Stunning Springtime Snaps Showcase the Beautiful North Yorkshire Coast
Whitby-born hobbyist photographer Helen Brown shares her favourite springtime snaps
Helen has always enjoyed taking photos and capturing special memories. ‘It started out taking shots of family and friends. My three children and hubby are all good posers as they’ve had to be over the years!’ Helen progressed with her photography during lockdown and began connecting with other like-minded people on Instagram. ‘I’d love to see other people’s shots and I think it became a good way of inspiring me to visit places I’d not been to or to see things in a different way. I particularly enjoy looking at other local photographers/Instagrammers. So many are worthy of a mention but if you love Yorkshire my top few to check out are Yorkshire Brew, Adventures in Yorkshire, James Hines, Yorkshire Womble, Northern Lass Photography, The Whitby Photographer, Huggywanderlust, Yorkshire Postcards, Yorkshire Pudding and From Yorkshire & Back. They all do similar work to me, but all with their own wonderful slants and unique perspectives showcasing this beautiful area. They all inspire me in different ways. That’s what I love – we could all take a photo of Whitby Abbey or Robin Hood’s Bay but we’d all capture it so differently.’
Helen currently has 71,701 photos and 10,663 videos stored on her phone. ’It’s great for getting that moment in time recorded, although the quality isn’t always perfect,’ she admits, which is why she dug out a canon DSLR to improve her photography, and started to edit using Lightroom and Snapseed. ‘The rest as they say is history,’ says Helen. ‘I’ve got totally bitten by the photography bug over the past few years and recently have bought a new Canon camera and lens to get better clarity. I particularly enjoy photographing local wildlife, sunsets and sunrises, so having a better camera is helping me with these.
Helen is particularly passionate about her hometown of Whitby. ‘I often get contacted by people about the best places to visit, walk and eat out in Whitby. I’m more than happy to share my local knowledge and love of the area,’ she says. ‘I’ve also been on meet-ups with groups that I’ve met via Instagram such as Snap Happy Lasses North East and Igers Yorkshire – it’s just fantastic to be in contact with similar photographers, most of whom do it for a fun hobby like me. Whitby is a special little town, so many folk have wonderful memories of visiting, school trips or holidays here. They adore its quaint, charming feel just like I do. The affection for Dracula, Whitby Abbey, the 199 steps, whalebones, kippers, jet, fossils and of course fish and chips are a shared love for so many.’
Helen says the physical and mental benefits of getting out and taking photographs are amazing. ‘What better place to get out, explore and snap pictures than North Yorkshire?,’ she adds. ‘We are so lucky to have everything on our doorstep, from the rolling countryside to the seaside, picturesque villages and stunning surrounding moorland. You can zone out, switch off and absorb the natural world around you. Time with my camera allows me to just focus on me. You also never know what you will see or capture, and I love that element of adventure and surprise that the great outdoors gives. My absolute favourite to spot is the dolphins, although I’m still working on getting good pictures of them.
‘I adore the change in seasons too and spring has to be my favourite time of year. It’s a feelgood time of year. New life and new beginnings just all unfolding and waiting to be captured.’ Now spring has sprung, Helen’s advice is for everyone to get out and explore this beautiful part of the world. ‘I’d also add on the days you can’t be bothered to go out and are feeling low, those are the very days if you make yourself grab your boots, camera or phone and go, you won’t regret it! Everything seems better after some time out in nature with your camera.’
When asked for tips for budding photographers, Helen is flattered but says, because she’s self-taught, she’s never classed herself as a ‘proper’ photographer. Her top tip is to photograph and share what you love. ‘If you do that you will never go far wrong and your passion will shine through,’ she adds. ‘I can remember my English teacher telling me the best authors write about what they know and it comes from the heart. This has stuck with me and I guess I also apply this to photography. I love Yorkshire, and especially Whitby my home town, so taking photos and sharing them with others is easy.’
