Photograph of the Month: Sunset at Gray Whale Cove Beach

A sunset photograph at Gray Whale Cove State Beach in California

This month’s photograph is titled “Sunset at Gray Whale Cove Beach” this is a photorealistic High Dynamic Range Image.

Gray Whale Cove Beach is one of those hidden treasures of the San Francisco Peninsula. It is located north of Montara directly below the south opening of the new Devils Slide Tunnel. Perched atop the hill on the right side of the frame is a decommissioned cold war era radar emplacement that everyone who drives by wonders about because you can’t miss it.

Gray Whale Cove State Beach really is a great little secluded clothing optional beach and once you’re down on the beach you have no indication, by sight or sound that the famous California Highway 1 is “right there.” It is a little dicey getting to the beach from the parking lot because you have to cross the highway with no crosswalk and a restricted view of traffic. And I am sure that drivers aren’t expecting to see pedestrians along this particular stretch of the road so don’t be surprised to find that they aren’t paying close attention, but if you’re careful and courageous you can get across the highway safely. Maybe they’ll put in a pedestrian tunnel once the road construction is completed.

This photograph was shot using the High Dynamic Range Imaging (HDRI) technique. I have been working with HDRI for many years and for the better part of the past year I have been working with the new computer programs that partially automate the process and decided to see how well it worked on a beach sunset. I think the results are pretty good. The aesthetic result is that I captured the perceptual context of scene every bit as well as when I use the technique to photograph architecture and interior design in a more controlled environment. The technical result is that this image contains a wealth of detail in the highlights with no clipping and the shadows show no grain or noise whatsoever.  I did have to resort to compositing the image in Photoshop to get sharp representation of the crashing surf, but I don’t mind using manual methods.

I hope you enjoy this month’s photograph.

All images in my “Photograph of the Month” series are sized and formatted as a screen saver or computer desktop wallpaper. You can click on the image to open in a new window or download; please, share it with your family and friends, with my compliments.