Was planning a dawn seascape photography shoot at Rye, but too pushed for time. With fog forecast thought would take an early morning walk around Alexandra Park in Hastings. On the drive there, the sky was amazing! A red dawn, change of plan, had to head to the beach along Hastings seafront and attempt to capture those brilliant vibrant colours.

Every Minute Counts

Every minute counts when a sky is this brilliant pre sunrise. Already knew was going to miss the best of it. Was speeding, parked up in a pay and display carpark on the seafront but not buy a ticket.

Had to capture that red dawn sky. Lucky had my compact camera with me, that takes decent pictures and not just relying on a mobile phone. There wasn’t even time to think. Just started shooting that brilliant red sky.

Mackerel Sky

What a difference the right clouds make, a mackerel sky. Generally a mackerel sky can occur during changeable weather systems, from low to high pressure. We had had lots of rain and was now experiencing a dry sunny spell, but also clouds! which is great from a landscape photography perspective.

Anchor and Scale

Knew wanted to include something to offset the sky against, a recognised distinguished shape or feature. To anchor and scale that brilliant sky, included the dark silhouette of east hill and the pier Even so should have included more of the sky, that was the real interest. But so little time to consider all the options.

Focusing problems

Was having a problem focusing, then realised from my last shoot and last shot at Bewl Water had left my focusing on macro! Always check your settings, only takes a few seconds. Was focusing on the edges of contrast difference between the darks shapes on the ground where it meets that brilliant sky now turning a pinkish colour as it begins to fade away.

Amazing as the colours are in the sky, they had already lost about 1/3 of their vibrancy by the time the camera was out. Was frantically searching around for compositions that included the sky.

Regrets

Was regretting the fact that had not made it to Rye beachfront where would have been setup with full kit. This sky was just amazing, to think most people were still in bed and oblivious of this brilliant spectacle.

The red mackerel sky was now fading fast as the sun began to rise on the horizon, but behind the brilliant lit clouds.

Low Tide Walk

It was low tide now, shame I not get behind the Hastings pier to capture this brilliant red dawn. But just took the fastest shortest route to the coast.

One minute the red sky was there the next it had completely gone. The mackerel sky remained over Hastings seafront and was still dramatic. Was now more enjoying an early morning sunrise walk along the coast with my camera.

Tomorrow was Saturday and the weather forecast was much the same, sunny intervals with clouds. Although the forecast cannot predict a mackerel sky in front of the rising sun. Still, hoped would get lucky for another dawn shoot but on the coast at Rye.

Experimented with a few more compositions along the seafront at Hastings before returning home to work.

Rejects

Although the red dawn seascapes over Hastings are dramatic and smack you in the face with their vibrant colours, technically they are not so good. Compositionally they are weak, imagine the same scene without the colourful sky, not much there. If I upload them to Shutterstock they will be rejected for focus and noise problems.

Working Full Time

Working full time, means cannot get out for a big shoot during the week when the weather conditions look good. But working from home due to the pandemic does mean can get down to the coast for a good walk and sunrise.