 miles of Atlantic ocean so they have a bit of room to develop!

For this photo I wanted to convey something of the majesty and power of the sea. I tried various shutter speeds, from super-fast with frozen wave spray all the way through to super-slow with the sea rendered as a milky mist, but I found this rendering, with just a hint of blur on the spray, to be the best to get over how I felt at the time.

To further enhance the mood of the image, I waited until the sun was about to set, giving a lovely golden glow to the wave pounded headland rocks which contrasted really well with the deep green of the sea.

I wish you could have been there with me. A photo, try as I might, just can't convey the full awe that I felt standing on that cliff on that wonderful evening in Ireland.