Mysterious Waters

Gallery: LandscapePosted September 5, 2010167 views16 comments

I hope this photo does not come off as typical. I know such a scene has been done before, so I am pretty sure there is nothing new here. It was a very exciting image for me, and it was something that I was waiting for during the entire Big Sur Worskhop, a clear evening after sunset providing a soft dusky directional warm glow in which to photograph the moving water among the rocks and sea stacks along Garrapata Beach.

I have seen work from this end of the beach and it never really impressed me, maybe the light was wrong, but this image got me quite excited. So I am hoping that this will be different fare for the viewers.

I photographed this both on 4x5 and digital. This is the digital version.

Nikon D2x, 80-200mm f/4 (the old manual lens) at f22 for 8 seconds ISO 100.

Note: I love this old lens. It still produces critically sharp photos even on digital. Check the larger version.

I will share the 4x5 when I get it back.

Your comments and critiques are much appreciated.

Comments

16 comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on September 5, 2010 at 11:24 PM

Really nice!! I have not seen a lot of images from this beach, but some. This one while not unique as you stated, is still pretty fresh for me. I wouldn't say it was a common type comp, or approach to the coast. I love the layers, and the warm light a lot!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on September 6, 2010 at 1:42 AM

Beautiful. I like the compressed perspective of the layers of rock and the pastel lighting.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Benjamin Glatt on September 6, 2010 at 2:37 AM

Cool shot. Definitely Big Sur!!

Registered on July 15, 2007, 171 Posts, 3566 Comments

Comment posted by Kurt Budliger on September 6, 2010 at 11:09 AM

Really pretty, I love the layered rock and soft pastel water, simply beautiful!

Registered on June 11, 2006, 113 Posts, 2116 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on September 6, 2010 at 11:23 AM

Beautiful shot and well done, Youssef. Love the soft light, muted colors, and very interesting patterns. One of my all time favorites of yours.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on September 6, 2010 at 1:25 PM

A superb take on the location, Youssef. The tight framing helps focus the attention on these amazing rocks and the soft warm light seems perfect for this scene.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on September 6, 2010 at 3:05 PM

Youssef,

There are plenty of gorgeous, colorful and dramatic seascapes, but it's this kind of seascape that really inspires me to want and get in my car and head for the coast. Wish I was with you in your workshop! For me, this is what defines the claim that "Big Sur is the most beautiful meeting of land and sea"

The colors and light are soft and subtle here; combine that with the never ending arrangement of rock, sea and the evidence of the rising and falling of the tides, and you have yourself an outstanding image. I love this. And this is one of those images that will remain in my head and hopefully inspire me some time down the road when I get to see an opportunity like this.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Robert Dayton on September 6, 2010 at 4:24 PM

I love the golden brown color, Ismail. Your choice of shutter
speed makes the water between the rocks seem ghostly
which works well.

Registered on November 11, 2008, 281 Posts, 3958 Comments

Comment posted by Morris McClung on September 6, 2010 at 5:14 PM

Really nice light! Your compressed tele-extraction comp is excellent as well. Almost abstract in quality. Beautiful image!

Registered on May 7, 2007, 670 Posts, 19650 Comments

Comment posted by Vance Gese on September 6, 2010 at 8:18 PM

Love the color, tones, and textures in the rocks, your superb composition that fills the frame with surf and rock, and the wonderful, subtle light. Beautiful image Youssef. Look forward to seeing the 4x5 images.

Registered on November 13, 2008, 298 Posts, 6629 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on September 6, 2010 at 9:36 PM

Doesn't feel typical to me, but I don't do much at the coast. I really like the rhythm of the rocks and water and the warm light makes it all the nicer.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Russell Colletta on September 6, 2010 at 11:31 PM

This is awesome light. The colors are great, the contrast between the detail in the rocks and streaming water makes me want to study this image. Nicely done.

Registered on October 31, 2009, 114 Posts, 1008 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on September 7, 2010 at 5:09 AM

Beautiful, You know Ismail .. I imagine these rocks as huge mountains surrounded with clouds from the bottom

Lovely

Eid Mubarak in advance

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Chambers on September 7, 2010 at 11:39 AM

Not "typical" at all IMO. The color of the water is what really attracts me to this, and how it complements the color of the rocks so well. A beautiful shot Youssef.