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WendyHudnall
Perfect Imperfections
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Perfect Imperfections



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The Big Sur forest fire casts eery clouds of smoke on the horizon overlooking McWay Falls on Julia Pfeiffer State Beach.

The Big Sur forest fire casts eery clouds of smoke on the horizon overlooking McWay Falls on Julia Pfeiffer State Beach.
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upload_dateJul, 2014

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1277

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Awards

Contest Finalist in Majestic Cliffs Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Coastal Landscapes Photo Contest
Peer Award
billmartin_2615 davidjprosser ileanaandreagmezgavinoser NancyFlemingPhotography kurtsnyder mariobelcourt JuanGiraldo +37
Superb Composition
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Absolute Masterpiece
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Top Choice
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Outstanding Creativity
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Superior Skill
byrnephotography burkeatkerson deancw Pixelbug dcassat SparkofHawaii
Magnificent Capture
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Great Find
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All Star
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Exceptional Contrast
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Genius
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Seascapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
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9 Comments |
DebbieKMiller81 Platinum
 
DebbieKMiller81 September 05, 2014
I love the coloring in the water. It is such a beautiful teal green.
Canonfire PRO+
 
Canonfire September 05, 2014
Very nice composition!
mcampi Platinum
 
mcampi February 13, 2015
Very creative Love this area and this shot makes me want to take the hike
Natures_Allure_ByKym
 
Natures_Allure_ByKym February 13, 2015
Truly gorgeous image, Wendy. That amazing colour of the Ocean really draws you in. I love it!
nina050
 
nina050 May 06, 2015
Congrats on a job well done! This has always been one of my favorites of yours!
cavazbe PRO
 
cavazbe August 15, 2015
congrats, Wendy!
mcampi Platinum
 
mcampi March 05, 2016
I have come back to this picture several times. I just love it. The water is just magic.
Martien_Bakens
 
Martien_Bakens February 20, 2017
Love the Julia Pfeifer part for this place of magic, wonder if we have to go there after all this rain, when they open up the road there again. We yet live in that neck of the woods for a bit. The light you capture is magical and timing perfect.
claudiamaestre
 
claudiamaestre September 13, 2019
Amazing

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#Big Sur #california #Julia Pfeiffer State Beach #forest fire #sunset #Kelp forest
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Behind The Lens

Location

This is McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer State Beach in Big Sur California. It's a frequently shot location that can be seen from the road but for the best vantage point park in the lot and take the foot path through the tunnel and beyond to the point.

Time

This shot was taken at sunset.

Lighting

Smoke from a devastating fire in the town of Big Sur caused the horizon to illuminate with a red glow. The smoke was thick that evening and the filtered light really gave the location a different feel than I had ever witnessed there before.

Equipment

Canon 5D Mk III, Canon 16-35 2.8L II, B+W Polarizing Filter, Really Right Stuff tripod & head, remote release

Inspiration

I had been planing to shoot the "Golden Door" phenomenon on Pfeiffer State Beach for months. It only happens once a year during the winter solstice and I was so excited to see it in person. Unfortunately when I pulled into the town of Big Sur a devastating forest fire was burning down the hill to the beach and forced me to turn around and head for home. On the way I decided to stop once again at McWay falls which has always been a favorite for me. I've shot it multiple times just because I love to stand out on that point and look down over the unbelievable view. It really is one of those types of places that I feel the need to pinch myself to know that it's real. The reality was that on this evening the awful smoke was filtering the light in the most unusually beautiful way...A small lovely gift that came out of something so tragic.

Editing

Lightroom adjustments for capture sharpening, lens correction, and basic adjustments. Photoshop used to mask the two exposures together, adjust the mid tones & highlights and sharpen for web. Dodge & burn highlights and shadows through luminosity selections.

In my camera bag

I'm a gadget girl at heart so my bag is always full. It makes me happy except when I'm climbing up that steep hill. Camera, various lenses (I'm a huge believer in renting lenses I don't own to fit whatever situation I will be in), Lee ND & grad filters (can't get enough long expo water shots), remote release, Hoodman loop, multiple flashlights, Pano head and nodal slide for panoramas, extra batteries & memory cards, extra lens cloths (I'm always loosing those) sunscreen & lip balm...small weatherproof speaker (I love music when I'm shooting but not headphones.)

Feedback

This area is very popular and much photographed. I tried to incorporate some interesting elements in the foreground to get a more unique take on the subject. I used a longer exposure to blur the water and impart a more surreal feeling. The smoke from the fire really helped take this image to another place.

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