The Perils of Beachy Head

It had been a few days since I had found the time to get out and shoot some images, so in an effort to make the most of what had been a glorious few days' weather before it changed, I jumped in the car and headed for what was surely to be a beautiful sunset. On arrival I found that my chosen spot was already occupied by a sizeable crowd - a number of whom were clad in fluorescent jackets. At the top of the cliff that inevitably means only one thing, and this was confirmed with the sight of Coastguard vehicles. Some poor soul had gone over the edge right next to the lighthouse - at one of the steepest and highest points of the cliffs. Trying not to to be over ghoulish about the situation I wandered a short distance away and framed a few shots of the beautiful panorama of the Seven Sisters against the sunset sky, only to be further distracted by the sound of a Coastguard helicopter hovering behind me and just beyond the edge of the cliff. As the casualty was winched aboard there was a suspicion that this one may have survived, and surely enough the helicopter flew off in the direction of Brighton. Fingers crossed that this will be one who lived to tell the tale.....

By this time the light was almost failing altogether and after a few passable shots of the Lighthouse and Beachy Head in the eerie blue light of dusk I called it a day. Not as productive a session as I had hoped for, but a little different from the usual Beachy Head expedition.

....and yes, I couldn't resist one or two shots of the helicopter as it hovered close by!