Looking across the rockpools to the Farne Islands, Seahouses.

One from August 2013 at Seahouses, Northumberland. I love the colours and textures in the rocks and pools on the beach, and the shapes carved out by the wind and water. In this picture you can just make out the nearest of the Farne Islands on the central horizon.

I noticed in the raw file that the horizon was slightly curved, due to the wide angle lens, so I had to alter the distortion in Lightroom - the first time I've used that tool.

Camera/lens settings: ISO 100, f/10, 1/125s, 18mm, hand held.

Seal on the Farne Islands

I took this on our holiday to Seahouses in August 2013. This was our second boat trip to Longstone Island, one of the Farne Islands. The first time, we'd climbed up inside the lighthouse (you only have about 20 mins on the island) so this time we wanted to just explore and look for seals. The seals are used to people being around so I wasn't too surprised when this one let me get quite close (although not as close as the photo suggests - I had a zoom lens!). It wasn't until I got round the other side of it that I realised it was actually injured - the poor thing had a cut on the side of its face. Apparently they fight a lot. I felt quite guilty for taking its picture (and very much like a tourist!) once I realised it was probably in pain.

Just a slight increase in contrast and dark vignette in Lightroom on this one.

Rusting wheels in the sea at Longstone Island

I noticed these big iron wheels in the water on Longstone Island, one of the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast, whilst we were wandering round looking at the seals. I was really struck by the lovely colours of the rusting metal alongside the green moss on the rocks. I thought it funny at the time that I was photographing rusting metal wheels whilst everyone else was still photographing the seals!

I have to admit to a big post-production 'cheat' on this one though. The sky was totally flat grey, albeit very bright, and it really let the picture down. So I created a blue sky and corresponding reflection in the water by using 2 graduated filters (one from the top, one from the bottom, both at angles) - reducing exposure and temperature in each.