I haven’t had much time to shoot as of late, but I did manage to capture this scene the other day in Laguna Beach and decided to convert it to B&W. I feel as if the B&W bug has bitten me.
A somewhat surreal and sad side story to this photograph was this was one of the last photos I took that day. For another photographer was shooting a model some 30-40 ft to my left and didn’t see a rogue wave that accompanied a large set a few moments after this image was taken. As I stabilized my camera and climbed up onto a stairwell to avoid most of the incoming water, I noticed a few seconds later him running after his camera bag (with lenses) flowing outward into the channel in the lower left third. As he jumped in to the channel to retrieve his bag, I learned his camera fell off his neck. I did manage to help him retrieve his battery pack, strobe, and umbrella but I fear all that salt water did permanent damage to the equipment. Having already lost a camera to the sea myself, I could only imagine the dismay he felt.
As always, any comments, suggestions or critiques are always welcomed.
Cheers!
~Eric
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on June 17, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Very nice comp and conversion. I like this a lot. Relative to your story, at least he only lost equipment. That can be replaced. Far too often people lose their lives by rogue waves.
Posted by Steve Sieren on June 17, 2009 at 3:45 PM
This is nice Eric, glad to you got out and captured this fabulous black and white. The tones are excellent. Looks like the pit of death there in the middle and I wouldn't want to fall in that crack. It all works well in the comp. Can't believe a camera could be retrieved from that. Sorry to hear about the loss for that guy. Leaving stuff way out of reach always helps.
Posted by Richard Wong on June 17, 2009 at 3:55 PM
Having photographed this spot I can picture the situation very clearly in my mind! I'm surprised that you managed to get this close to the channel because that is something I wanted no part of.
With that said, fantastic use of the water and the sky is very appropriate.
Great image. Really dynamic. Love the tones here and all the captured movement. Sorry to hear about the other photographer. I wouldn't wish such a situation on anyone.
Eric, this is as good as it gets in both seascape composition as well as an extremely well processed B&W conversion. One can almost feel the wave action here.
Too bad about the other shooters equipment. Not much fun with the loss of the gear whether the person was shooting for personal reasons or for business, it's an expensive outing no matter what.
"Pit of Death" I like the way that sounds... maybe I'll have to rethink the title. :)
Richard, I actually had one of my tripod legs shortened and resting on one of the nearby stairway's footings for support and to get this composition. For me it was actually more safe than it looks. But for the other photog it was a different story... he got pretty banged up by the time he exited the water.
Awesome man! I love how the water is just going in all directions, and the gloomy sky is very fitting.
Posted by Bryan Pezman on June 28, 2009 at 11:44 PM
Great comp Eric! I've eyeballed that spot several times but never seem to time the tides quite right. Love the B/W conversion. Beware, next thing you know, you'll be looking for an IR converted camera
Bummer about the wedding photog losing his gear. Even the most eminently aware of us tend to lose track of ourselves and our surroundings from time to time.
Discussion
9 repliesA somewhat surreal and sad side story to this photograph was this was one of the last photos I took that day. For another photographer was shooting a model some 30-40 ft to my left and didn’t see a rogue wave that accompanied a large set a few moments after this image was taken. As I stabilized my camera and climbed up onto a stairwell to avoid most of the incoming water, I noticed a few seconds later him running after his camera bag (with lenses) flowing outward into the channel in the lower left third. As he jumped in to the channel to retrieve his bag, I learned his camera fell off his neck. I did manage to help him retrieve his battery pack, strobe, and umbrella but I fear all that salt water did permanent damage to the equipment. Having already lost a camera to the sea myself, I could only imagine the dismay he felt.
As always, any comments, suggestions or critiques are always welcomed.
Cheers!
~Eric
With that said, fantastic use of the water and the sky is very appropriate.
Too bad about the other shooters equipment. Not much fun with the loss of the gear whether the person was shooting for personal reasons or for business, it's an expensive outing no matter what.
Richard, I actually had one of my tripod legs shortened and resting on one of the nearby stairway's footings for support and to get this composition. For me it was actually more safe than it looks. But for the other photog it was a different story... he got pretty banged up by the time he exited the water.
Bummer about the wedding photog losing his gear. Even the most eminently aware of us tend to lose track of ourselves and our surroundings from time to time.