South Stack Re-Visited

South Stack Lighthouse: Chasing the Shot

I finally made it to South Stack Lighthouse on our summer trip to Anglesey last June — and it was every bit as spectacular as I’d hoped.

I’d been meaning to photograph this iconic landmark for years, but for one reason or another, it never quite happened. When the opportunity finally came, the weather was good and the location certainly didn’t disappoint. The sunset, however, was a little underwhelming. Still, it was my only chance on that trip, so I made the most of it and came away with a few shots I was really happy with.

South Stack has no shortage of vantage points, and I spent some time exploring different compositions. But there was one shot I really wanted: the stone steps leading down towards the bridge and lighthouse. I didn’t quite get what I had in mind on that first visit, which gave me the perfect excuse to head back a few weeks ago and try again.

And this time, I got the shot I’d been after.

One thing that really surprised me on both visits was just how windy it is here. With the lighthouse perched on its tiny island and nothing to shelter it from the Irish Sea, it’s incredibly exposed. You definitely know about it when you’re trying to keep a camera steady!

But that’s also part of what makes South Stack so special. Even when the conditions aren’t perfect for photography, it’s a spectacular place to simply stop, take in the view and watch the sun disappear over the sea.

For these images, I used my new favourite toy — the Nisi filter system. I combined a 3-stop graduated ND filter with a landscape polariser and a 3-stop ND filter. The ND allowed me to slow the shutter speed enough to soften and blur the movement of the water, while the other filters helped balance the exposure and bring a little more depth into the scene.

As for getting there, the walk down to the lighthouse is pretty straightforward. It’s an easy enough path and well worth the effort.

Getting back up, though…

Well, that’s another matter. 😄

Still, after a climb like that, there’s nothing quite like looking back at the lighthouse and knowing you’ve got the shot you came for.