 |  |  |  |  |  |
Patrick Smith Photography - San Mateo County |
Pigeon Point Evening Purchase Print Wallpaper: (1024x768) (1280x1024)
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 8-second exposure @F22 with ND grad 0.9 + 0.6
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine Flickr
Story:
Pigeon Point is home to large numbers of pelicans year round. It really should be called Pelican Point. As the sun set, the sky began to glow, but
that alone is not enough to make a good photograph. I noticed that the water had become calm and the light enhanced the color of the water. I
decided to use a long exposure to define and accentuate the rocks in the foreground. This reduced the distracting motion of the waves while the
glow was retained. There are other times, however, when showing the motion of the water is the better choice. Experimentation is often
necessary to determine the best way to go.
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 8-second exposure @F22 with ND grad 0.9 + 0.6
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine Flickr
Story:
Pigeon Point is home to large numbers of pelicans year round. It really should be called Pelican Point. As the sun set, the sky began to glow, but
that alone is not enough to make a good photograph. I noticed that the water had become calm and the light enhanced the color of the water. I
decided to use a long exposure to define and accentuate the rocks in the foreground. This reduced the distracting motion of the waves while the
glow was retained. There are other times, however, when showing the motion of the water is the better choice. Experimentation is often
necessary to determine the best way to go.
The Seascapes of San Mateo County
In some ways, this stretch of coastline gets overlooked despite being within a 1 hour drive (with good traffic) of over 7 million people. Most
people head to Santa Cruz and south, or Marin County and north on the weekend. But this is a very scenic and quiet stretch of the California
coast with endless opportunities for some good landscape photography.
In some ways, this stretch of coastline gets overlooked despite being within a 1 hour drive (with good traffic) of over 7 million people. Most
people head to Santa Cruz and south, or Marin County and north on the weekend. But this is a very scenic and quiet stretch of the California
coast with endless opportunities for some good landscape photography.
Whitewashed Purchase Print Wallpaper: (1024x768) (1280x1024)
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 1/4 second exposure @F16 with ND grad 0.6
Story:
This beach just south of Pigeon Point is full of interesting rock formations. These rocks have been carved by waves like the one shown here. I
watched the beach for 20 minutes, looking for interesting wave patterns and this was the best of them. So I set up the camera and tripod and
waited for just the right moment. I like how quiet the water is in the pool just before it is to be hit by the wave.
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 1/4 second exposure @F16 with ND grad 0.6
Story:
This beach just south of Pigeon Point is full of interesting rock formations. These rocks have been carved by waves like the one shown here. I
watched the beach for 20 minutes, looking for interesting wave patterns and this was the best of them. So I set up the camera and tripod and
waited for just the right moment. I like how quiet the water is in the pool just before it is to be hit by the wave.
Pelican Rock Purchase Print Wallpaper: (1024x768) (1280x1024)
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 0.3 second exposure @F13 with ND grad 0.9 + 0.6
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine
Story:
This rocky coastline south of Pigeon Point is the perfect place for Pelicans to sit and watch for fish. They come and go all day and make dramatic
plunges into the ocean when they spot their dinner. I had to wait quite a while for the right combination of wave and light in order to show this
place off at its best. Notice how the foreground rock is completely wet? Several times, I had to grab the tripod and run, as one wave after another
pounded that rock. I also had to wait for a background wave that was big enough to break in a nice curl, but not so big as to block the ocean's
horizon.
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 0.3 second exposure @F13 with ND grad 0.9 + 0.6
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine
Story:
This rocky coastline south of Pigeon Point is the perfect place for Pelicans to sit and watch for fish. They come and go all day and make dramatic
plunges into the ocean when they spot their dinner. I had to wait quite a while for the right combination of wave and light in order to show this
place off at its best. Notice how the foreground rock is completely wet? Several times, I had to grab the tripod and run, as one wave after another
pounded that rock. I also had to wait for a background wave that was big enough to break in a nice curl, but not so big as to block the ocean's
horizon.
Pelican Cove Purchase Print Wallpaper: (1024x768) (1280x1024)
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 0.3-second exposure @F16 with ND grad 0.9
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine
Story:
Before taking out the camera and tripod from the backpack, it is a good idea to study the beach and how the waves interact with the rock and
sand. Choose one or two favorite places to emphasize, where the water motion grabs your eye. Here, I liked the curl of the distant waves as well
as how the water flows over the foreground rocks. So I waited for both events to happen at the same time. Eventually it did, but I had to be hit
by a few waves while I lifted the tripod above my head.
Location: Pigeon Point, San Mateo County, California
Details: 0.3-second exposure @F16 with ND grad 0.9
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine
Story:
Before taking out the camera and tripod from the backpack, it is a good idea to study the beach and how the waves interact with the rock and
sand. Choose one or two favorite places to emphasize, where the water motion grabs your eye. Here, I liked the curl of the distant waves as well
as how the water flows over the foreground rocks. So I waited for both events to happen at the same time. Eventually it did, but I had to be hit
by a few waves while I lifted the tripod above my head.
San Gregorio Light Purchase Print Wallpaper: (1024x768) (1280x1024)
Location: San Gregorio State Beach, San Mateo County, California
Details: 0.3-second exposure @F16 with ND grad 0.9
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine
Story:
San Gregorio beach is a great place to watch the sunset. This was taken as the first storm of the season caused the water in the river to breach the
sand dunes and flow to the sea. Bubbles of sea foam made a line in the sand as the last light came through the fog.
Location: San Gregorio State Beach, San Mateo County, California
Details: 0.3-second exposure @F16 with ND grad 0.9
Comments on this photo: ePHOTOzine
Story:
San Gregorio beach is a great place to watch the sunset. This was taken as the first storm of the season caused the water in the river to breach the
sand dunes and flow to the sea. Bubbles of sea foam made a line in the sand as the last light came through the fog.
Lighthouse Sky Purchase Print Wallpaper: (1024x768) (1280x1024)
Location: San Gregorio State Beach, San Mateo County, California
Details: 5 second exposure @F22 with ND grads 0.9 + 0.3
Story:
After doing a landscape version of this scene, the upper part of the sky began to glow. So a portrait mode was the way to go. I still wanted to
keep some rocks in the foreground for balance. I had to wait for the waves to calm down so that a 5 second exposure was enough to smooth out
the water.
Location: San Gregorio State Beach, San Mateo County, California
Details: 5 second exposure @F22 with ND grads 0.9 + 0.3
Story:
After doing a landscape version of this scene, the upper part of the sky began to glow. So a portrait mode was the way to go. I still wanted to
keep some rocks in the foreground for balance. I had to wait for the waves to calm down so that a 5 second exposure was enough to smooth out
the water.
