Stephen Walton Photography Workshops

I was working up in Whitby, Yorkshire recently on a tutored photo walk and what an amazing location for photography it was!

If you’ve never been to England’s east coast then definitely check it out. I was really surprised by how variable the terrain and topography were. The towns and villages either sit on the edges of cliffs metres from the shoreline – there’s no in-between.

But I think that’s a good thing for photographers. It allows us to exploit the extreme angles of shooting wide, meandering vistas as well as low, domineering urban landscapes of the buildings above.

Photo Walk in Whitby

Our walk started off in Whitby town centre and moved up to the iconic Abbey – the inspiring venue for some of Bram Stoker’s writing in his story of Dracula. The ruins date back over 900 years and sit upon a high point overlooking the town, harbour and North Sea shore.

I didn’t take tonnes of photos, as I said I was out tutoring a group of brilliant photographers. But I did manage to sneak in a few shots when our walk had finished.

The temperature was glorious for sunbathing – but a little too intense and uncomfortable for ‘considered photography’. Many of my shots were taken on the go as I was desperate to escape the heat, but that’s not always a bad thing.

History of Whitby

From the Abbey, we returned back through the town towards the dual lighthouses which mark the entrance to the town’s harbour and marina.

Whitby was utilised by pirates centuries ago as a port for smuggling rum and other illegal items. There are still tonnes of memories of that culture even today in the pirate-themed boat tours and famous whalebone arch on the cliff tops.

I would definitely recommend a trip to Whitby for any photographer looking to get outdoors and to capture locations awash with history and a distinct culture still on display. Whitby is much like York, Oxford and Edinburgh in that its relationship with the past is still cherished and enjoyed.

I’m sure, when it gets a little cooler, I’ll be back there someday for my own photography.