Martin Dolan Battles Tough Conditions to Capture Jurassic Coast
Dorset’s Jurassic Coast offers a spectacular opportunity to step back in time and see what the landscape might have looked like millions of years ago. This prehistoric location is a draw for photographers from around the world – and Martin Dolan, who lives in nearby Verwood, is fortunate to have easy access to the inspiring views.
Originally published November 29, 2018, by Jessi Gowan. Updated October 16, 2026, by PHLEARN Staff: Martin Dolan’s Jurassic Coast photography from a hard-to-reach ledge in Dorset, now with kit cards, a shot box and a few common questions answered from his story; the original text is unchanged.
The Ledge at Low Tide
Martin has been exploring the English coast for the past three years, shooting landscapes up and down the ancient coastline. During one of his visits, he noticed that as the tide receded from the shore, it exposed a beautiful stretch of Dolomite bedrock – a scene he eagerly sought to capture on camera.
“It’s a location that requires a bit of effort to access and, as a result, is off the beaten track,” he says. “At this time of year, the sun still sets over the land and it was important for me to capture the color and light being reflected off the wet bedrock. This would accentuate the textures of the rock and the shape of the ledges.”
It’s a location that requires a bit of effort to access and, as a result, is off the beaten track.
Martin Dolan
Jurassic Coast Photography in Rough Weather
But it wasn’t just the out-of-the-way spot that made getting the right shot challenging for Martin – the weather conditions along the rocky coast made the photoshoot especially difficult.
“There was a fierce wind, and although the tide was falling, it was high enough for the crashing waves to cause an enormous amount of sea spray,” he says. “Repeated attempts at shooting this composition were had, and each time, I had to retreat back 10 meters or so to wipe the camera and filters down with a cloth.”
Camera and Settings
- CameraCanon 5D Mark III
- LensCanon EF 16-35mm f/4 at 16mm
- Settingsf/16, ISO 50, five-second exposure
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Camera and Lens
DSLR camera with 22-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and wide range ISO setting of 100 – 25600
Aperture Range: f/4 to f/22, Ring-Type Ultrasonic Motor AF System, Weather-Sealed Construction
With the light slipping below the horizon, Martin had no time to waste. Using his Canon 5D Mark III with a Canon EF 16-35mm f/4 lens set to a focal distance of 16mm and an aperture of f/16, Martin shot a five-second exposure at ISO 50.
To accurately portray the details in the rock and the colors of the sunset, he also used several filters – a LEE Landscape Polarizer, a LEE 3-stop Neutral Density filter, and a LEE 3-stop reverse grad ND filter.
The Edit
While the filters helped ensure that his RAW image featured a balanced, natural exposure, Martin still used Adobe Lightroom to enhance the details of his capture even further.
“The clone tool was used to remove a few water spots, and a curve adjustment was applied to bring out the contrast and create a feeling of depth within the image,” he says. “And a vignette was applied, to focus the viewer to the main rock ledge.”
Martin’s final image showcases the raw, rugged beauty of this World Heritage Site – one of the most widely-recognized natural wonders of the world. While the shooting conditions might have been an unexpected challenge for Martin, they ultimately resulted in a more interesting image.
“The rock features here are spectacular, but in my opinion, they need additional elements to create an emotive image,” he says. “The interaction of the sea crashing into the ledges, along with the rain-filled clouds catching the light at sunset, bathing everything in an otherworldly glow – it’s a brief moment of time in a place that has taken millions of years to evolve into its current state.”
The rock features here are spectacular, but in my opinion, they need additional elements to create an emotive image.
Martin Dolan
Thanks to the Dorset coast’s gorgeous scenery, it’s hard to take a bad photo in the area – but Martin’s eye for composition and his carefully balanced exposures make his vision of this popular landscape stand out. See more on his website, or find him on Facebook or Flickr.
Common Questions About Jurassic Coast Photography
Where is the Jurassic Coast? In Dorset, England. It is a World Heritage Site known for prehistoric rock formations, and Martin lives nearby in Verwood. The spot in this photo takes some effort to reach, so it is off the beaten track.
When is the best time to photograph the ledges? Martin went as the tide fell and exposed a stretch of dolomite bedrock. At that time of year the sun still set over the land, and he wanted its color and light reflecting off the wet rock to bring out the textures and the shape of the ledges.
What camera settings did Martin Dolan use? A Canon 5D Mark III with a Canon EF 16-35mm f/4 lens at 16mm, f/16 and ISO 50, for a five-second exposure.
Which filters help with Jurassic Coast photography? Martin used three LEE filters: a landscape polarizer, a 3-stop neutral density filter and a 3-stop reverse graduated ND filter, to keep the detail in the rock and the color in the sunset balanced in one exposure.
How do you deal with sea spray on the lens? Keep backing off and cleaning. With a fierce wind and waves crashing into the ledges, Martin had to retreat about 10 meters after each attempt to wipe the camera and filters with a cloth. Afterwards he removed a few water spots with the clone tool in Lightroom, added a curve for contrast and depth, and a vignette to lead the eye to the main ledge.
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