Surf San Simeon Pier II
Jul, 2018Views
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Awards
Top Shot Award 22
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Absolute Masterpiece
Outstanding Creativity
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Peer Award
Magnificent Capture
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photograph was made from the San Simeon Pier. The park is north of Cambria on CA Hwy. 1.Time
I made this photograph in the late morning. I'm facing more or less north.Lighting
I walked out on the pier (well, because it's a pier....) and was taken by the dark sand and brilliant white surf and foam against the sand.Equipment
I used my D810 with my 28-300 Nikkor zoom. I hand-held the camera with my elbows on the pier's railing; and ensured the shutter speed was sufficient to keep the surf from blurring.Inspiration
I'm always inspired by the ocean and its many moods and faces. I walked out on the pier (well, because it's a pier....) and was taken by the dark sand and brilliant surf and foam against the sand. I made maybe three photographs, and this was by far the best at conveying how I felt.Editing
Since I normally make my photographs with film (8x10") I do very little digital post-processing. Obviously I desaturated it, and then increased the contrast to fit my feelings about the time.In my camera bag
For a photography trip, normally my bad consists of my Ebony 8x10, and 3-4 lenses. Gitzo's biggest carbon fiber tripod. Usually I have my Nikon 1200 telephoto (along with the 800mm backend), 305mm G-Claron, and 600mm Fuji. Depending on what I think I may come across I may trade out one of them for the 210mm. I have a few others that usually stay with the truck. I usually have 4-5 film holders. My go-to B&W film is Ilford FP-4; and for color it's Velvia 100. If I'm just out and about then I'll usually have my D810 and the 28-300 zoom that I used to make this photograph.Feedback
First of all, don't try to make a photograph like mine. Make a photograph of something that emotionally moves you; something that reaches out and says, "hey you, artist with a camera, over here." Listen. Be present to where you are. Feel the air; hear the sounds; see the light; pay attention. If you as the artist aren't emotionally engaged, in a pretty serious way, no way is someone looking at your photograph one or two generations from your experience going to be moved. You'll see LOTS of beautiful and interesting scenes through your life; not all of them, in fact few of them, are suitable for making art. Think of yourself as an artist who happens to use photography as the means of making your art. Distinguish yourself by considering your work as a painter or sculptor might; neither would think they "took" or "captured" something. They MADE their artwork. From your initial vision, through composition, exposure, development and post-processing; to the final print (or digital image) think of yourself as a visual artist. Let your artwork be an expression of the experience you had making it. Master your equipment to the extent that it enables you to make the photographs you want to make.
