In early September my wife and I visited the Norfolk Broads, which is an area of interconnected waterways that is very popular for boating holidays. Much of the area was originally marshland that had sunk below sea level, but this was drained from the late 17th Century onwards using wind-pumps (not windmills!) that are now a characteristic feature of the landscape. There are only a few locations where the waterways are accessible by road, but this location at Thurne is one of the best, especially when the wind blows a lovely sailing vessel along the river. A couple of days later we returned to this spot to photograph the sunrise, but found it impossible to get a clear view because of all the boats moored up for the night. So a lesson learned is that the best time to photograph the Broads is in winter - out of the boating season.
Technical details: Canon EOS R5 + 28-105mm F4 Lens at 105mm. F9, 1/40sec, ISO100. Tripod mounted and taken in the early evening. Not much editing, just a crop and some warming tones to bring out the early evening feel.
6 comments posted
Ian Cambourne
All the usual photographic comments apply to this image Gordon. Good balance of the boat and the windmill, just enough water in the foreground to provide the sail's reflection, good time of day and use of side lighting. I like the warmth of the overall scene, but I particularly like the definition and details you have kept in the clouds. Congratulations on another outstanding image. I look forward to seeing what you get from your visit there in winter. Posted: 10/13/2025 04:31:44
Gordon Watson
Thanks Ian. Don't hold your breath waiting for a winter shot - too many other places to visit before we go back! Posted: 10/26/2025 17:07:45
Trey Foerster
Gordon, I'm always intrigued by the British place names, and "Norfolk Broads" is no exception-it's amusing how that phrase means something quite different in Norfolk, Virginia!
Your photograph is impressively balanced. The sail and its reflection provide a pleasing warmth that stands out against the cooler, subdued tones of the sky. The sky itself looks beautifully processed, with a natural yet striking effect that enhances the overall atmosphere of the scene.
I do have a technical question regarding your choice of aperture. The water's ripples are quite noticeable, and I wonder why you opted for f/9 rather than a higher aperture value, such as f/20. Was there a creative reason for this decision, or were you aiming for a specific effect with the texture of the water? I'd be interested to hear your thought process behind this choice.
Posted: 10/19/2025 18:02:26
Gordon Watson
Trey - I get your point on the names, but I think there were broads in the English Norfolk long before there were broads in Norfolk, Virginia! Regarding the settings, with this type of shot I would normally use an ND filter for a long exposure to smooth out the ripples, but the boat was moving. F9 gave me enough depth of field and a 1/40sec exposure time which was fast enough to freeze the boat. Posted: 10/26/2025 17:21:06
Sanford Morse
Beautiful image. I partially like the warm light on the sail. Nice overall balance. Maybe subdue the ripples because they distract from the overall mood. Posted: 10/23/2025 13:31:32
Gordon Watson
Thanks Sanford. I already replied to Trey about the exposure length being constrained by the moving boat, which means the ripples are frozen. I could try some texture/clarity reduction and see how it looks. Posted: 10/26/2025 17:24:40
