Posted by Derek Sedillo on January 8, 2010 at 2:26 PM
This is the time of the year I like to visit Pfeiffer Beach. Normally the caves get their best light in the Winter. This image was taken just after sunset at low tide. I had wanted to shoot from this cave before. But the tide was always too high and waves tend to crash and explode through the opening. Although a bit safer this day I didn't want to stay here too long especially after getting completely soaked by a wave last week in Big Sur.
Here are a couple of the more iconic portal also recently taken:
BTW, if you are wondering about the best time to vist for the beam of light it is when we have clearer skies closest to Winter Solstice which is now. If its too cloudy the beam will be blocked which actually happened to me this week. A number of photographers came, took a look and then left. But I waited with one other photographer and the beam made a brief appearance just before sunset.
I'm most intrigued with the initial post and the subtle Fibonacci spiral found within the image. I like the way my eye follows the lines around the outer edges and spirals inwards into the inner/distant lines. That said, I think a little separation from the top of that stack and the cave ceiling, and a little sharper fg (using multiple images with different focus points) could enhance this spiraling effect. Nice find and capture!
Posted by Rudy Ruberti on January 8, 2010 at 8:27 PM
Great wave action in this one. Maybe a little room between the sea stack and top of the cave would have been nice (if possible). The second one is pretty awesome, with some great light.
Posted by Derek Sedillo on January 8, 2010 at 9:01 PM
Thanks guys,
This is a shot you won't normally see and I agree on both suggestions. It is a very difficult place to shot from with the wave action moving thru the portal. So I was basically setting up as fast as I could, taking some shots and getting out of there. Both the tripod and my legs where fully extended between side rocks as my camera hung over a pool of salt water. Just to get the whole seastack in the frame I had to place to camera low to the water. Could I have gone a little lower without getting wet? Probably.
I definately want to shoot it at a higher aperture. The blurred foreground bugged me also when I first noticed it. And then there is the extreme dynamic range inherent with most caves.
All that said I would like to try to capture it again. And the lower the tide the better. But if the waves are big forget it!
Derek
Posted by Paul Duval on January 10, 2010 at 10:37 AM
Derek,
As another who loves the sea as much as you do and your wonderful images illustrate that just remember she's a fickle lover and could really hurt you or take you into her bosom permanently. Keep in mind your own posted warning above because I know there's big surf up there this week.
Regards,
Paul
Posted by Lon Overacker on January 10, 2010 at 7:27 PM
Stay safe out there Derek! I would heed Paul's words... :-)
I like this view through the "portal" and the timing of the spray is perfect. Too bad you couldn't avoid the merger between the rock and the cave up top, but from your description, you did well to even capture this!
My only suggestion is a crop from the bottom to avoid the OOF foreground. I think the result is actually pretty cool and still has a "portal" look to it. Just a minor suggestion though.
Lon
Posted by Derek Sedillo on January 11, 2010 at 11:59 AM
Thanks guys. Yeah, one has to be careful especially along this stretch of coast where raw power comes surging in out of deep water. I went out and shot sunrise yesterday with huge waves rolling in and slamming into the cliffs. I think I'll post a few shots from the outing in another thread.
Discussion
8 repliesHere are a couple of the more iconic portal also recently taken:
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Seascapes/Big-Sur-Seascapes/10828392_2Vfh7#755150583_cFDzN-A-LB
http://landandseaphoto.smugmug.com/Seascapes/Big-Sur-Seascapes/10828392_2Vfh7#759204447_XzoDZ-A-LB
BTW, if you are wondering about the best time to vist for the beam of light it is when we have clearer skies closest to Winter Solstice which is now. If its too cloudy the beam will be blocked which actually happened to me this week. A number of photographers came, took a look and then left. But I waited with one other photographer and the beam made a brief appearance just before sunset.
Derek
Roland
This is a shot you won't normally see and I agree on both suggestions. It is a very difficult place to shot from with the wave action moving thru the portal. So I was basically setting up as fast as I could, taking some shots and getting out of there. Both the tripod and my legs where fully extended between side rocks as my camera hung over a pool of salt water. Just to get the whole seastack in the frame I had to place to camera low to the water. Could I have gone a little lower without getting wet? Probably.
I definately want to shoot it at a higher aperture. The blurred foreground bugged me also when I first noticed it. And then there is the extreme dynamic range inherent with most caves.
All that said I would like to try to capture it again. And the lower the tide the better. But if the waves are big forget it!
Derek
As another who loves the sea as much as you do and your wonderful images illustrate that just remember she's a fickle lover and could really hurt you or take you into her bosom permanently. Keep in mind your own posted warning above because I know there's big surf up there this week.
Regards,
Paul
I like this view through the "portal" and the timing of the spray is perfect. Too bad you couldn't avoid the merger between the rock and the cave up top, but from your description, you did well to even capture this!
My only suggestion is a crop from the bottom to avoid the OOF foreground. I think the result is actually pretty cool and still has a "portal" look to it. Just a minor suggestion though.
Lon
Derek