Oceanside Sunset
New Years Day sunset
New Years Day sunset
Read less
Read less
May, 2013Views
1634
Likes
Absolute Masterpiece
Superb Composition
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Exceptional Contrast
Magnificent Capture
Peer Award
Top Ranks
Top 10 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rankTop 10 rank week 1
Top 20 rank
Categories
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
Discover more photos See all
Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken on New Year's Day about three years ago near the pier in Oceanside, CA. This is one of my favorite locations in San Diego County for sunset photography because the long sloping beach holds the water from the receding waves and gives great reflections of the sky. The pier itself provides great leading lines, as well as helping to break up the horizon. I was able to position myself so the setting sun illuminated the restaurant at the end of the pier.Time
Of course this was sunset, which on January 1 was probably just before 5:00 p.m. A storm had recently moved through, so the clouds were very dramatic. I had been at a housewarming party in Oceanside and decided on the spur of the moment to run out to the pier.Lighting
Everything just seemed to come together, with the setting sun, the clouds and the reflections in the thin film of water on the sand. I made sure to position my camera on the tripod to maximize the amount of direct reflection from the sun on the sand.Equipment
I use a Canon Rebel XT that has been my constant companion on trips since 2007. I have a nice Tamron 18-200 mm XR DiII lens and use an older SLIK tripod. I generally travel light when I go out shooting, and I use an old camp chair sleeve bag to carry the tripod.Inspiration
I really enjoy shooting sunsets, even though they may seem trite or overdone. I try to find something unusual to include, and this time I was fortunate to get the heart-shaped cloud that not only filled the sky but also reflected in the water on the sand. It seemed like a fitting image to start off a new year.Editing
I did some minor post-processing using the old Google Picasa program. I balanced out the contrast and bumped up the saturation somewhat to give it the intensity I remembered from the shoot. Since I don't have any higher level editing programs, I generally shoot in large file jpg format. This also forces me to try to get the photo right in the camera.In my camera bag
Besides my Canon Rebel XT and the Tamron lens, I carry a Canon 75-300 zoom lens that I use when I want to get closer to a subject. I have a very small tripod that I keep in my bag for when I don't have the SLIK with me. I carry some miscellaneous items such as backup battery, more flash cards, etc., but as I mentioned, I usually travel light.Feedback
My best advice is to never second guess yourself. I was hesitant to go out to shoot the sunset, since I felt the cloud cover would block out any light or color. However, it turned out to be one of the best sunsets I have ever shot. You may never get a second chance at a photo, so go for it when you can. Also, always pay attention to the little things like the movement and shapes of the clouds. The best photos come from a combination of preparation, observation, and a little luck.
