Perranporth is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Cornwall. The three mile expanse of golden sand attracts families and even horse riders, the huge surf is ideal for various water sports, and the countless nearby cafes and gift shops form the heart of the town's economy. However, Perranporth is not just a tourist trap, but an important part of Cornish history.
According to legend, in the 5th Century the Irish Bishop we know as Saint Piran was thrown into the sea. Despite having a millstone around his neck, Saint Piran was miraculously able to float and washed ashore on a Cornish beach. In his honour, this beach has been named Perranporth or Porth Peran, Cornish for "Cove of Saint Piran".
Saint Piran settled in Cornwall and became known as a good and pious man. In the 6th Century he built Saint Piran's Oratory, one of the earliest Christian buildings in England. He is also said to have rediscovered the lost art of tin smelting when he heated his black hearthstone and the tin inside rose to the top in the shape of a white cross. This was adopted as the iconic symbol of Cornwall, and now Saint Piran's Flag flies proudly on the top of Perranporth's Chapel Rock.
I visited Perranporth one sunny afternoon and was looking forward to using a variety of infrared filters to capture the beach and the surrounding landscape. Unfortunately, upon arrival I realised that I had lost my bag of filters, so I could only use the camera's built-in 590nm filter and the 720nm one that was on the lens. I had been hoping to capture a stunning shot of Chapel Rock against the black sky and sea that can only be achieved with the 850/950nm filters - if I can find the bag I would love to come back.
Despite social distancing measures, the beach was incredibly busy, and most of my images have people in to some extent. This wouldn't usually be a problem, but as is evident in the image on the left, people look rather strange in infrared and draw attention away from the landscape. Chapel Rock looks quite other-worldly, but the addition of alien-like people detracts from the image.
I waited for a long time to capture the shot on the right - as soon as people were out of the shot, I released the shutter. I didn't have time to remove the filter on the lens to get a more colourful photo before more people came along to climb the rock. Still, I am delighted with this image and love the clarity of the lower sections of the rock which are weathered by the sea. It's hard to see these harsh lines in standard light, but the infrared really defines the sections.
Saint Piran's Flag sits atop Chapel Rock, the black washed out to a pale blue, while the sky behind turns apocalyptic. This conjures up images of the moon landing, or perhaps even humans planting a flag on the Martian landscape. I wonder how Saint Piran felt when he washed ashore here, and whether it seemed like an alien land to him. How long did it take for him to call Cornwall his home?
Comments