A star is born!
El Matador Beach, Malibu
Follow me on:
Instagram @ mikeguerraphoto
Twitter @ El_MikeGuerra
Flickr @ mikalo79
El Matador Beach, Malibu
Follow me on:
Instagram @ mikeguerraphoto
Twitter @ El_MikeGuerra
Flickr @ mikalo79
Read less
Follow me on:
Instagram @ mikeguerraphoto
Twitter @ El_MikeGuerra
Flickr @ mikalo79
Read less
Jan, 2016Views
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Awards
Featured
Contest Finalist in Discover America Photo Contest
Winner in Sunset and rocks Photo Challenge
Peer Award
Superb Composition
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
All Star
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dinahumphreys
March 19, 2022
Perfect photo! No one has to take a photo of this location after your master work! I am your new follower!
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at one of the more popular beach locations in Malibu, El Matador Beach. Being a self-taught photographer, this beach has become a unique training ground for me by learning new compositions and capturing natural light.Time
The one question I constantly get from my friends is "How did you get that star effect?" I tell them it's a combination of position and time of day. This photo was taken a little after 5pm. I positioned myself a half-hour before this shot was taken.Lighting
This shot is all about patience. Waiting for the sun to fall at the right moment. Making sure you are in position early enough to adjust your camera settings. The starry flair effect came when the sun was starting to dip behind the cluster of rocks.Equipment
This was shot on a Nikon D810 with a NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G fixed lens. I also used a variable ND filter. Steadied on a Manfrotto compact tripod.Inspiration
El Matador Beach has become my favorite spot to shoot in Malibu. Having shot the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice I was inspired to find even more interesting beach locations with character. El Matador Beach provided that with its rocky shore and cliff faces.Editing
I put it through Adobe Lightroom first. I lowered both the exposure and highlights to bring out more of the color in the sky and horizon. I bumped up the vibrancy, clarity, and contrast. I then exported to Photoshop where it was put through a filter app called Color Efex Pro.In my camera bag
I always have a couple of NIKKOR primes in my bag. A 28mm f/1.8G Fixed Zoom Lens and a 85mm f/1.8G Fixed Lens. One of them is always attached to my NIkon D810. I also carry an SLR Magic 77mm 0.4-1.8 Variable ND Filter which has become instrumental in capturing landscape shots.Feedback
Have patience. Scout your location ahead of time so you know exactly what you want to shoot. For sunset shots you should always arrive an hour before sundown. Look to shoot on a day that's cloudy but not overcast. Bring clothing you don't mind getting a little wet. Invest in some water shoes. Also, be courteous with other photographers. At the time of this shot I was literally surrounded by dozens of photogs looking to get the same shot. People were using everything from iphones to pro gear. Two photographers in particular were shooting over both my shoulders. Their lenses mere centimeters from my head. They warned me in advance though so I didn't mind.
