Sunset Colours & Reflections

Decent and settled weather meant a likelihood of a sunset and with it coinciding with low tide here in Littlehampton, the chance of nice reflections in shallow water on the beach.

I ventured out about 45mins before sunset was due and could see the stretches of shallow water that would allow me those reflections. On my way to my intended spot for those, I noticed that the sunlit sand patterns on a drier part of the beach were creating a lovely pattern so I stopped to take a photo.

Ref: Q8A9395-2 , Sand Patterns, on East Beach, Littlehampton at low tide

Thereafter, I continued my walk to my chosen stretch of water for reflections and ultimately sunset colours. At this stage the sun was still quite bright and high for directly looking towards it, so I chose to capture the reflections of clouds while looking out to sea.

Ref: Q8A9404 , Cloud Reflections, on East Beach, Littlehampton at low tide

While standing at this spot, I looked around me and noticed that the scene behind me was also worth shooting.

Ref: Q8A9410-2 , South Terrace , on East Beach, Littlehampton at low tide

By now more clouds had breezed in around the sunset area, so I pointed the camera West again. The initial photos in that direction were a little dark around the clouds, but with nice reflections but as the clouds were gradually moving South I could see a different pattern due to slide into view and the colours improved as I waited a few minutes.

Ref: Q8A9421-2 , Colourful Clouds, on East Beach, Littlehampton at low tide

The clouds gradually took on more colour as the sun set further, with great reflections in the shallow water in front of me as I looked towards West pier and West beach. Plus by now the sun had dipped below the horizon.

Ref: Q8A9438-2 , Sunset , on East Beach, Littlehampton at low tide

After the sun had set, I tried a few shot zooming in to various focal lengths before the colours disappeared from the clouds.

Ref: Q8A9441 , Sunset Colours, on East Beach, Littlehampton at low tide

After this the colours disappeared from the clouds and I was left with dark wispy clouds and some after glow from the sunset. All of this was within an hour again, things change so quickly. It went from bright and sunny, to more cloud and the sun having set. Colours and textures alter as the time passes and often you can see what is developing and anticipate what might occur.