Clovelly Village on Film: A journey inside North Devon.

Written By Whoisbenjamin .

Earlier this year, I visited Clovelly Village in North Devon—not once, but twice. My first trip was during the quiet calm of January, followed by a return in the lush, vibrant month of May. Both visits offered unique perspectives, and I chose to document them entirely using film cameras, aiming to capture the soul of this historic coastal village with authenticity and depth.

Clovelly Village is unlike anywhere else in England. Famous for its steep cobbled streets, car-free charm, and stunning sea views, it feels like a place suspended in time. As a photographer who works predominantly with 35mm and medium format film, I was drawn to the textures, the shifting light, and the deeply nostalgic atmosphere.

For this series, I shot mostly on Kodak Portra 160, a film stock renowned for its fine grain, subtle color palette, and beautiful handling of natural light. It was the perfect match for the soft tones of Clovelly in winter and the fresh vibrancy of spring. The film’s gentle rendering of skin tones and architecture allowed me to preserve the character of the village without overwhelming it.

Film photography, for me, is a deliberate and intimate process. Shooting in Clovelly Village required patience and observation—waiting for the perfect moment when the sun kissed the whitewashed walls, or when shadows danced across the stones. Each frame tells a story: fishermen at the harbor, quiet pathways, and moments of simple village life.

January brought muted tones and soft fog, while May lit the village with crisp colors—terracotta rooftops, leafy greens, and coastal blues—all beautifully rendered through the organic grain of Portra 160. Clovelly Village truly comes alive on film, and both visits provided a deep well of inspiration.

The resulting images now form a dedicated Clovelly Village photography gallery on my website. Whether you're drawn to analog storytelling or looking to commission bespoke film photography in North Devon, this collection represents my artistic approach—grounded in tradition, captured with care.

If you are looking for any location photographs please reach out to me in my CONTACT FORM

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Blue ocean water meeting grey Stoney Beach with forest running in background
Small white and blue fishing boat in cobbled Harbour the Sun is rising from behind
Small white and blue fishing boats in cobbled Harbour the Sun is rising from behind
narrow cobbled street with cottages running down either side with red and green plants in front gardens
Two yellow Wellington boots with red and purple flowers growing out of the top on brown cobbled pavement
To white cottages on cobbled Street with blue ocean on horizon in between them there are purple flowers in the front garden
Large white building with red tiled roof next to fishing Harbour there are people sat on table drinking
Small fishing boats in Stonewall Harbour with cottages in foreground with floral gardens
Small white fishing boat on blue ocean water with green forest in the background during daytime
grey pebbled beach with fishing nets on the ground with white and red cottage in background
Narrow cobbled Street with cottages running down either side with floral gardens there is a pub opposite with a black-and-white sign
White cottage with floral baskets outside of window, the flowers are green and pink
White cottage with orange chimney on cobble Street with Union Jack bunting hanging by the windows
White cottages with orange chimneys on cobbled pavement there are floral baskets with red flowers
Two small white fishing boats on golden sand and Harbour the tide is coming up around them
Blue and white fishing boat with Union Jack flag on roof the Sun is rising from behind
Cottage made out of stone next to fishing harbour with balcony and junior Jack’s flying
Cobble Street with white cottages running along either side there are street signs and flowers in the middle
White cottages running up hillside with grey tiled roofs and forest in background
Cottage with brown pots out the front with large green and red flowers growing all over
White cottages with grey roofs running down cobbled Street you can see the blue ocean on the horizon
Small fishing boats looking through cottage window out onto Harbour with orange lamp hanging from ceiling
White cottages on Cowell Street with green and purple flowers running underneath the windows
Large cottage made from stone next to village fishing Harbour there is a small boat on the beach
Small fishing harbour with large grey pebbles there are cottages running up the hillside in the background underneath blue sky
Two white cottages with floral gardens with cobbled pavement you can see the blue ocean between them
White cottages with grey cobbled street running down the middle with floral gardens during sunset
small white fishing boats on golden sand inside stone wall harbour
Small fishing harbour made from stone with white and blue fishing boats on golden sand during sunrise
Whoisbenjamin .
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A Lens of Time: Shooting Expired Film in Tenby.