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The pier at San Simeon casts some gorgeous sunset shadows.

©Wendy Hudnall
All rights reserved

The pier at San Simeon casts some gorgeous sunset shadows.

©Wendy Hudnall
All rights reserved
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upload_dateJul, 2014

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9306

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Awards

Action Award
Zenith Award
Creative Winter Award
Curator's Selection
Legendary Award
2020 Choice Award
Contest Finalist in The View Under The Pier Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Composing with Patterns Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Composing with Shadows Photo Contest
Featured
Contest Finalist in Long Exposure Views Photo Contest
Goal Zero Nomad 13 Solar Panel
Contest Finalist in The Ocean And The Clouds Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Merging Lines Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Shadows Photo Contest by Focal Press
Contest Finalist in Pillars Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Painting With The Sun Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in The Tourist Photo Contest
Contest Finalist in Shadows Photo Contest
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Peer Award
richardeaton_9707 Jerryl TonyGuzmanG davidjprosser MyLensPassion Ulysees Vorster +302
Superb Composition
edoardolascialfari Kazmihira johnmarkalbar jyoung401 Vaandrager meghanashleybrown garrettreinke2017 +236
Absolute Masterpiece
kobelorendo rampilleboina Jairographer2013 stevemclaughlinsr Catherine_Schultz jhondiebautistaarchival robyncribb +144
Top Choice
malachirockstead AmrShalaby AceG tencents1010 rebeccabreitler anamariatavareskocina colinmcgregor +108
Outstanding Creativity
marleydeclerck ewaurbanek Syared racykk Smilee_co _maxixam Jaenthy +49
Magnificent Capture
timbrown_2748 marcobertazzoni BuckPhotography Chris_Russell Paulacook144 llowzz angelabravin +16
All Star
anreuys Rejean_Biron robyn44blue EricKoth daydreamsbymary0710 kkkevin forcexxibigbad +14
Superior Skill
michaelmader lyhamm7 benwood jefboulet nancykirkpatrick lauramarinelaesk ggal +12
Genius
kenjones marymwarnerthomas russellhulley
Jaw Dropping
Jimg onyanita
Great Find
jeanduplessis SandiZ
Exceptional Contrast
sharonmolan

Top Ranks

Picture Perfect Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Picture Perfect Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
All About Water Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Change Of Seasons Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
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The Wonders of the World Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Wonders of the World 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
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Everything Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Talent AwardsTop 30 rank
Promenades And Boardwalks Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Promenades And Boardwalks Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The View Under The Pier Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The View Under The Pier Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
World Photography Day Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Pastel Tones In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pastel Tones In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Beauty Of Shadows Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pastel Tones In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Beauty Of Shadows Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Beauty Of Shadows Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Seascapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Seascapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Seascapes Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Architectural Masterpieces Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Architectural Masterpieces Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Composing with Patterns Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Composing with Patterns Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Sun Behind Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Sun Behind Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
The Sun Behind Photo ContestTop 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 10 rank
Coast Or Inland Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Our Natural World Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Social Exposure Photo Contest Vol 6Top 10 rank week 1
Coast Or Inland Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Coast Or Inland Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Composing with Shadows Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Composing with Shadows Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Composing with Shadows Photo ContestTop 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
Long Exposure Views Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Long Exposure Views Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Using Filters Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Long Exposure Views Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Using Filters Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Piers Side View Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Piers Side View Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
In Front Of The Sun Photo ContestTop 10 rank
In Front Of The Sun Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
The Ocean And The Clouds Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Ocean And The Clouds Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Lines In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Lines In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Lines In Nature Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Sand Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Peaceful Sunsets Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Sand Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 2
Peaceful Sunsets Photo ContestTop 10 rank month 1
Sand Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Peaceful Sunsets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Peaceful Sunsets Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Peaceful Sunsets Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
Merging Lines Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Merging Lines Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Merging Lines Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Shadows Photo Contest by Focal PressTop 10 rank
Shadows Photo Contest by Focal PressTop 10 rank week 1
Pillars Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Pillars Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Pillars Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Painting With The Sun Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Painting With The Sun Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Leading Lines Photo ContestTop 20 rank
Leading Lines Photo ContestTop 30 rank week 1
The Tourist Photo ContestTop 10 rank
The Tourist Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 6
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 5
Piers Photo ContestTop 10 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank month 1
Piers Photo ContestTop 20 rank week 1
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 3
Water and Sand Photo ContestTop 20 rank
ViewBug Image of the Year Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
Water and Sand Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Fstoppers Volume 5 Photo ContestTop 10 rank
Fstoppers Volume 5 Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
See The Distance Photo ContestTop 10 rank
See The Distance Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 2
See The Distance Photo ContestTop 10 rank week 1
Shadows Photo Contest by TamracTop 10 rank
Shadows Photo Contest by TamracTop 10 rank week 3
Shadows Photo Contest by TamracTop 10 rank week 2
Shadows Photo Contest by TamracTop 10 rank week 1
Golden Hour Photo Contest by TamronTop 10 rank
Golden Hour Photo Contest by TamronTop 10 rank week 2
Golden Hour Photo Contest by TamronTop 10 rank week 1

Categories

18 Comments |
onyanita PRO+
 
onyanita August 14, 2014
superb
sharonmolan
 
sharonmolan August 22, 2014
beautiful photo!
Dacemac PRO+
 
Dacemac October 01, 2014
Superb exposure! Congratulations!
rmr731 Platinum
 
rmr731 October 10, 2014
Simply gorgeous! Congrats on being a finalist!
JRosewarne Platinum
 
JRosewarne October 10, 2014
What a stunning shot.
vgallova
 
vgallova October 10, 2014
Superrrrrr exposure.
gondmagdi Premium
 
gondmagdi October 15, 2014
wonderful shot !
SnowbunnyPhotography Platinum
 
SnowbunnyPhotography October 16, 2014
Oh my gosh! What a gorgeous capture! Love this.... :-)
Byronfairphotography PRO+
 
Byronfairphotography May 07, 2015
Outstanding
Q-Vision PRO
 
Q-Vision May 19, 2015
Wonderful composition and colours. Love it!
MaryMarie
 
MaryMarie March 12, 2016
Absolutely Beautiful~ Congratulations on being the finalist
Pamelabole PRO
 
Pamelabole March 12, 2016
Stunning shot....and congrats on your well deserved award!! : )
kellumbear PRO
 
kellumbear March 12, 2016
Nice shot! Congrats on your win!
markphoto4u
 
markphoto4u March 13, 2016
Brilliant composition. The shadows really add drama to the long exposure, and wonderful leading lines as well. Perfect long exposure: love the water the way it meets the shore and pilings. Nice work!
Tanda4bama PRO+
 
Tanda4bama August 23, 2016
viewbug.com/challenge/beautiful-beach-sceneryno-people-photo-challenge-by-tanda4bama
Weller95
 
Weller95 December 04, 2016
Amazing shot and great balance!
jamesfkilmartin
 
jamesfkilmartin January 19, 2019
great picture
classygirl51 Platinum
 
classygirl51 February 15, 2022
Beautiful!

Submitted to Photo Contests

Tags

#San Simeon #pier #shadow #long exposure #california #Hearst Castle #beach #ocean #pacific
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This image was shot in San Simeon just below Hearst Castle on the central California Coast.

Time

Caught this one just prior to sunset.

Lighting

On this afternoon I was searching for sea stars at low tide when I turned to see gorgeous leading lines of shadow being cast across the sand which was sparked with golden highlights from the setting sun. It was a visual feast. I decided to shoot directly into the sun with my 16-35mm at f16 in the hopes of catching a sun star. I used a Lee Big Stopper filter (10 stop) and got the added benefit of smooth sky and water, placing the emphasis on the pier and cast shadows.

Equipment

Canon 5D Mk III, Canon 16-35 2.8L II, Lee Big Stopper 10 stop ND filter, B+W Polarizing Filter, Really Right Stuff tripod & head, remote release

Inspiration

The California coast is always inspiring but it was definitely the dramatic shadows across the sand that caught my eye.

Editing

Lightroom adjustments for capture sharpening, lens correction, and basic adjustments. Photoshop used to adjust the mid tones & highlights and sharpen for web. Luminosity masks were used on curves layers to fine tune highlights and shadows. Dodging and burning highlights and shadows.

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. I don't want anyone sneaking up on me.)

Feedback

Keep an eye out for the unexpected and be ready to use it to your advantage. In this case I positioned the camera in a way to use the shadows as dramatic leading lines drawing the eye toward the pier and beyond to the sunset. Also utilize techniques that will place focus where you want it. Dramatic clouds and surf can be beautiful but in this case they may have drawn attention away from the shadows and complicated the composition of the image.

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