Big Sur Summer Evening

Posted by Don Smith (California, United States) on 29 August 2009 in Landscape & Rural.

UPCOMING 2009 / 2010 WORKSHOPS:

Arches/Canyonlands Photo Workshop November 4-8, 2009 (2 spots available)
Spring Big Sur Photo Workshop - March 29 - April 1, 2010 (9 spots available)
Northern Arizona: Grand Canyon, Upper Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona Photo Workshop - May 3-7, 2010 (space available)
Redwoods and Mendocino Coast Photo Workshop - June 15-18, 2010 (space available)
Kauai, Hawaii Photo Workshop - July 12-16, 2010 (8 spots available)
Big Sur Photo Workshop Summer August, 2010 (Exciting details TBA soon)!
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We just concluded the 2009 Don Smith Summer Big Sur Workshop Thursday evening and were treated to this spectacular sky and sunset at our final location shoot near Pt. Sur and the Pt. Sur Lightstation. Subtropical moisture from tropical storm Ignacio had been streaming through the region from the south while extreme heat inland, resulting in a east-to-west flow, kept the fog away and allowed for these ideal conditions.

Gary Hart and I had a great time with an energetic group of workshop participants and we ran the gamut in weather from thick fog to this painterly sky treat. We even went above the fog 3200 feet to shoot a sunset!

I kept encouraging the group to vary their compositions (and there were many to be made on this evening), but the real fun came in watching the ever-changing light as the sun dipped lower towards the horizon and provided its magical light. There was even a half-moon hanging in the sky to the left of Pt. Sur allowing for even more compositions.

I had noticed this opening in the clouds and we had been talking to the group about how to turn point sources (the sun and the light from the lightstation) into star bursts. I decided to try to include both in one frame and succeeded thanks to my full-frame Canon 1DsMKIII sensor and a 16-35mmL lens set at 16mm. I simply adjusted my slim Singh-Ray polarizer and waited for the sun to drop towards the opening of the cloud.

Not only did I get the starburst with both the sun and the lighthouse, but I also got a beautiful reflection on the water, and the horizon lit up with a warm orange color allowing for even more visual excitement. It was fun listening to the shutters clicking and the excited comments of the group - definitely a pleasurable way to finish up!

If you would like to join Gary and I on one of our many workshops, please click on my website link listed below and select the link of your workshop choice.

My Website: "how to" articles, galleries, stock photos, and more...
www.donsmithphotography.com

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Comments (15)

Judy from Brooksville, Florida, United States

I'm here early, after watching Discovery lift off from 300 miles west. It was awesome, but in total blackness, not as beautiful as your capture here. I look forward to more photos from your workshop experience.

29 Aug 2009 5:42am

@Judy: Hi Judy, I can remember (way back when) working for my college (San Jose State) newspaper and being assigned to cover the landing of the very first Space Shuttle in the desert of California. So I have always followed the space program with a special fondness. Launches always seem special. Thanks for sharing.

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Such a timeless landscape! The beautiful colours and the clouds make it work so well.

29 Aug 2009 9:49am

@Ana Lúcia: I talk a lot in my workshops about my approach to landscape photography; mainly, I look for interesting light and color, then find a subject. The Pt.Sur Lightstation has always intrigued me (they say it is haunted) and it served this scene well. A beautiful sky in and of itself quickly loses visual interest, there must be a visual anchor for the eye to return, and Pt. Sur serves that function.

Batkoï from Salon de Provence, France

superb, holidays still lives, great composition and colors

29 Aug 2009 11:12am

@Batkoï: Thank you Batkoi for checking in, hope to hear from you again.

Dawn from Maryland, United States

Gorgeous!! What a beautiful shot! : )

29 Aug 2009 11:52am

@Dawn: I know sunrises and sunsets can become a cliche, but when one sees a painterly sky such as this, it becomes special. It was a beautiful sky, we just waited for the color.

Monte Stevens from Westerville, United States

Another beautiful sunset. There are times I just wanna sit and watch it go down. :-)

29 Aug 2009 1:46pm

@Monte Stevens: Well said Monte, even if I did not have a camera, this one would have been special to watch. This was evidenced by the amount of cars pulling off Highway 1 as they spied this scene.

Tracy from La Selva Beach, United States

WOW! This just blows me away! I helplessly watched this sunset with the gorgeous clouds from my window at work!....*sigh*
Can't wait to see more from the workshop!

29 Aug 2009 2:26pm

@Tracy: I bet last night was another good one Tracy, but I took a pass to spend the evening with my family, so I was also contented to watch it from my window.

Vitor Martins from Lisboa, Portugal

Nice composition with amaizing colors specially in the sky.

29 Aug 2009 2:29pm

@Vitor Martins: The best color actually came after sunset (as is sometimes the case) but to the north of where we were standing leaving only a couple of silhouetted cypress trees as foreground objects. I felt there was much more visual excitement with this image.

Lambspun from Madison, Maine, United States

This cloud shot is so beautiful with the sun shinning above and below the clouds. Peaking through! Great capture.

29 Aug 2009 3:57pm

@Lambspun: Sometimes Mother Nature just begs to be photographed!

Viewfinder from Bradenton, FL, United States

Whooo! I can't get over the beauty of the sky and setting sunlight reflecting on the water, as the land gradually darkens. Big Sur is one of those magical places.

29 Aug 2009 3:58pm

@Viewfinder: Big Sur is indeed "one of those magical places." Add in a sky like this and it becomes remarkable.

john4jack from Corvallis, Oregon, United States

Elegant! Exquisite light on the water.

29 Aug 2009 4:00pm

@john4jack: Thanks Jack.

Scott Schilling from San Martin, United States

You can't beat a summer evening with no fog and subtropical moisture! Who did you have to pay for those conditions! Great shot Don, I like the tones and the diffraction pattern around the sun is very well done! I have to shoot a wedding this afternoon in this heat - I hope to survive. Have a great weekend!

29 Aug 2009 5:20pm

@Scott Schilling: Hi Scott, I hope you "survived" yesterday! Very early in my career I tried shooting a few weddings, and did an adequate job, but realized it was not for me. Throw in 100 degree heat, and the stress of running the show, and it's enough to make for a really long day. Having said that, I am sure you did a great job. Let me know how it went when you recuperate.

Gary Hart from California, United States

A definite keeper, Don. I was up the road a bit playing so I could get the moon in the frame, which put me out of position for this one. Wouldn't it be great to be in two places at once? Hmmm, I'll have to work on that....

29 Aug 2009 5:32pm

@Gary Hart: Hi Gary, you got really lucky yesterday getting through Pacheco Pass with the fire. One of the family members was driving over from Fresno and they shut the highway down. She never did make the party. As for being in two places at one time, let me know when you figure it out. I use remotes all the time in sports to accomplish this goal, but landscape???

Magda from Vancouver, Canada

ohhhhh this is so spectacular!!!! And the time, planning and waiting that went into making this perfect shot was well worth it and you know that so well!! Bravo

29 Aug 2009 5:50pm

@Magda: Thanks so much Magda, and thank you for all your comments on my recent posts. I usually don't go back and check older posts once my new ones are up, but was doing just that the other day and saw all of your kind comments - I appreciate all of them.