Windy and Grey
A battered Union Flag tries to fly on yet another dull and windy day
25th January 2026
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression with a recurring seasonal pattern, most commonly appearing in winter – the reduced sunlight causing mood-regulating hormone imbalances. I am not diagnosed with this, nor do I believe I suffer with it. I do not wish to make light of the issue that is truly debilitating for some. I’ve read about the experiences of sufferers and cannot truly understand their challenges. However, the last few weeks of permanent dark grey skies and no sunshine is certainly getting to me.
I had planned a photo walk but saw nothing but grey skies. The wind was gusting up to 40mph and there was a mizzle in the air. Every part of me wanted to hunker down and hide away from the world. Somehow, I persuaded myself to get my arse out of the house and wander. I meandered along to Seaburn, a coastal area in Sunderland. Might as well head to the seaside and get whipped in the face by flying sand and salty air. In for a penny, I concluded. I am always amazed by the amount of people who head to the seaside in dreadful weather. I’m pleased to know that there are others like me who are equally bizarre in their behaviour.
Surprisingly, one of the most intriguing things I saw was on my way to the coast was an old domestic-use garage. I was fascinated by it and its well-worn look. It is something I have found out about myself recently – I enjoy the mundane or the ordinary. I get far more excited about photographing an old garage than I do a stunning ‘picture perfect’ landscape. I will return to this garage on another day to get the image I have in my mind. This is another great thing about photo walks; they can become useful recce trips.
I also find an interesting shot of half a Union flag flapping furiously in the wind. It felt like such an accurate metaphor for the state of the country and society at the present time. Only by taking the time to look at things would I have realised the condition of the flag, and it is that aspect that makes the image work. I would have walked past thinking it was a full flag, and it was just the strong wind making it look the way it did. Another win for the photo walk mentality!
I captured a few images of people taking their afternoon constitutionals but nothing to write home about. I liked a couple walking along in perfect stride together and the sea behind them, but the positioning in the frame was a little off. It creates an imbalance that I can’t correct in post editing – I simply had the camera a little too high which welded the woman’s feet to the bottom of the frame – or should that be foot of the frame? Win some, lose some.
Anyhoo, here’s the images I captured on this grey and dreary day. Oh for a calm, sunny day!
