HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) Photos of Hastings pier and beach
at sunrise by Dean Thorpe
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.
Hastings Pier before the fire photos
Hastings pier during and after fire
HDR ( High Dynamic Range ) Photos of Hastings Pier and Beach at sunrise
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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(
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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The sun just breaking through the cloud as it rises, it was
such a beautiful morning for taking photos.
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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.
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A simple looking photo of the sunrise reflecting on the wet
sand and the calm looking sea in the background.
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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.
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