Ebb and Ember

There's something magical about catching the tide at just the right moment. I'd been down to Worthing beach several times that week, studying the tide tables and watching the patterns of how the water moved around the wooden groynes. I wanted to capture that perfect moment when the receding tide creates those beautiful flowing lines across the sand, all while the first light of dawn was breaking over the pier.

This particular October morning delivered everything I'd hoped for. As I stood in the shallow water with my tripod, using a slightly longer exposure to blur the movement of the retreating waves, the sky began to ignite. Warm amber and gold tones flooded across the horizon, reflected in the wet sand and the flowing water. The groyne in the foreground created a natural leading line, drawing the eye toward Worthing Pier silhouetted against that spectacular dawn sky.

What I love about this image is the sense of movement—the way the ebbing tide seems to flow away from you, creating these silky ribbons of water that contrast beautifully with the solid structure of the pier. It's a reminder that coastal photography is as much about timing and patience as it is about light and composition.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel the cool water around your feet, the anticipation of watching a new day begin, and that peaceful moment when the world transitions from night to morning on the Sussex coast.