HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) Photos of Hastings pier and beach at sunrise by Dean Thorpe

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I used to take photos early in the morning quite a lot, but it was something I had not done for a while and on a very cold December morning I suddenly had the urge to head down to Hastings beach to get some sunrise photos. I had been playing around doing HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) photos for a few months, but never early morning shots of anything like Hastings pier. High Dynamic Range photography is where you take at least three photos of exactly the same thing, one normal, one too bright and one too dark, then you use one of the many HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) programs out there to convert them into one photo. The reason behind it is that with most photos, especially at that time of day, parts of the image would be under exposed and pure black, parts would be over exposed and pure white. HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) find the brightest bits and uses the detail from the darkest photo and then the darkest bits it gets the detail from the brightest photo, giving the effect of having a lot more of the photo being well lit. It does not always work, some of mine have turned out dreadful, but when you get the hang of it you can create some amazing results.

HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) Photos of Hastings Pier and Beach at sunrise

	Was I dancing in the moonlight? Nope, I was just shivering in the freezing cold! The moon created a really pretty star effect in this photo and some nice reflections on the wet Hastings beach. This was taken from almost under the pier and looking towards St Leonards on sea.
	The sun starting to break through the early morning clouds and create some amazing colours, both in the sky and in the reflections on the wet sandy beach. I am so pleased I went to Hastings to try to get these, I was so lucky with the weather as it really helped me get some great photos.
	Another one of the start of the sunrise on a cold December morning in Hastings. I really love the way the HDR process has brought out the blues of the reflected sky. The original photos I used to create this image had no where near as much colour around the outer areas.
	No the tripod did not fall over! I love to get creative with angles, but still don't do it as often as I probably should do. For things like Hastings pier I think it creates a very interesting photo. Sadly the piers future is in danger, it has been shut down and now some want it demolished completely! 8o(
	Such a perfect morning for playing around with HDR, I was so lucky to be able to get all of these photos in just one mornings visit. I have been down there at other times, but it was my first time doing it in HDR.
	Looking up the beach towards the White Rock Theatre and Bottle Alley, two of the many varied bits of local architecture that make Hastings, Hastings! Did I get soggy feet taking these photos? Yes and the water was absolutely freezing! Struggled in Hastings afterwards only to be told by McD that the hot chocolate machine was broken!
	Without using a High Dynamic Range system this photo of Hastings Pier in East Sussex would probably either have a bleached sky or the pier would have been a pure black silhouette, but by using HDR it keeps as much of it correctly lit as possible.

	A great silhouette style effect of the pier with the HDR just picking up small amounts of colour and detail, plus some really beautiful shades of blue through the pier supports.
	This photo is of Bottle Alley, the covered pathway that connects Hastings Pier and St Leonards on sea. Along one side it is open to the beach, but the other side is covered with bits of recycled bottles. Some people think recycling is a new thing, but this was created like this back in the 1930s!
	This shot was taken near the pier, but is looking away from it. I like the bold lines of the chain link fence and the posts.
	The sun just breaking through the cloud as it rises, it was such a beautiful morning for taking photos.
	Getting low down at low tide. A nice low shot over the water towards the pier and yes I did get wet feet taking it, but it was well worth it to get a shot like that.
	A simple looking photo of the sunrise reflecting on the wet sand and the calm looking sea in the background.
	This photo has to be one of my favourites of these and one of the best HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) photos I have ever taken. All three shots were long exposure ones to capture as much light as possible at that early hour and I love the final effect with the blurred water and the bright blue in the reflections.