Light Streak

I'd driven out to Newhaven on this February morning specifically to photograph the lighthouse, but as the sun began to rise, something else caught my attention. The light streaks breaking through the thin cloud cover were creating these beautiful pastel shades across the sky—soft pinks, purples, and gentle blues that reflected perfectly in the calm water around the breakwater.

I set up for a 40-second exposure, allowing the gentle waves to blur into silky ribbons of light around the aged wooden breakwater posts. Newhaven Lighthouse stood tall in the background, that distinctive white structure that's been guiding vessels into the harbour since 1895. The long exposure transformed what was a peaceful morning scene into something almost ethereal—the water becoming smooth as glass, the light streaks painting across the sky like watercolours.

What I love about this image is its serenity. There's no dramatic sunset or stormy sky—just the quiet beauty of first light, the gentle motion of the English Channel, and the enduring presence of the lighthouse. Newhaven may not be as famous as Brighton or Eastbourne, but it has its own understated charm, especially at dawn when the harbour is still and the light is soft.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that sense of tranquil contemplation that comes with watching the sunrise over the Sussex coast—where time seems to slow down and everything becomes beautifully simple.