SeanThurston
SeanThurston
Serenity

Serenity



There should be moments in your life that words cannot describe and feelings just aren't enough. Available for purchase at SeanThurstonPhotography.com...
Read more

There should be moments in your life that words cannot describe and feelings just aren't enough. Available for purchase at SeanThurstonPhotography.com
Read less
upload_dateAug, 2013

Views

14267

Likes

Awards

Contest Finalist in Dusk Or Dawn Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2
Contest Finalist in The Golden Moment Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in ViewBug HQ Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Filters and Effects Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Serenity Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Piers Photo Contest
More Exposure For Your Photos
Contest Finalist in PhotographyTalk Photo Contest Vol 3
Judge Favorite
  View more
Superb Composition
eddiaz kategardner beritek shelleymillercampbell DebbieA1994 edeldagfinrud MonaClementsPhotography +266
Absolute Masterpiece
FhotoBum gman176 Geena Ultralight dambida UpuliWi shawnmurphy_7890 +197
Peer Award
PhotosByJEM keithns12 jorgealbertopealozapealoza davidjprosser vincentdovey Tudorof __momentsintime__ +195
Top Choice
Garek BTay01 Lillymeg leesamarie2018 NoelSalisid jeffsinnock eugeniogervasio +130
Outstanding Creativity
DaWizKidOTB paaluglefisklund simonparry SveJuNi LondonGal33 agostinaairoldi ningdeguzman +40
All Star
cramerimaging estercastillo08 SPateLeitz CarolaIreneMac daydreamsbymary0710 siegart kim_unreal +29
Superior Skill
diegoscaglione snapshots16 SDB_Artography VladPsh jmarcustan stratigm Jennifer-Wagner-Amos +25
Jaw Dropping
sanlapbiswas Cristasphotoart RJHPhoto cookieallen deanmerry terryacregan-leidigh Lewisia_rediviva +20
Magnificent Capture
sabrinajoseph SightsbyCF JayneBug darlenepollard smijh Adam_Pritchard75 Lanky44Lanky442 +13
Exceptional Contrast
loneranger1955 SergiSRFGA Adecoone amberlae arnaudcharil SteveC_Photography martinbrand +11
Great Find
Alicja Ian_obscura Saugirdas DHvisions parthgupta billsahmad VladimirSolomatin
Genius
marceloklais AZPhotos helenwood jimmoon_8772
Virtuoso
richardem NYCphotography Confalonieri derekianhughes
Top Class Lighting
DennisartPhotography
One Of A Kind
brentdiones

Emotions

Impressed
immaginEmozioni konstantinospatsakis gman176 Pauldc1 christophesusung __momentsintime__ DawnGrayPhotography

Top Ranks

Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Colors Photo ContestTop 10 rank
View more
The Colors Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Unique Sceneries Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Anything Water Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Anything Water Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Talent AwardsTop 10 rank
Water Photo Contest 2017Top 10 rank
Water Photo Contest 2017Top 10 rank week 1
Dusk Or Dawn Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Dusk Or Dawn Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Dusk Or Dawn Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Architectural Masterpieces Photo ContestTop 10 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank
Architectural Masterpieces Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 2
Celebrating The Green Color Photo ContestTop 20 rank
My Best Shot Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 1
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 6Top 10 rank
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 6Top 10 rank week 2
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 6Top 10 rank week 1
Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Layers and Rule Of Thirds Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Golden Moment Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Golden Moment Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
The Golden Moment Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Worldscapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Unique Landscapes Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Unique Landscapes Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
The Battle Of Advanced Photo ContestTop 30 rank
The Battle Of Advanced Photo ContestTop 30 rank month 1
The Battle Of Advanced Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 3
The Battle Of Advanced Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Water World Photo Contest Outside ViewsTop 20 rank
Water World Photo Contest Outside ViewsTop 30 rank week 1
Best Shot Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Jaw Dropping Landscapes Photo Contest With KelbyOneTop 20 rank
Jaw Dropping Landscapes Photo Contest With KelbyOneTop 10 rank week 1
Best Shot Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
ViewBug HQ Photo ContestTop 20 rank
ViewBug HQ Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
EDU 2014 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Filters and Effects Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Filters and Effects Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
EDU 2014 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Filters and Effects Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
EDU 2014 Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 6
Serenity Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 5
Serenity Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Piers Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Express Yourself Photo ContestTop 20 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank month 1
Express Yourself Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Serenity Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Piers Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Express Yourself Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Tripod Required Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Tripod Required Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Beauty In Nature Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 2
Beauty In Nature Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
Less Is More Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Less Is More Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Less Is More Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Amateurs Vol 4 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Amateurs Vol 4 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Finest Hour Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Blurred Photo Contest vol1Top 10 rank
Blurred Photo Contest vol1Top 20 rank week 2
Golden Hour Photo Contest by TamronTop 10 rank
Dodho Volume 2 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Golden Hour Photo Contest by TamronTop 10 rank week 2
Blurred Photo Contest vol1Top 10 rank week 1
Golden Hour Photo Contest by TamronTop 20 rank week 1
Biggest Photofocus Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Biggest Photofocus Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
PhotographyTalk Photo Contest Vol 3Top 10 rank
Dodho Volume 1 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
PhotographyTalk Photo Contest Vol 3Top 10 rank week 2
Dodho Volume 1 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Lifes Largest Moments Photo ContestTop 10 rank
PhotographyTalk Photo Contest Vol 3Top 10 rank week 1
Lifes Largest Moments Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Dodho Volume 1 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Dodho Volume 1 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
After Dark Sedona PhotoFest Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Amateur Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank
After Dark Sedona PhotoFest Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Amateur Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 2
Amateur Photo Contest Vol 2Top 10 rank week 1
Landscapes Photo Contest by dPSTop 10 rank
Landscapes Photo Contest by dPSTop 10 rank week 2
Landscapes Photo Contest by dPSTop 20 rank week 1
Amateur Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank
Amateur Photo Contest Vol 1Top 10 rank week 1
Light In Water Photo Contest by DigitalRevTop 10 rank
Light In Water Photo Contest by DigitalRevTop 10 rank week 3
Light In Water Photo Contest by DigitalRevTop 10 rank week 1
Long Exposure Photo Contest by AdoramaTop 10 rank
Long Exposure Photo Contest by AdoramaTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

73 Comments | Report
srimanta
 
srimanta August 22, 2013
Excellent shot......... love it.........
krisdenkers
 
krisdenkers December 29, 2013
Wow.. speechless.. love this photo
Kazza60
 
Kazza60 February 14, 2014
congratulations on the award .. absolutely stunning !!
ShutterBug76
 
ShutterBug76 February 14, 2014
Outstanding photo
Bannekh
 
Bannekh February 15, 2014
Great shot
SeanThurston
 
SeanThurston February 15, 2014
Thank you all for your kind words and acknowledgement on this. Such a great response from a wonderful community.
monikaglende PRO+
 
monikaglende February 15, 2014
Congratulations .this on is so fantastic i which i could make such picture ... I love it ...
paulriddlabarton
 
paulriddlabarton February 15, 2014
excellent work
brianking
 
brianking February 15, 2014
This is beautiful
brentmorris
 
brentmorris February 15, 2014
I can feel this image
loriburton
 
loriburton February 15, 2014
This is absolutely beautiful!! Makes me feel relaxed just looking at it.
michaelahoskins
 
michaelahoskins February 15, 2014
Wow
how2be
 
how2be February 15, 2014
Beauty!
HaliSowle Platinum
 
HaliSowle February 15, 2014
Very peaceful and serene indeed. Love this! Congratulations on the award it absolutely deserves it.
DaveGlade
 
DaveGlade February 15, 2014
This pic really does elicit immediate feelings … Beautiful.
ovosphotography
 
ovosphotography February 15, 2014
superb!
sharonward
 
sharonward February 15, 2014
I've never seen water that looked this surreal. The whole image must lower one's blood pressure quite measurably, the longer one stares at it. It truly is beautiful beyond words. Congratulations!
frederickwwalanda
 
frederickwwalanda February 15, 2014
Superb!!!
thomasgreer
 
thomasgreer February 16, 2014
All I can say is. "PERFECT. "
tsambaproductions
 
tsambaproductions February 16, 2014
congrats
Thimbee
 
Thimbee February 16, 2014
Beautiful-nice work. Congrats
Joey_Howard
 
Joey_Howard February 16, 2014
Awesome
turbodave99
 
turbodave99 February 16, 2014
Great depth and mood. Wonderful layering and use of space.
cmorisset PRO+
 
cmorisset February 16, 2014
Superb! Bravo!
bud82520
 
bud82520 February 16, 2014
Beautiful!! Congrats on the award
herman-anwar
 
herman-anwar February 17, 2014
beautiful...
diporzio
 
diporzio February 17, 2014
also my Favorite
carlyfox
 
carlyfox February 17, 2014
Best picture I've ever seen on this website! I love it.
barbaraseager
 
barbaraseager February 17, 2014
Love it.
Timbo
 
Timbo February 19, 2014
Very nice shot.....
Franwyner
 
Franwyner February 26, 2014
Sleek!
View1925
 
View1925 March 08, 2014
WOW!!!!!!!!! Really amazing - very soft - very soothing - deb:)
katrinarobinson Platinum
 
katrinarobinson April 17, 2014
Superb!!
janikafotografie
 
janikafotografie April 26, 2014
awesome colors!
richgreene
 
richgreene May 10, 2014
Fantastic. I'm no judge but it's one of my favorites too. I think this is extremely well done.
HaliSowle Platinum
 
HaliSowle July 06, 2014
Beautiful!
rmr731 Platinum
 
rmr731 July 11, 2014
Gorgeous capture! Congrats on being a finalist!
ArtQ
 
ArtQ July 11, 2014
Congrats on your finalist award.
cmorisset PRO+
 
cmorisset July 13, 2014
Simply beautiful capture. Bravo!
SteveC_Photography Platinum
 
SteveC_Photography July 14, 2014
Nicely done! Congrats on finalists award
AndreaE
 
AndreaE July 18, 2014
Congrats on the win! Great shot!
AnneDphotography PRO+
 
AnneDphotography July 18, 2014
wow , stunning... a well deserved award .. the image is perfect !!
estercastillo08
 
estercastillo08 July 18, 2014
Congrats !
ahmedfouadibraheem
 
ahmedfouadibraheem July 18, 2014
Fantastic Sean
Rl1956 PRO+
 
Rl1956 July 18, 2014
congrats on the win, stunning
troutfly
 
troutfly July 18, 2014
great mazter
dondurante
 
dondurante July 18, 2014
Killer shot! Congratulations on the Win!
cmorisset PRO+
 
cmorisset July 18, 2014
I knew this was a winner ( : Congrats!
jthincmh Platinum
 
jthincmh July 18, 2014
Fantastic lighting
DebbieKMiller81 PRO+
 
DebbieKMiller81 July 19, 2014
Congrats and it is a beautiful shot.
Lewisia_rediviva
 
Lewisia_rediviva July 19, 2014
Wonderful!! Good for you!!!
belindahofer
 
belindahofer July 19, 2014
beautiful
otxanh
 
otxanh July 20, 2014
Congratulation
dimmc
 
dimmc July 21, 2014
Amazing!
allanpartington
 
allanpartington July 22, 2014
Wow
AlanJakarta
 
AlanJakarta July 23, 2014
Congratulations on being the Winner.
terryacregan-leidigh
 
terryacregan-leidigh July 27, 2014
Congrats on Your WIN! Beautifully done!
neesonpa1 PRO+
 
neesonpa1 July 28, 2014
Wow, beautiful!
Photobaaz
 
Photobaaz August 31, 2014
perfection unveiled!
kristoart
 
kristoart November 21, 2014
Excellent lighting and superb framing, truly well balanced shot
mubashirck
 
mubashirck November 22, 2014
fantastic shot..
These photographs really helps me to realize fantastic-creativity of the God.
akhilarangana
 
akhilarangana November 24, 2014
Absolutely a masterpiece,,,,, awesome
BuckinghamPhotoArts PRO
 
BuckinghamPhotoArts December 19, 2014
Fantastic capture! Congrats!
sweetpea72
 
sweetpea72 December 20, 2014
Absolutely stunning... Congrats! ")
cclaude PRO+
 
cclaude December 23, 2014
Fantastic color palette... Congrats!
davidbidmead
 
davidbidmead January 09, 2015
Congratulations ! Beautiful calm and serene, Gorgeous !
cclaude PRO+
 
cclaude January 19, 2015
Most appropriate title. Beautiful shot!
sarahvrdoljak PRO+
 
sarahvrdoljak February 04, 2015
Gorgeous!!!
stamatispappas
 
stamatispappas May 10, 2015
Great photo!
JohnBilling
 
JohnBilling February 06, 2017
Absolutely beautiful.
simonparry
 
simonparry May 02, 2017
Really outstanding...
mariduplessis_2650
 
mariduplessis_2650 June 06, 2017
Amazing!!
Caz6969
 
Caz6969 February 02, 2018
Beautiful

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#calm #dock #golden hour #landscape #landscapes #leesylvania state park #magic hour #natgeo #nature #peace #peaceful #pier #portfolio #state park #stp #sunrise #sunset #va #virginia #zen
See all

Behind The Lens

Location
This photo was taken at the pier at Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Time
It was a cool and slightly breezy morning at the end of March of 2013. I was the only person on the grounds and a calming awe and peace was the feeling while I set up the shot. It was as magical as I have ever felt.
Lighting
I did some metering and I knew that I wanted a long exposure. The longer the better that morning. I figured that I had a four-minute exposure and with around one minute left, the sun popped up over the distant hills. I decided to cut my timer short by 25 seconds because of the rising of the sun and it worked out beautifully.
Equipment
I was shooting with my brand new Canon 6D and a Canon 28-135 lens. The tripod that I had at the time was reliable but not the best quality. I also didn't have the spare cash for a proper 10 stop ND filter like I had hoped so I was using a dark piece of welding glass to stop down the light.
Inspiration
I wanted to see if long exposure was something that I was drawn to. I have loved the effect from other photographers and decided that I would give it a proper try. I fell in love. This was one of the very first long exposure photographs that I took and it is still one of my favorites.
Editing
The post processing was rather simple. The camera did 90% of the work but due to the welding glass, I had a green tint. I corrected this as much as I wanted to but I did like the effect on the water and didn't remove it all completely. I liked the look and so does so many others.
In my camera bag
I have upgraded some gear since I shot this image. I always carry around my beloved Canon 6D and a Tamron 24-70 f/2.8 and a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8. That's my main bag but I do like to toss in my "lighting bag" in the vehicle which houses two flashed, three triggers, a small reflector and a bunch of batteries.
Feedback
Don't be afraid to use "subpar" gear. It's a lot more about the process than about the gear. This was shot through a piece of welding glass of all things and it is one of my most popular photos. Learn the techniques and then get the gear when you can.

See more amazing photos, follow SeanThurston

It’s your time to shine! ☀️

Share photos. Enter contests to win great prizes.
Earn coins, get amazing rewards. Join for free.

Already a member? Log In

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service, and acknowledge you've read our Privacy Policy Notice.