Crimson Coast

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 18, 20174,137 views12 comments

While in northern CA this past spring photographing the redwoods, I stayed for a short time in Crescent City. I didn't realize was a beautiful coast this areas has with sea stacks and a rocky coast line. I saw some potential one afternoon in the clouds that had formed off the coast with a thin break in the horizon. As sunset approached I raced around the many beach areas north of Crescent City trying to find a suitable composition. Not sure the name of this beach, but it had a lot of the components I was after. I'm sure there were better vantage points, but didn't have enough time to investigate, at least this year. This is a single exposure, tried not to open up the shadows too much to keep the feel of the time and lighting. Have considered a slight crop off the bottom to give the stacks and sky a little more emphasis but decided to show the full comp.

810D, 24 - 120mm @ 32mm, f16, .5 sec., ISO 31

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Kathy Barnhart on December 18, 2017 at 3:51 PM

Gorgeous sunset on the coast. It feels very natural in color, despite the drama. The trees in the background add a nice touch. I like the full comp as is, but you might want to try a crop from the bottom, as you suggested. Don't know the name of this beach either, but it makes me want to find out!

Registered on November 11, 2011, 404 Posts, 1639 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on December 18, 2017 at 6:01 PM

Beautiful light Harry. I like the composition as posted also. I really love the few trees silhouetted against that warm golden sky too.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Cordes on December 18, 2017 at 8:12 PM

I, too, like the comp as is. The wedge of rocks on the lower right leads my eye into the scene. Nice choice of Shutter Speed.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 451 Posts, 3366 Comments

Comment posted by scott lanz on December 19, 2017 at 10:54 AM

Beautiful sunset photo, Harry. Nicely captured and processed. I think cropping more of the bottom would make this even better, but really fine as is depending on final size needs.

Registered on November 14, 2003, 840 Posts, 12902 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Moreau on December 19, 2017 at 2:10 PM

Harry, this is a beautiful scene. The sky and reflection are beautiful, and the almost-silhouetted rocks have just enough detail. The rocks are also beautifully spaced, which can often be very difficult to do.

I could see the crop off the bottom that you mention, but I would look at a slight crop off the top, to eliminate the bit of orange cloud right on the top edge, and also off the left because there is a rock just below center that is just barely touching the edge.

Registered on April 21, 2015, 64 Posts, 584 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Kearl on December 19, 2017 at 2:15 PM

Terrific colors and SS works nicely with the waves.
It does appear that it needs a tiny bit of CW for my eyes.

Registered on September 2, 2013, 209 Posts, 1514 Comments

Comment posted by Michael Lowe on December 19, 2017 at 2:57 PM

Beautiful capture. I think I would leave this as presented. To me, a crop off the bottom would take away those nice little glowing puddles and make the FG a little too much "dark blobish". I know, really nice technical term, but it's the best descriptive I could think of.

Registered on February 11, 2004, 777 Posts, 5252 Comments

Comment posted by gary phillips on December 19, 2017 at 9:53 PM

I wouldn't change a thing, Harry. Beautiful image. I like the reflected color scattered among the rocks. Very, very nice.

Registered on October 24, 2013, 185 Posts, 4136 Comments

Comment posted by Igor Doncov on December 19, 2017 at 10:11 PM

I agree with Gary - wouldn't change a thing. Moving the horizon further down would likely weaken the image.

Registered on November 22, 2014, 189 Posts, 2733 Comments

Comment posted by Ed McGuirk on December 20, 2017 at 11:07 AM

Beautiful image with wonderful light, I wouldn't touch a thing on it. The number of interesting layers within this scene keeps your eye moving across the image, lots of interesting elements to look at. I think the horizon is fine where it is, but I really like the reflected color in the pools between the rocks in the LRC, there is no way I would like to see those cropped out of the image.

Registered on November 29, 2017, 19 Posts, 260 Comments

Comment posted by Preston Birdwell on December 20, 2017 at 7:35 PM

This just works, Harry! It is a beautiful scene, expertly rendered. No nits here.
--P

Registered on November 1, 2003, 471 Posts, 5188 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 21, 2017 at 2:42 PM

Harry,

Fantastic light and color. What a gorgeous seascape. This is a wall hanger for sure - at least 50". cool

I'm gonna suggest a crop, but just for an alternate I'm seeing. I think because of the long line of the clouds and the wave line, a slightly more pano look could be effective. Now in the larger view, the rock and bits of reflection in the LR quadrant work beautifully, but I think cropping up from the bottom for a more narrow presentation might work too. Also, minor, but I would crop in slightly from the left (regardless of bottom crop) to remove the small gap on the left edge just a little down from the center line of the image. minor.

Regardless of whether or not you chose to tweak this, I love this and wish it were hanging on my wall.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments