I typically don’t do much coastal photography, but I’ve now accumulated a set of three that I haven’t shared on my blog yet, so wanted to take the opportunity to do so. The first is actually from nearly two years ago, taken during a 4 month long summer roadtrip throughout the Western US. I spent a lot of time in Washington State, particularly in Olympic National Park. During the summer months the coast is typically shrouded in a thick, usually gray, mist. This misty layer keeps the area cool and humid, and is precisely what allows the temperate rainforests to exist on the Olympic Peninsula, and the giant Redwoods further south in Oregon and California. Sometimes there are rather magical moments as the mist does its dance around the ocean sea stacks.
"Mysterious Mists" ~ Ruby Beach, Olympic NP, WA
The Tech: Canon 5D, 24-105mm, tripod
Exposure 1: iso 400, f/14, 1/400th sec
Exposure 2: iso 50, f/20, 1.6 sec
Notes: The clearing mists took my by surprise, so I grabbed the first exposure handheld before the conditions disappeared. Then I set up on my tripod and quickly took the second, longer exposure, for the water action, and did a simple blend of the two in post. In order to bring further depth to the otherwise monochrome image I adjusted the color balance to warm the highlights and cool the shadows.
In Southern California we get similar weather patterns with the summer mist and fog, though not as dramatic as in the northwest. Often it just results in a gray marine layer that blocks out any sunlight, but at the same time doesn’t provide any interesting atmospheric effects. In Pasadena we call it the “June Gloom”, though I must say, I prefer those overcast days to the alternative of 100 degree heat, which kicks in starting July. Anyways, I was able to catch a break in the Gloom a few weeks back to photograph some fascinating sandstone patterns along the shores of Palos Verdes not too far from home. As the waves moved in and out they refracted the sunlight into intriguing patterns on the rocky surface.
"Refractions" ~ Palos Verdes, CA
The Tech: Canon 5D2, 24-105mm, handheld
Exposure: iso 800, f/5.6, 1/250th
Click for larger view
This past weekend the mist also stayed out of sight and it made for some hot days at the beach in Montana de Oro State Park. The bright sun in fact caused all the Sea Anemone’s to retreat into their fleshy bases except for those lucky enough to have a shady home, like this one I found hiding under a forest of sea grasses. It’s important to remember that at the edge of the sea is one of the most productive habitats on our planet – the tide pools. These tiny little oceanic oases provide homes for countless brave creatures that choose to risk predation and suffer the relentless pounding of the changing tides, all for a chance to take advantage of the rich tidal interface. This should come as no surprise – symmetry breaking interfaces like the tidal zone (a constantly varying transition between water, land and air) are typically where exciting things of all kinds happen. On the most basic level, consider the spontaneous growth of crystals, which typically occurs on the irregularities of the base surface. It is quite likely in fact, that life itself began on such an interface. Next time you go out for a walk, take a look around and look for some of those transitions – be they physical ones, or temporal ones such as seasonal effects – and see what you can find! If nothing else, you’ll be exercising the very same mental muscles that you use to spot interesting subjects, transitions, and contrasts for photography.
"Tidal Forest" ~ Montana de Oro State Park, CA
The Tech: Canon 5D2, 16-35mm mkII, EWA Marine Housing, handheld
Exposure: iso 1600, f/20, 1/30th
Note: see the Hermit Crab next to the Anemone?
Tags: coast