INSPIRATION ON THE COAST
Gemma McKell
Photographing the shore has always been central to my work and where I feel most inspired. Growing up by the sea created a special connection to the coast, and I have been photographing the Cumbrian shoreline for many years. Something about the coast always pulls me back, and I love documenting changes throughout the seasons, such as the changes in light, the varying colours of the sea, and the wildlife. My work is often described as nostalgic, and I find visiting the coast in autumn my favourite time, as the sky and the mood of the tide feel magical. It feels like a quiet constant in the background of my life. I have walked the Cumbrian coastline that stretches across northwest England more times than I can count. There is a real comfort found here, a familiarity that I love to capture and use to tell the different stories the sea evokes. Being here slows time and allows me to take a more mindful approach to my work.
Beachcombing has always been a favourite hobby for my children and me. We love finding shells, sea pottery, and different beach fauna to identify and photograph. There is a spot we love to go to with a little café. We sit and eat chips while watching the birds and the sailboats. This place and these moments all feel tied together; they are a part of my story, sewn together with memories and reflections. I see it in the small details of the worn footpaths we take to the shore and the shells collected in jars. This place makes me feel most grounded, almost as if the tide’s ebb and flow keep my memories safe until my next visit.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 21.