Yesterday, accompanied by two good friends of mine, I ventured into the charming town of Hastings, armed with my trusty Nikon D750 and a curious eye.
Initially sunny and with a multitude of beautiful clouds hanging in the sky, the weather had other plans, and the sky was soon covered with thick, puffy clouds, and the air carried the unmistakable chill of impending rain.
Lucky for me, you probably already know my addiction to monochrome images, it was one of those days where color seemed almost useless, as if the world had dulled its palette to match the mood.
As the first raindrops began to fall, I found myself drawn to the subtle textures and contrasts that only black and white photography can capture. The wet stone glistened underfoot, reflecting the rare light in a way that seemed almost poetic. The ancient architecture, with its weathered facades, stood in stark relief against the gray sky, telling tales of times long gone.
I wandered the narrow streets, looking for scenes that spoke to the melancholy ambience of the day. The sea, usually vibrant and full of life, was a quiet and gloomy expanse. The waves lazily crashed against the shore, their usual roar reduced to a whisper.
The rain, although persistent, was still mild enough not to dampen the joy of the locals who wandered the streets, some in a hurry, trying to hide from the wetness, others relaxed, walking quietly in the streets or sipping their drinks sitting under the gentle rain on the coquet terraces.
Shooting in black and white took the fun out of color, leaving the raw emotion and texture of the day. The overcast skies and moisture in the air brought a certain calm to Hastings, a quiet beauty that often goes unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of brighter days. It was a perfect match for the simplicity and depth that monochrome photography offers.
As I wrapped up my day and headed back, I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm. Despite the gloomy weather, or perhaps because of it, the day had been an intimate exploration of Hastings through a different lens – one that appreciated the overcast beauty, the quiet and the grey. Sometimes it's the dark days that bring out the deepest stories, captured in the timeless elegance of black and white.
