Brighton Rock

D200, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, ISO 100, 1/50 @ f11

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There are certain things that come to mind when Brighton is mentioned; Brighton Rock (the sweet and the Queen song), Mods, Rockers, the London to Brighton Bike Ride (all 52 hard miles of it!), the Grand Hotel and of course the West Pier. I have wanted to photograph the West Pier for sometime now and only managed to get down to Brighton last Thursday! Shame on me!

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D200, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, ISO 100, 1/100 @ f14

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The magic of the seaside is something that has always stayed with me as I have grown up. Living near Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire in Ireland, the seaside was part of my life, from swimming to fishing to just strolling along enjoying the sea air.

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D200, Tamron 17-50 f2.8, ISO 100 1/320 @ f5.6

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The Victorians knew how to capitalise on the seaside. Their grand majestic promenades and piers sweeping us out into the sea to gaze back on the land with a sense of awe; rides to delight and terrify and of course the ever sticky candifloss and stick of rock. The West Pier in Brighton was built in 1866 by Eugenius Birch and is a Grade I listed structure, whats left of it, after the now famous fire of 2003 which all but destroyed it. Prior to that it had been closed since the 70's. gazing on its structure, all that is left is a steel skeleton that once brought happiness to so many. How long it will last is anyone's guess.