Moody Sunset at Beachy Head

Not every sunset delivers the brilliant colours you hope for, but sometimes the moody, dramatic scenes are even more compelling. I'd driven out to Beachy Head on this February evening expecting clear skies based on the forecast, but as I arrived at the clifftop viewpoint, I could see heavy storm clouds gathering over the English Channel.

Instead of packing up disappointed, I decided to work with what nature was offering. I set up my tripod on the South Downs clifftop and composed the shot to capture Beachy Head Lighthouse far below, dwarfed by the massive, swirling cloudscape above. The sun was setting somewhere behind those thick clouds, creating patches of warm light that broke through here and there—just enough to hint at what could have been, while the dramatic greys and deep blues dominated the scene.

What I love about this image is its raw, untamed feeling. The lighthouse—built in 1902 and standing 43 metres tall—looks almost fragile against the power of that stormy sky. The chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters stretch away to the left, while the mood overhead suggests nature's unpredictable temperament. Sometimes the photos that don't go as planned become the most memorable ones.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that mix of awe and humility that comes from standing on these ancient cliffs, watching storm systems roll across the channel, reminded of nature's magnificent indifference to our plans and expectations.