By Kyle Barry (I possess the sole rights to all of the photos in this post and do not permit any use what so ever with out my sole consent)
Brighton Pier (England) holds an eery sense of gloom that instantly draws one to its damp and cracked wooden walkways. Millions of people have walked on this mammoth structure that has through the years become part of the ocean as scallops, mussels, seaweed and the like have grown and made it home. Looking over its distant neighbor, and now a mere skeleton - The West Pier, one can see an era now past engulfed by the ocean after being destroyed by both man and nature.
Brighton Pier is a photographer's dream as it holds so much mystery and has grown to become a thing of beauty. As we were driving to the pier we encountered a sudden change in weather I thought would ruin the day, instead it created a backdrop that only added to its fantastical nature. Thick grey clouds and stormy seas reminded me of things one would see in horror movies, but at the same time curious and cheerful.
Equipped with my camera and wide angled lens I instantly became trigger happy as each shot had its own uniqueness. Large apertures and slow shutter-speeds allowed for great textures and great contrast. The sun was setting and the mood was just right on this cold mid-winters day and even though an icy wind froze us in our tracks, people filled the pier and enjoyed the rides and games that the pier is famous for.
Entering the dark of the night I got the chance to experiment with very slow shutter speeds (1-4sec) and wide open apertures as the lights of the rides whizzed by and created and amazing spectacle of colour. Drizzle added to the mystique of the setting making me realise that I would never again be able to capture the things I saw on that day!
Visiting Brighton Pier as a photographer is a truly exhilarating experience and one that one should never pass up if you get the chance. It provides a vast variety of scenes to capture and allows for ample practice in its ever changing weather and lighting conditions.
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