An image captured in the North East at Sunderland features the uniquely shaped pier leading to Roker Lighthouse. During this trip, we encountered what could only be described as ‘bleak’ conditions at best. However, such conditions actually enhance this type of image by keeping it highly minimal.
This was only the second time I had photographed this location, and I wasn’t completely satisfied with my previous image due to the large number of people coming and going along the pier. Fortunately, this time I didn’t have to worry about that, as the entire area was fenced off. Some railings had been damaged in recent storms, making it unsafe until repairs could be made.
I found myself switching shooting spots about four or five times to achieve the desired composition. The final result came after using approximately 13 stops of filtration, resulting in an exposure time of 186 seconds. The histogram nearly touched the right side, and the long exposure, sea fog, and general gloom contributed to a sense of deep isolation for the pier and its quirky red-striped lighthouse.
