The Power of the Coast: Capturing a Dramatic Giant’s Causeway in Black & White
The Giant’s Causeway is famous for its myth, mystery, and unmatched natural beauty — but on certain days, it reveals an entirely different personality. A wilder, louder, more powerful version of itself. On my recent visit, the coastline erupted into a dramatic scene: crashing waves, darkening skies, and an atmosphere that felt alive.
This blog explores how I captured that moment — why I chose black and white, how the weather transformed, and the exact camera settings I used with the Leica Q2 to freeze the raw energy of the Atlantic.
The Unexpected Shift: From Blue Skies to Stormy Drama
When the day began, the sky was calm and gentle — soft blue with scattered white clouds drifting lazily above the Causeway. It looked like a typical coastal afternoon, the kind where you expect long exposures, warm tones, and peaceful compositions.
But as anyone from Northern Ireland knows, weather changes in an instant.
Within hours, the scene transformed. The light dimmed. Heavy clouds rolled across the sky. The sea thickened into heaving, powerful waves that began hammering the basalt columns.
And it was in that shift — that collision of calm and chaos — where the real story of the day was found.
Why I Switched to Black & White
Many scenes look best in colour. This was not one of them.
The drama unfolding in front of me wasn’t about the blue sky or the green blue sea — it was about contrast, texture, and emotion. Black and white brought forward the elements that mattered most:
The jagged structure of the basalt stones
The violent movement of the waves
The depth and layering of storm clouds
The mood, weight, and tension in the air
Colour felt polite.
Monochrome felt honest.
Black and white didn’t remove anything; if anything, it amplified the power of the moment. It revealed the raw character of the Causeway — ancient, weather-beaten, and unafraid of the storm.
Camera Settings: Leica Q2 — Strong, Sharp, Ready for Chaos
To capture the intensity of the ocean and the shifting sky, I used the following settings on the Leica Q2:
28mm • ISO 400 • f/8 • 1/250s
Here’s why:
28mm: A perfect focal length for wide, dramatic landscapes without losing the intimacy of detail.
ISO 400: A balanced choice to maintain clarity while adapting to darker, moodier skies.
f/8: Ideal for keeping both the rocks and waves sharp — capturing depth without sacrificing texture.
1/250s Shutter : Fast enough to freeze the motion of the crashing waves while still allowing the atmosphere to breathe.
These settings worked seamlessly together to lock in the drama of the moment — not just the scene itself, but the feeling of standing there as the Atlantic roared.
A Moment of Reflection: Faith in the Midst of the Waves
As the storm intensified, one verse came to mind — a quiet reminder in the middle of the noise:
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”
The sea may rise. The sky may darken. But we are not alone in the storm — either in life or behind the lens.
Standing Still in a Moving World
Photography often encourages us to chase perfect light. But that day at the Giant’s Causeway reminded me that perfection isn’t always found in soft sunsets or calm horizons.
Sometimes it’s found in chaos. In contrast. In the roar of the sea and the weight of the storm.
The beauty of that moment wasn’t just visual — it was emotional. The power of nature. The shift in weather. The quiet faith woven into the noise. Black and white allowed all of that to rise to the surface.
It wasn’t just a photograph.
It was a moment worth standing still for.
