A big pacific storm churned up the ocean into a sea of spray and mist, just as the sun was setting. Here the waves have settled down a bit giving this scene a peaceful feeling. At other moments, it was anything but peaceful as the surf pounded the beach with surges of water covering this very spot up to 10 feet deep!
The fourth in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just after sunset. I waited again for the sand to briefly become smooth and for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the blues in the sky. The wheel does not spin very often so it takes a while to get it right.
A rare December snowfall covered half of the mountain while the last of the fall foliage from the street trees holds on for one last show. Fortunately, the clouds stayed long enough to provide a nice light show as the sun set behind the camera. See the previous photo for a 2x3 ratio print of this same scene. This photo can be printed up to 6 feet wide with fine resolution.
A rare December snowfall covered half of the mountain while the last of the fall foliage from the street trees holds on for one last show. Fortunately, the clouds stayed long enough to provide a nice light show as the sun set behind the camera. See the next photo for a wide panorama of this same scene. It can be printed up to 6 feet wide with fine resolution.
Location: Yerba Buena Island/San Francisco, California
Story:
San Francisco and Silicon Valley to the south are the home to most of the world's leading technology companies. From Computer hardware, to networking and internet social networking they are all here. And the city has a high-tech look too which feels 'cutting edge' when you are in the middle of it. It is an exciting place to be! There are also many traditional areas of town that feel more like a European or Asian city than anywhere in the United States. And there are a few nice views to be had too!
Location: Yerba Buena Island/San Francisco, California
Story:
The 10,305 ft long west span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge carries 102 million cars per year on its two decks with 5 lanes on each. Only the George Washington Bridge in New York is busier with 108 million cars per year.
Location: Marin County Headlands, Sausalito, California
Story:
A small fishing boat moved slowly with the tide during this 2-minute exposure just after the sun set. I had to climb down a steep hillside to get low enough to show the city skyline entirely under the bridge. You will rarely see a photo from this location. Do not attempt this if you have vertigo!
I noticed that a combination of a very low tide, a clearing storm, and a December sun angle pointing towards the Marin headlands could put on a rare show, so I headed out to see if it would happen. Just 20 minutes before I made the photograph, the sky was heavy and dark. But finally a hole opened up in the clouds to the west and the sun came through for about 5 minutes. It was quite a show!
Location: Garrapata State Beach (main beach), Big Sur, California
Story:
A soft light met the pounding surf at the main beach in Garrapata State Park at the north end of Big Sur, near Carmel, California. I noticed the waves pounding this rock and focused on it for a while to capture the best views I could. #3b is the same composition with sand in front, which made a completely different picture.
Location: Garrapata State Beach (main beach), Big Sur, California
Story:
I noticed the aquamarine-green color of the waves that appeared for just a fraction of a second in front of the dramatic sky. So I set up and waited until I had captured it just right. This picture raised $800 for Haiti Charity Relief on Flick and because the #1 most interesting landscape photo out of over 4 million. Many other photos of mine has reached number one too.
Location: Garrapata State Beach (main beach), Big Sur, California
Story:
The sunlight tried to find gaps in the clouds, but turned them a glowing orange instead. I waited for the waves to strike the rock before making the exposure. Then I was hit, but that is the price that must be paid!
Location: Garrapata State Beach (main beach), Big Sur, California
Story:
Garrapata beach has many interesting stone formations, like this one right here. So I waited for the clouds and waves to form a pleasing background with this rock as the main subject.
Location: Garrapata State Beach (main beach), Big Sur, California
Story:
A soft light met the pounding surf at the main beach in Garrapata State Park at the north end of Big Sur, near Carmel, California. I noticed the waves pounding this rock and focused on it for a while to capture the best views I could. #3 is the same composition with moving water in front, which made a completely different picture.
A big pacific storm churned up the ocean at Grey Whale Cove, into a sea of spray and mist, just as the sun was setting. Here the surf pounded the beach with surges of water covering this very spot up to 10 feet deep every few minutes!
Location: Garrapata State Beach (main beach), Big Sur, California
Story:
Garrapata beach has many interesting stone formations, like this one right here. So I waited for the clouds and waves to form a pleasing background with this rock as the main subject.
A series of powerful storms created dramatic skies and huge surf extending out to the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a shallow area far offshore. The wind was a constant 50mph with gusts that could easly knock people down. I found a place right above a vertical cliff where the wind seemed to go right over the top of me, allowing the camera to be stable on the tripod. This is the most intense weather in which I have ever attempted to photograph!
Second in a series of high-perspective ocean views. Several powerful storms created dramatic skies and huge surf extending out to the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a shallow area far offshore. The wind was a constant 50mph with gusts that could easily knock people down. I found a place right above a vertical cliff where the wind seemed to go right over the top of me, allowing the camera to be stable on the tripod. As I mentioned above, this is the most intense weather in which I have ever attempted to photograph!