I recently spent a few months living by the beach in Dunedin. It would take me less than 5 minutes to walk from my home to the sandy shores of Ocean view beach. I’m not sure where Ocean view beach becomes Brighton beach, but it felt like I was always on the border of both with my regular stroll.

After much following my nose around the area, I found a walking track running along next to the beach. At regular intervals you can see access tracks made by households, who, back onto the beach along Brighton Road. Some, even have outdoor furniture laid out for relaxing and watching the waves wash onto the shore.

I really enjoyed the track and it became a regular side journey when exploring the beach.

As I’ve grown as a photographer, I have moved away from capturing dramatic sunrise and sunset colours. However, sometimes I couldn’t resist taking images.

I believe the sunrises and sunsets are more something to experience in person and just enjoy. The fresh sea breeze, the sound of the ocean, the dramatic colour thrown over the landscape and water are very relaxing. But, what really draws me in now as a photographer is mood and light. Stormy weather is always a great start for taking images. In the images below there is definitely a mood created by the weather.

Living by the beach in Dunedin always feels like you are on holiday. You feel more connected to the environment. Just waking up to the sound of ocean waves crashing on the shore was really nice. I even got to experience a rainbow on the beach. I have now moved, but will always appreciate this special place.

Ocean view beach is well worth a visit if you need some healthy exercise or maybe just a little time to think things over. Get outdoors, and get moving, I reckon.