by Steve Belasco
Former newspaper photographer and Derby resident Steve Belasco resettled to the beautiful county of Dorset many years ago.
Still involved in the media business, he now splits his time between magazine production work and his career as an award-winning marine photographer, afloat on the waters off the Jurassic Coast and has recently had his third coffee-table book, The Jurassic Coast From The Sea, published.
Featuring some 180 striking images, all shot from wave level, the book takes the form of a 95-mile boat tour, from east to west, along England’s only natural World Heritage site.
Steve has captured the very essence of this celebrated coastline in this selection of stunning images. Not only the unrivalled coastscapes but the wide variety of maritime activity, from little fishing boats to large ships, many kinds of water sports and, of course, the wonderful wildlife.
He said: “I wanted to create the first photobook to view the entire length of the Jurassic Coast from the sea. The sea created this coastline so what better viewpoint to enjoy it from?
“I’m deeply fond of my adopted home waters and am keen to share the ‘out there looking in’ experience”.
From the dazzling chalk stacks around Old Harry Rock, near Poole, to the bright red desert sandstone in East Devon, this book captures the length of the World Heritage Site in vivid colour.
There are unusual views of the austere but engaging Purbeck coastline before passing well-known landmarks like Kimmeridge, Lulworth and Durdle Door before arriving in Weymouth Bay and Portland at the heart of the World Heritage Site.
The harsh, industrial beauty of the Isle of Portland gives way to the 18-mile Chesil Bank and, after passing the striking cliffs of Burton Bradstock and West Bay, he sails towards the towering heights of West Dorset surrounding majestic Golden Cap, the highest point on England’s south coast.
After crossing the county border into Devon we get a look into the lush greenery of the sub-tropical Undercliff, described by author John Fowles as the last true wilderness in Britain, before cruising past Axmouth, Seaton and Sidmouth.
The red Triassic sandstone of Devon is now continuous to the western end of the World Heritage Site near Exmouth. Once desert, and much nearer the equator, this coastline is some 200 million years older than the Cretaceous chalk where this photographic voyage started.
Steve and his family have lived near the coast in Dorset for more than 30 years and he is a volunteer ambassador for the Jurassic Coast Trust.
Featuring plenty of local history and enlightening information, and with a foreword by TV’s Broadchurch creator Chris Chibnall, this book is a must for anyone interested in this unique and world-class location.
It’s available (signed if requested), in a couple of clicks direct from the author at stevebelasco.net or good bookshops.
Win a copy of ‘The Jurassic Coast From The Sea’ in this months prize crossword on page 74
The Jurassic Coast From The Sea
£16.99. Halsgrove
ISBN 978-0-85704-324-5
