Photograph of the Month – Autumn Skies

High Dynamic Range Image

This month’s photograph is titled “Autumn Skies.” I hope you like the image.

I shot this image as I was returning to the San Francisco Bay Area from Monterey late one afternoon. I was planning to shoot a sunset shot of Pigeon Point Lighthouse, but dense fog was rolling in and I knew I couldn’t reach the lighthouse before conditions deteriorated beyond any hope of getting the shot I wanted. So, I decided to stop at Ano Nuevo State Park to see if there were any scenes that would photograph well. I was pleased to find this scene right at the entrance to the park and knew I had a spectacular image. And since this wasn’t a commissioned shot I was free to not worry about the photorealistic representation of the scene and let my creative energies run free.

I used the high dynamic range imaging technique to create this image.  With this technique I captured a range of contrast and luminance values far beyond what is possible with conventional photography. This technique helps me communicate my perceptions of the emotional character of a space or scene. All of my clients love the results when photographing their projects. I will continue using this technique to help my clients win awards and secure new clients by communicating the emotional character of the spaces and structures they create.

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.

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.

June 2009 Photograph of the Month: The Bay Bridge

A stunning photograph of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco at sunset on a clear day

This month’s photograph is titled “The Bay Bridge at Sunset”

I shot this on one of the clear sky days we get in September. Normally the environment in SF is gray and dreary which doesn’t produce dramatic sunsets. I shot this from the road above the Treasure Island Tunnel. I wanted to get to a more advantageous position but it was both restricted and dangerous to negotiate in the dark, so I opted for this stunning view.

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.

May 2009 Photograph of the Month: Sunset at Pigeon Point

Sunset at Pigeon Point

This month’s photograph is titled “Sunset at Pigeon Point”

In my work I am usually facing the wrong direction to see the sunset, so this is a somewhat unique image for me. I shot this image as part of a series I was working on at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse; it has turned out to be my second best selling stock image. The Pigeon Point lighthouse is unique in that it is the only “classic” lighthouse on the West Coast. Its tower-like structure is required due to the low cliffs that are available at this location, while elsewhere along the coast the cliffs provide the elevation required to lift the lighthouse up out of the fog on the surface of the sea.
This was a difficult image to create because I wanted detail in the lighthouse without creating a solid black silhouette. To achieve this I needed to wait until very late in the sunset cycle, beyond what most people see as complete darkness, and then I light-painted the lighthouse with a two million candlepower spotlight from the camera position. The result was the perfect combination of darkness and light to capture the mood of the scene.

It was challenging not only because of the technical and creative obstacles I needed to overcome, but also because once it was done I was 100 feet from the beach  negotiating rather treacherous wet rocks covered with seaweed in the dark with my camera bag & tripod, the tide was rapidly advancing and I had a 25 foot cliff to climb. I made it out safely and now have both an interesting story to tell and a wonderful image to share.

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.