How I See It: Brighton Street Photography In The Summer Sun

I spent one bright summer day wandering through Brighton with my camera — no plan, no route, just seeing what turned up. It was one of those days when everything felt alive: the sea, the light, the movement of people. I wasn’t chasing big moments, just small alignments — those flashes where shape, timing, and human presence come together for an instant and then disappear.

Here are three photographs from that day and some thoughts on what drew me to each.

1. The Rollercoaster – Brighton Pier

Turbo Check. Brighton, England. August 2025.

Fujifim X-T5 56mm f2.8 1/8000sec

What caught my eye first was the structure itself — a looping tangle of yellow and blue steel against a flat, almost cloudless sky. It felt quite architectural, but playful. Then I noticed a lone figure inside one of the loops, working quietly among all that machinery. Suddenly the whole thing shifted from abstract to human.

Composition:
The circular frame of the track became a natural enclosure, drawing the eye straight to the person. I’m always intrigued by how the eye is drawn to a human figure in an image - no matter how small.

I liked how the curved forms countered the rigid geometry of the supporting beams, giving the image movement even though nothing was actually moving. The scale works too — the figure is small enough to make the structure feel monumental, but still strong enough to hold attention. I framed it so the sky could breathe around it, letting the colours and shapes do most of the work.

Story:
There’s something slightly ironic about it — a ride built for speed and excitement, and a single worker making it function, unnoticed. It’s not a dramatic scene, but it says something about human presence in constructed spaces — how we keep these systems running quietly behind the spectacle.

Timing & Light:
The afternoon light was bright and crisp, the kind that makes colour sing but still leaves enough shadow to give form. The palette — lemon yellow, sky blue, and the flash of orange on the worker’s clothes — gives it that summery, almost graphic feel.

Overall Impression:
I like the balance between humour and order here — a bit of geometry, a bit of absurdity, and a human thread tying it all together. It’s simple, but it speaks to the idea of finding structure and story in everyday scenes.

2. The Wave and the Pier

Brighton Splash. Brighton, England. August 2025.

Fujifilm X-T5 56mm f4 1/2000sec

This frame came together in seconds. I’d been watching the sea hit the wall below the promenade, with the skeletal West Pier in the distance. Then a wave hit just as a few people were standing along the edge, caught between curiosity and carelessness. The timing was pure luck — the water exploded into a perfect shape before collapsing again.

Composition:
I liked how the scene naturally divided itself into layers: the foreground wall, the breaking wave, the open water, and the ghostly pier beyond. The horizontals and diagonals give it structure, but it’s the negative space between them — the stretch of sea — that lets the eye rest. The composition feels balanced without being rigid, and that empty middle section makes the splash more dramatic.

Story:
For me, this picture is really about impermanence. The pier is a ruin, slowly disappearing year by year; the wave exists for a second and is gone. And then there are the people — unaware, casual, a little timeless. It’s the kind of scene where everything seems to echo everything else: the decaying structure, the collapsing wave, the briefness of the moment itself.

Timing & Light:
It was taken in the early afternoon, and the light had that hazy softness that keeps colours natural. The sea has a slightly green tint that feels true to the English coast. I exposed for the highlights to keep detail in the spray, letting the shadows fall naturally. The timing of the wave — frozen at its peak — gives the image energy, but it’s the stillness of the figures that anchors it.

Overall Impression:
This picture feels both quiet and alive. It’s a decisive moment, but not a loud one — a calm kind of drama. When I look at it now, it reminds me how fleeting things are, but also how beautifully those fleeting things can hold our attention. It echoes classic summer vibes from days gone by - and yet to come.

3. Reflections in the Lanes

Later in the day, I wandered through the Lanes — busy, colourful, full of reflections and light. I stopped outside a shop window where gold lettering shimmered against the glass. So much to see - a young woman on her phone, completely absorbed. Outside, the reflections of passersby drifted across the surface. It was one of those layered scenes that make you slow down and look twice.

Homestore Connection. Brighton, England. August 2025.

Fujifilm X-T5 56mm f8 1/500 se

Composition:
The frame works on three levels — inside the shop, the glass surface, and the street reflected in it. I wanted them to interact without collapsing into chaos, so I waited for a moment when the interior figure was still and the reflections aligned with the lettering. Her placement — just off-centre, between verticals — gives the picture its balance. The type across the glass acts like a kind of visual punctuation, separating one layer from another.

Story:
What I love here is weat it shows of modern life; the mix of connection and disconnection. The woman is present but inward-looking, lost in her phone, while the reflections show a world in motion just beyond her. It’s a small slice of everyday life, but it hints at something bigger — how we exist in public spaces, half-aware of what’s around us.

Timing & Light:
The light was warm but soft, filtered by the surrounding buildings. The gold lettering picked up just enough glow to stand out without overpowering the scene. The cooler tones inside the shop balanced the warmth outside, giving a subtle contrast. I exposed for the reflections so that everything stayed visible without flattening the glass effect.

Overall Impression:
This one feels quieter, more contemplative than the others. It’s about perception — how we look, what we see, and what we miss. The layers make it a bit of a puzzle, but the mood keeps it grounded. It’s the kind of scene that could easily be overlooked, which is exactly why I wanted to photograph it.

Looking Back

Putting these images together, I realised they trace a kind of rhythm through the day — from open air and bright colour on the pier, to the energy of the sea, to the reflective calm of the Lanes. Each moment came and went in seconds, but together they tell a small story about Brighton and the way light, people, and structure interact.

That’s what I love about street photography: it teaches you to look for balance in the everyday, to find a bit of poetry in the ordinary flow of things.

If you’d like to see how the day unfolded you can watch the video from the day here:
👉 How I See It:Brighton Street Photography in the Summer Sun – YouTube

And if you’ve made it this far, I’d love to know what you think. Which image speaks to you most, and why? Feel free to leave a comment below, or explore more of my colour street photography in the gallery section of my website.

Hugh

Capturing Serenity: Street Photography in a Quiet French Coastal Village

If you enjoy reading about my experience capturing the charm of this quiet French coastal village, you won’t want to miss the full video! In this episode of How I See It, I take you behind the scenes as I navigate the unique challenges of street photography in a slower, more secluded setting. Watch the video [here] and see how I approached composition, light, and storytelling in this picturesque location. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Recently, I ventured into one of these serene coastal villages to challenge myself and my street photography skills. Here's what I learned about the unique beauty and challenges of shooting in such a tranquil setting.

Blending In

In a small village, you’ll often stand out as an outsider. Your presence might make people more conscious of being photographed, which can disrupt the authenticity you’re trying to capture.

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Techniques for Success

1. Use Light to Your Advantage
   Coastal villages are often blessed with stunning natural light. Early mornings and late afternoons can provide dramatic shadows, golden hues, and reflections in the water. Let the light guide your compositions.

2. Slow Down and Observe
   Without the chaos of a city, you have more time to explore and immerse yourself in the environment. Pay attention to textures—the weathered wood of fishing boats, the rough stone walls, or the smoothness of seashells on the shore.

3. Engage with Locals
   A small village offers the unique opportunity to connect with residents. Striking up a conversation might lead to discovering hidden spots or gaining permission to photograph someone in their everyday environment.

The Challenges of Quiet Streets

Street photography is often associated with bustling urban environments—crowded markets, busy streets, and the constant ebb and flow of humanity. But when you step into a quiet French seaside village, the rules of the game change. The rhythm slows, the streets empty, and you’re left with a different kind of canvas.

Fewer Subjects, Less Action

In cities, you can rely on the natural movement of people to create dynamic compositions. In a quiet village, finding interesting subjects requires more patience. People are fewer, and their movements are often slower and more deliberate.

Stillness vs. Storytelling

Capturing a story in a setting where everything feels still is a challenge. You’ll need to focus on subtler narratives—the way a fishing net is coiled, the way light hits an old wooden door, or the interplay of shadows on cobblestones.

Finding Stories in Stillness

What I found most rewarding about shooting in a quiet French seaside village was the need to adapt my vision. Instead of chasing movement, I sought out tranquillity. I looked for visual poems in the way the village interacted with its surroundings: the sea, the sky, and the wind.

One of my favourite images from the trip was of an elderly man slowly pedalling on the hard sand of the deserted beach, the ocean as his backdrop, as he went seeking mussels. His posture, combined with the empty horizon, spoke volumes about the simplicity and depth of life in such a place.

Final Thoughts

Street photography in a quiet coastal village is a lesson in mindfulness. It pushes you to appreciate stillness and find beauty in what might initially seem uneventful. It’s a reminder that every place has its stories; you just need to listen closely and look deeply to uncover them.

Next time you’re in a place where the streets seem silent, don’t be discouraged.

Embrace the quiet, and you might just capture something extraordinary.

How I See It - Black and White Street Photography

Just a short note to say that my second video is now up on my YouTube channel.

It’s about five black and white images made in the last year - the story behind the images, the reason for processing in black and white.

Do you go out to shoot in black and white? What makes black and white so special?

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And if there’s anything you’d like to see featured on this new channel I’d love to know.

Just comment below.