Malibu Light Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Malibu, California
Story:
The last rays of sunlight peeked though the clouds, bathing the Malibu Pier and the hills in the distance. The waves were small,
which allowed lots of light to reflect off the water and the sand. The sunset behind the camera was excellent with lots of color in
the clouds, but I liked the light on the pier even more. Many times, it is best to point the camera away from a nice sunrise or
sunset because the light will be superb on the land and sea opposite from the sun. I also like how the small bits of seaweed cast
long shadows on the sand.
Location: Malibu, California
Story:
The last rays of sunlight peeked though the clouds, bathing the Malibu Pier and the hills in the distance. The waves were small,
which allowed lots of light to reflect off the water and the sand. The sunset behind the camera was excellent with lots of color in
the clouds, but I liked the light on the pier even more. Many times, it is best to point the camera away from a nice sunrise or
sunset because the light will be superb on the land and sea opposite from the sun. I also like how the small bits of seaweed cast
long shadows on the sand.
| The Los Angeles Area This is a very heavily populated area, but along the coast there are piers and lots of wide beaches which are perfect subjects for wide angle photography under the right lighting conditions. I like to keep people out of my images so that the viewer feels a though he or she is the only one in that peaceful moment. Creating that feeling can be a challenge in Southern California, but it is still possible as you can see below. |
Under the Pier - Santa Monica Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
It was like another world under the pier at sunset. The lights allowed extra detail to be seen on the vertical pilings, while a long
exposure softened the water. It took a while to get the best vantage point where the fewest pillars were blocking other pillars
while still showing glimpses of the ocean beyond. And I had to avoid the bright lights, which would become seriously overexposed
and ruin the image.
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
It was like another world under the pier at sunset. The lights allowed extra detail to be seen on the vertical pilings, while a long
exposure softened the water. It took a while to get the best vantage point where the fewest pillars were blocking other pillars
while still showing glimpses of the ocean beyond. And I had to avoid the bright lights, which would become seriously overexposed
and ruin the image.
Under the Pier - Malibu Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Malibu, California
Story:
Small waves and low tide allowed lots of detail to be shown during this long exposure. This was another one where it took a while to move
around in order to have as few pillars blocking other pillars as possible and still show detail on the front ones. And I wanted the front two
pillars to frame the image, which complicated matters a bit.
Location: Malibu, California
Story:
Small waves and low tide allowed lots of detail to be shown during this long exposure. This was another one where it took a while to move
around in order to have as few pillars blocking other pillars as possible and still show detail on the front ones. And I wanted the front two
pillars to frame the image, which complicated matters a bit.
Crystal Cove Breakers Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, California
Story:
I was driving along the south Orange County coast towards my intended sunset shooting location when I saw this nice set of
waves breaking offshore at Crystal Cove State Park, between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. I abandoned those plans
because there was a nice opening in the low fog layer right here, perfect for the sun to drop through, so I headed down to the
beach. I watched the waves for a while to see how I could capture the distant waves breaking at the same time as a foreground
wave would break on some rocks on the beach. I had to wait about 3 minutes before the coincidence happened and I missed the
first one, so I waited a few more minutes, and then I finally caught it just right. The water was only about one foot below the
camera on the tripod for this exposure!
Location: Crystal Cove State Park, Orange County, California
Story:
I was driving along the south Orange County coast towards my intended sunset shooting location when I saw this nice set of
waves breaking offshore at Crystal Cove State Park, between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach. I abandoned those plans
because there was a nice opening in the low fog layer right here, perfect for the sun to drop through, so I headed down to the
beach. I watched the waves for a while to see how I could capture the distant waves breaking at the same time as a foreground
wave would break on some rocks on the beach. I had to wait about 3 minutes before the coincidence happened and I missed the
first one, so I waited a few more minutes, and then I finally caught it just right. The water was only about one foot below the
camera on the tripod for this exposure!
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Santa Monica Spin #1 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the old wheel)
Story:
A medium-length exposure shows the spin of the wheel, as riders enjoyed a magnificent sunset over the Santa Monica Pier. This
was the best part of a great sunset, then I waited for the lights on the pier to become as bright as the sky in order to create
Santa Monica Spin #2 about 20 minutes later. For a brief moment in between waves, the sand turned glossy, so I made sure to
capture that moment with the wheel in motion, which was not very often during the best part of the sunset!
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the old wheel)
Story:
A medium-length exposure shows the spin of the wheel, as riders enjoyed a magnificent sunset over the Santa Monica Pier. This
was the best part of a great sunset, then I waited for the lights on the pier to become as bright as the sky in order to create
Santa Monica Spin #2 about 20 minutes later. For a brief moment in between waves, the sand turned glossy, so I made sure to
capture that moment with the wheel in motion, which was not very often during the best part of the sunset!
Santa Monica Spin #2 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the old wheel)
Story:
This image was taken about 20 minutes after “Santa Monica Spin1.” An extra long exposure and a little light still in the sky allowed
the scene to become evenly lit. The wheel spun about 5 times during this exposure. The spinning wheel turned out to be the
most import factor to getting a good photograph. Sometimes the wheel stopped, and the dynamic feel of the resulting image was
lost. Sometimes it would turn too quickly and become out of synch with the way the lights on the spokes worked, creating odd-
looking effects. So a lot of experimentation was required to get a smooth and dynamic look without distracting features.
Improvisation is often required to get the best photograph possible.
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the old wheel)
Story:
This image was taken about 20 minutes after “Santa Monica Spin1.” An extra long exposure and a little light still in the sky allowed
the scene to become evenly lit. The wheel spun about 5 times during this exposure. The spinning wheel turned out to be the
most import factor to getting a good photograph. Sometimes the wheel stopped, and the dynamic feel of the resulting image was
lost. Sometimes it would turn too quickly and become out of synch with the way the lights on the spokes worked, creating odd-
looking effects. So a lot of experimentation was required to get a smooth and dynamic look without distracting features.
Improvisation is often required to get the best photograph possible.
Santa Monica Spin#3 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Santa Monica Spin #4 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the new wheel)
Story:
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.
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the new wheel)
Story:
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.
Santa Monica Spin#3 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Santa Monica Spin#3 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Santa Monica Spin#3 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Location: Santa Monica, California
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Santa Monica Spin#3 Buy limited edition print/license Buy open edition print
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the new wheel)
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.
Location: Santa Monica, California (with the new wheel)
Story:
The third in the Santa Monica Series shows the new wheel just before sunset. I waited for the sand to briefly become smooth and
for the ever-changing color of the wheel to be complementary to the warm glow of sunset. The wheel does not spin very often so
it takes a while to get it right.