Pfiefer Beach

I made it to Pfiefer Beach just about a month ago to photograph the golden arch. The first night was cloudy, so no gold, but instead this fabulous sunset. I actually had to tone down the magenta color in Photoshop, it was so intense. By the way, there was a traffic jam on the road down to the beach parking lot and there were well over 100 photographers both nights. It was on a weekend.

The next night there were no clouds and I got the arch. All and all I like the magenta sunset photo better since it isn't as cliched. Comments welcome.

I really like both. The light and mix of warm and cool tones in the first are excellent. Great window in the second, especially the way it lights up the sand. I think I prefer the second, with its beautiful light and mystical window. You can't go wrong with either. Both are very fine work.

Well done on both Tony. Usually one can't get a clean shot of the window because of the number of photos climbing on the rocks for a closer shot. The road through the canyon at the right time of the year is a great place to shoot too; lots of neat ferns/trees and small stream to work.

Nicely done, Tony. I too prefer the portal/doorway. Why do you think it is a cliche? Although there are nice red colors in the sky and some in the water in the first image, the composition and content have less of an impact on me compared to the portal image. I think it's because it is so well-balanced: half the image is sky, half water; the formation is in the middle of the frame with the two black sides balancing it. Would have liked to have seen one with more sky and/or more water (foreground) for comparison. Your thoughts?

During the month of December and the first 2-3 weeks of January you will find many photographers at Pfeiffer Beach because you can see the sun setting through the portal only at that time of year.