Lights of the Night

Night photography at Beachy Head offers unique challenges and rewards. I'd been planning this shot for weeks, waiting for a clear evening when I could capture the lighthouse beacon illuminated against the Seven Sisters cliffs. This March night delivered perfect conditions—clear skies, calm seas, and just enough traffic on the clifftop road to create interesting light trails.

I set up my tripod on the clifftop viewpoint and composed the shot to include Beachy Head Lighthouse far below, the chalk cliffs stretching into the darkness, and the road winding along the cliff edge. Using a 20-second exposure, I captured the moving vehicles as streaks of red and white light, adding a dynamic element that contrasts beautifully with the static lighthouse beacon. The lighthouse itself was perfectly illuminated, that distinctive red and white striped tower glowing against the dark cliffs.

What makes this image special is the combination of natural and man-made light sources. The lighthouse beacon—which has been warning ships away from these treacherous cliffs since 1902—provides a warm point of light at sea level, while the car trails above trace human movement across this dramatic landscape. The Seven Sisters cliffs fade into the darkness, creating a sense of mystery and scale.

When you look at this photograph, I want you to feel that sense of nighttime adventure—standing on the clifftops in darkness, watching the lighthouse do its timeless work while life continues along the coastal road above, all captured in one long, patient exposure.