Posted by Derek Sedillo on December 7, 2009 at 12:51 AM
After injuring my ankle over a week ago while hiking at night and a cold I have been out of commission lately. But yesterday I saw a break in our recent cloudy weather along the coast. So I took a drive down to Big Sur. Too cloudy for the Pfeiffer Beach arch I kept going to McWay Falls. The sky started clearing a bit on the way down. And right before the sun set it broke the through the clouds as in this shot.
Overall it was a drive well worth taking. I looks like rain and clouds over the next week or so. This could mean some good photo ops for those with the time to get out there between the breaks.
Derek
Posted by Robert Dayton on December 7, 2009 at 9:13 AM
I like all three images, Derek, particularly the night scene.
Derek, be careful out there , I'm still under Dr. care for an ankle break over 6 years ago.
Like Robert, I like all three images, but I would entertain trying to lift a bit more from the darker areas here and there. Otherwise, all good to go.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on December 7, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Thanks guys.
Just an FYI regarding Big Sur. I think some have asked where to shoot if they visit the area. There are a couple of good guides. One of them is put out by a local professional photographer, photo tour guide and author David Gubernick. He is a great guy. I just saw him Saturday while I was at McWay Falls. Anyway he just updated his website with the guide here: http://www.rainbowspirit.com/photographers-guide.html
These should assist you when coming to photograph the area.
Paul, I am still a little concerned with the ankle so I may have it looked at/ x-rayed. I definately torn some ligaments and that part seems to be healing pretty good. But I don't want reoccuring injuries there either.
Sounds like a good time, Derek. I haven't been down that way in a long time.
I like all of them except the one with the stars: There's just not enough there. I agree with Paul regarding pulling more detail in the dark areas. Of all four, I like the one posted here the best.
-P
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on December 7, 2009 at 5:51 PM
Nice shot, Derek. The night shots are pretty cool too. That section of coast should get hammered by Pacific storms this week.
Posted by Steve Sieren on December 7, 2009 at 10:45 PM
Derek, give yourself 10 seconds or so after looking at the bright LCD in the dark, before you begin moving around in the dark. No need to rush when the light is not coming for hours.
Nice series, the texture in the waves are nice.
Posted by Craig Myers on December 8, 2009 at 2:06 AM
Derek,
I really like the great patterns on the beach in the first shot and the glow in the sky and on the beach waters in the night shot.
Posted by Lon Overacker on December 8, 2009 at 8:32 PM
Derek,
The one you posted is nice, but I think I might have a preference for the softer light image of your other link. I think simply because of the introduction of some color. This one here sure seems like you were barely able to squeeze it all in to one frame. But I think you pulled it off.
I really like the night ones Derek, but I do wish for a bit more shadow detail.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on December 9, 2009 at 1:43 AM
Thanks for the input guys. Its funny how different ppl prefer different images. I guess thats speaks to the mood variation these shots present of the exact same spot only minutes/hours apart - light being only real variable.
Anyway with regards to the night shots, this was a back to the drawing board kind of experience for me. Going from sunset to night in this spot was not ideal. The waterfall and trees sit back in a shaded area. So trying to bring color/light out of that area for a night image blend just wasn't working.
I seemed to get better results along the coast going from night to dawn as the predawn light seems a bit more even. So I may give that a try at this location. But who knows. I may just need a different subject for this kind of blend - something I can get closer to. Man would I love to have access to that beach below. But can you imagine all the photograhers swarming it if they allowed full access. Maybe its better they kept it more preserved and limited.
Derek
Posted by Debjit Ghosh on December 12, 2009 at 11:29 PM
nice mood Derek. not the greatest sunset light but I like the subdued feeling to it.
Discussion
11 repliesHere is the larger version - http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Locations/Northern-California-2009/7049912_hqPLs#733706204_wDSFP-A-LB
Here is one with softer light and a totally different mood after sunset - http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Locations/Northern-California-2009/7049912_hqPLs#733866786_eYMvf-A-LB
Finally a night shot which I found much more challenging than I thought it would be. I wanted to bring the falls out with the stars. But it was so dark I found it hard to get the right foreground blend - http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Locations/Northern-California-2009/7049912_hqPLs#733171768_44xAs-A-LB
Overall it was a drive well worth taking.
Derek
Like Robert, I like all three images, but I would entertain trying to lift a bit more from the darker areas here and there. Otherwise, all good to go.
Just an FYI regarding Big Sur. I think some have asked where to shoot if they visit the area. There are a couple of good guides. One of them is put out by a local professional photographer, photo tour guide and author David Gubernick. He is a great guy. I just saw him Saturday while I was at McWay Falls. Anyway he just updated his website with the guide here: http://www.rainbowspirit.com/photographers-guide.html
And then Don Smith has just put together a reasonable e-book photographer's guide to Big Sur as well here: http://webfarm.foliolink.com/Asset.asp?AssetID=18375&AKey=J5ADJ6V2
These should assist you when coming to photograph the area.
Paul, I am still a little concerned with the ankle so I may have it looked at/ x-rayed. I definately torn some ligaments and that part seems to be healing pretty good. But I don't want reoccuring injuries there either.
Derek
I like all of them except the one with the stars: There's just not enough there. I agree with Paul regarding pulling more detail in the dark areas. Of all four, I like the one posted here the best.
-P
Nice series, the texture in the waves are nice.
I really like the great patterns on the beach in the first shot and the glow in the sky and on the beach waters in the night shot.
The one you posted is nice, but I think I might have a preference for the softer light image of your other link. I think simply because of the introduction of some color. This one here sure seems like you were barely able to squeeze it all in to one frame.
Lon
Anyway with regards to the night shots, this was a back to the drawing board kind of experience for me. Going from sunset to night in this spot was not ideal. The waterfall and trees sit back in a shaded area. So trying to bring color/light out of that area for a night image blend just wasn't working.
I seemed to get better results along the coast going from night to dawn as the predawn light seems a bit more even. So I may give that a try at this location. But who knows. I may just need a different subject for this kind of blend - something I can get closer to. Man would I love to have access to that beach below. But can you imagine all the photograhers swarming it if they allowed full access.
Derek