Photographic potential of Dungeness, Kent?

[jrong]

I guess I should really ask Leon who lives in Kent, but I'll post it here anyway.... I was wondering about the potential in Dungeness, Kent as a photographic destination. What do others think? Is it going to be a waste of time? Is it crowded during weekends with daytrippers and noisy families? I'm looking for old, abandoned buildings or structures, or interesting coastlines in the area. I will be taking my car.

Any advice appreciated!
Jin

 

[Leon]

Go there immediately! It's a very weird and wonderful place full of derelict fishing boats and smokery shacks. From what I've seen of your stuff, you will find lots of great pics there. I find it's best to go later rather than early - the last few hours of sunlight can be particularly spectacular for photographs. There's also a photographer who lives there (forgotton his name) he has a little gallery with lots of his prints for sale - I've found lots of inspiration from his work.

Dont forget to visit the fish smokery before you leave, the best smoked mackerel I've ever tasted!

Good Luck and post the results here please

here's one of my Dungeness pics

Dead Link Removed

 

[jrong]

Thanks a lot, Leon, from your photo, it looks like I'll really like this place. Is it necessarily to go on the steam railway to find these secluded, desolate spots, or is it accessible by car?

Jin

 

[Leon]

yes - you can drive there easily - although geting the railway from Hythe is fun too

 

[jrong]

Hi Leon, well I spent Saturday afternoon driving all the way down there with a couple of photographer friends. It was hot and very hazy and lighting conditions were awful, and it was as you say, a very weird place. I did pass the little shack/gallery but did not go in. Did not see Derek Jarman's little house either. But we did trek over what seemed like miles of burning hot shingles, in what felt like a Beckett-ian episode of futility. I found some fishing boats but they were all in use, and there were a few decrepit signs warning people off them. There were shacks, but I only spotted 2 smokeries and both were closed. It was all in all, odd - should I get more precise directions from you next time, or does one have to spend many hours in that place to come across things to photograph? As it was, my friends stayed near an abandoned radar shack while I went all over the place trying to find battered boats or eccentric-looking smokeries, but to no avail. Is the power plant itself worth a visit? The old lighthouse did not look awfully photogenic either.... however one looks at it.

 

[Leon]

oh dear! you would have driven past Derek Jarman's place if you got as far as the lighthouses ... I've never found any difficulties in looking for things to photograph there. Let me knwo if you're going to try again and I'll give you a few pointers on where to look.

 

[jrong]

Thanks Leon. I'll let you know should I find myself in that area again.