An incoming tide races through The Cut into Nelson Haven, while the first rays of morning hit the old pier.

I walked along the Boulder Bank for two hours in the pre-dawn murk, past quirky baches, the lonely lighthouse and a sleeping seagull colony to the end of this natural spit. I set up my DSLR on a tripod, and programmed the wireless remote to fire off frames while I trotted off to become part of the picture.

Camera settings Canon 5D Mk2, wide-angle lens, tripod. f/22, 0.3 second.