Exploring Coastal and Landscape Photography with Mike Murphy
Some photographs work because the place is beautiful. The better ones work because the photographer knew what they wanted the picture to feel like before pressing the shutter.
That idea sits at the heart of Lowestoft Photographic Club’s evening with Mike Murphy’s Photography on Wednesday 11th November 2026 at 7.30 pm. Mike will take the club on a Photographic journey through coastal and landscape locations, looking at the thinking behind the images as well as the practical choices that helped create them.
It’s a tempting subject for anyone who enjoys photographing the outdoors. Coastlines and open views can look simple at first, but they’re full of decisions. Where do you stand? What do you leave out? Do you wait for the light to soften? Do you make the sea sharp and restless, or smooth and quiet? The answers can change the whole mood of a photograph.
Why intention matters before the shutter clicks
A strong outdoor photograph usually starts before the camera comes out of the bag. The best starting point is often a simple question.
What is this picture really about?
It might be the shape of a headland, the pull of a path through dunes, a lone marker post at the edge of the tide, or the way low light catches wet sand. Once that main idea is clear, the rest of the choices become easier.
For example, if the subject is a rough sea, a faster setting can keep the movement sharp and energetic. If the aim is calm, a longer exposure can turn moving water into a soft surface. Same location, different intention, different result.
That’s why an evening like this is useful. It’s not just about looking at finished images. It’s about tracing the route from the location to the final photograph. For amateur photographers, that’s often where the biggest gains are made, not from buying more kit, but from making clearer choices.
Mike’s work can be explored at mmurphyphotos.co.uk, and the club evening will focus on how his images were approached and captured.
Reading coastal and landscape locations with a photographer’s eye
Coastal photography asks for patience. The scene rarely stays still for long. Tide, cloud, wind and light can all change the look of a place in minutes.
That’s part of the attraction, especially around the East Anglian coast, where wide beaches, open skies and hard sea defences can all become strong subjects. A plain scene at midday can feel flat. The same place in angled evening light can gain shape, texture and depth.
A few choices make a big difference:
Watch the edges of the frame Coastlines often include distracting signs, railings, bins or bright patches of sky. Small adjustments can clean up the picture.
Use foreground carefully Rocks, groynes, seaweed, ripples in sand or pools of water can lead the eye into the frame.
Pay attention to the horizon A slightly tilted sea is one of those things people notice straight away. It’s easy to miss in the moment.
Think about timing Low tide may reveal patterns and textures. High tide may simplify the scene and make waves more important.
Good landscape, coastal, and seascape photography often comes down to noticing these quiet details rather than chasing dramatic scenes every time.
How long exposure changes the mood of water and sky
Long exposure is one of the techniques Mike will discuss during the evening. Put simply, it means letting the camera record the scene for longer than usual.
That extra time changes moving parts of the scene. Waves can blur. Clouds can stretch. People walking through the frame might soften or disappear. Solid subjects, such as rocks, piers or cliffs, stay still and become visual anchors.
This can create a calm, dreamlike result, but it’s easy to overdo. The trick is to match the effect to the feeling of the place. A wild, stormy beach may lose its power if every wave turns to mist. By contrast, a quiet groyne at dusk might suit that soft treatment perfectly.
For newer photographers, the key lesson is simple. Long exposure isn’t just a trick. It’s a way of shaping mood.
A few practical points help too:
Use a steady support if the camera needs to stay still.
Check the frame for anything moving that could distract.
Take more than one version, because water movement varies from shot to shot.
Review the result on the back of the camera and adjust if the effect is too strong.
Why infrared photography can reveal a different atmosphere
Infrared photography is another technique on the programme. It records light in a way that looks different from normal sight. Foliage can turn pale, skies can become dark, and familiar places can feel strange or quiet.
This makes it especially interesting for outdoor work. A scene that looks ordinary in visible light may take on a very different character in infrared. Trees, grasses, clouds and water can separate in unusual ways, giving the image a mood that’s hard to create by normal means.
It’s not the right approach for every subject. Some scenes benefit from natural colour and simple light. Others come alive when treated in a more unusual way. The value of seeing examples is that it shows when the method helps the picture, and when it might get in the way.
That judgement is one of the most useful things to learn from another photographer’s work.
What to expect from the evening
The club evening will suit anyone who enjoys outdoor photography and wants to think more carefully about image-making. It’s likely to be especially useful if coastal scenes appeal to you, but your results don’t always match what you saw or felt at the time.
Expect the focus to be on:
The intention behind the images
How locations were approached
How technical choices affected mood
The use of long exposure
The use of infrared photography
How atmosphere can be built through light, timing and composition
The event takes place at Lowestoft Photographic Club on Wednesday 11th November 2026 at 7.30 pm.
For the latest event details, visit the club’s programme page here: see the current Lowestoft Photographic Club programme.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the evening aimed at?
It’s a good fit for amateur photographers who enjoy outdoor photography and want to understand the choices behind stronger images.
Do I need experience with long exposure or infrared photography?
No. The evening will look at these techniques through examples, so it should be useful even if you’ve never tried them before.
Will the talk only cover coastal photography?
Coastal locations are a key part of the evening, but the ideas around light, mood, timing and intention also apply to wider landscape photography.
Where can I see Mike Murphy’s work?
You can visit Mike Murphy’s Photography at mmurphyphotos.co.uk.
A good evening for slowing down and looking harder
The most useful photography talks don’t just show polished pictures. They help you understand the choices that led to them.
This evening with Mike Murphy should be a good reminder that mood doesn’t happen by accident. It comes from noticing the light, reading the location, choosing the right technique and knowing what the image is meant to say. For anyone trying to make more thoughtful outdoor photographs, that’s time well spent. #lowestoft #suffolkphotographer #landscape
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