Chalk Shore at Birling Gap, Sussex

Image and Audio

the chalk shore at Birling Gap

Low tide at Birling Gap, Sussex, England. The chalk shore has been worn away and polished to a high shine by the constant action of the waves, leaving boulders of harder rock resting on the surface.

Audio: Breakers on the shingle at Birling Gap, Sussex, 2 am on a May morning. The photo was taken the previous evening at low tide, but the recording was made about half an hour before its highest point. My microphones were placed on a tripod about 4 feet (1.2 m) high as far down the beach as possible without actually standing in the water. This is a very flat beach, so the tide comes in very fast. I had to keep a sharp lookout to prevent the waves engulfing my equipment.