Join Now
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
On the first evening of my vacation in Mexico, I saw this old exposed pier at sunset, but the sun was not exactly setting at the end, so I waited a few days for the sun to move over into the correct spot. The sun really was that red!
As I finished shooting various versions of this (long/short exposures etc.), I turned around and a young guy said to me; 'You are SO lucky!' I said, 'Well, partially. I've waited for a week for this to happen.'
We talked for a while, and he told me that a hurricane last October (category 5, direct hit, 220mph gusts) had exposed this pier and that the beach used to extend well past the end of the exposed pier. He did not even know this existed until after the hurricane. The sand is about 5-10 feet lower than before.
30 second exposure @F20 with ND grad 0.6
| Title: | Exposed |
| Username: | 
PatrickSmith |
| Uploaded: | 26 Jun 2006 - 1:28 PM |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D |
| Lens: | Canon 17-40L @ 22 |
| Recording media: | RAW ISO 50 |
| Tags: | General, Isla mujeres, Landscape / travel, Long exposure, Sunset |
| Votes: | 254 |
Comments
Superb effort, Patrick - your patience has paid dividends.
I'm sure I'll be the first of many to give this a click.
Michael.
stunning image Patrick ... as for luck, yes having the right lens, the right camera, the right exposure, the right processing, the right composition is all down to luck
Dave
Hi Patrick, I don't know much about fine art (except that it's expensive) but this is a very fine image...I think that the long exposure was worked really well.........love it.......Geoff
Cracking shot Patrick. Patience is said to be a virtue and it's certainly produced the goods here. Nick.
Fabulous Patrick and worth waiting for..patience produces patience eh especially with a long exposure... lol... this is really a beautiful shot, the composition and colour and exposure are just excellent. helen
Does this mean you're going to be cutting down on your uploads Patrick? Was going to say quality rather than quantity but the quantity you have been producing have always been high quality.
Iain
I don't mind you going for quality images, Patrick, as long as you upload a lot of them, LOL! This certainly is a good one!
Conrad
What a superb, unbelievable image. That wonderful green moss on the posts seems to lift it one notch up past perfect.
Thanks for looking!
LOL Dave, yes, it was pure luck!
Iain, for now I can only get enough time for about 1 upload per week. I'm trying to demolish an old structure in the back yard and put in a patio instead. I bought a real fixer upper!
Patrick
good pier detail and i like the coloured sky and how you have caught the water patrick
Hi Patrick,I think Jouko's right about another EC.Love the lead in,perspective,mist,atmospere,detail,lighting,exposure,colours/tones and presentation.Out of this world.Take care.Ann
fine art to me is what a lot of you do on here,outstanding work that looks really good to the eye and you just wouldn't want to stop looking at it or put it away,looks fine to me.lol.
Wonderful dreamy shot Patrick.
Can I suggest a little time saving tip ... instead of waiting several days for the sun to turn in the heavens, just invest a few bucks in photoediting software then you can put the sun wherever you like without the wait.
Or is that heresy )
Dave.
Nicely controlled exposure for 30 seconds. I love the colours of the moss on the pier stands and the dreamy effect of the water.
I'm not too sure about the sun though, it could just be this LCD monitor but it seems overy bright and red. I'll take another look on my CRT when I get home.
Marc
Simply stunning. A top rate shot. Good for you, waiting for right light. Rather than just editing in the sunset afterwards.
I love your fine art shot Patrick - wonderful dreamy milky effect. A real ghostly image. Superb. Well done. CLIK.
Joe
This is superb, one the best images on EPZ for a long time, >100 clicks - easy!
Mark.
Thanks for your comments!
LOL Ann... I wish! For now I'll take your evaluation... it is 'art' that looks fine with you..
LOL Dave! I'll stand back away from you now as the lightning bolts strike!
Yes Marc, it really was that colour. It was almost blown out and I actually desaturated it a bit to get back the original shape, which was rather flattened out like a stack of pancakes for just a minute.
No Keith, just a soft grad. The horizon had a nice dark line to it, as it was under that dark line of clouds. I thought I'd get grief for this one from certain people - LOL!
Patrick
Amazing image Patrick, I like the effect on the water and the lead in of the old pier.
Sez
Quite gorgeous Patrick, this is particularly good. So much atmosphere here.
Think everythings already been said Patrick, pretty awesome work, sorry, fine art
Ade
Stunning shot Patrick, but for one thing if you had used the red eye tool, you could have got rid of his blood shot eye.
Hope to see some more.
Brian.
Congratulations Patrick on a truley fabulous shot. You patience has been well rewarded and you should be justifiably proud of this
Jeff
definately one of my favorites of yours, even though I keep on wondering whether orange dot feels too saturated or not. But really, it's a cracker.
Only 48 in 83 minutes! You can do better than this! LOL.......
Jouko
Thank you for your comments!
LOL Brian (penzance)!
Yes Koen (belgikskenikske), I should have used Brian's red-eye tool! It was extremely red!
Patrick
Stunning shot! Amazing composition and light, fantastic exposure to give the misty water, definitely worth the wait!
Charlotte
Nice mix of movement and stillness, with the rushing clouds and waves set against the fixed small point of the dying sun and the enduring piles gradually fading into the endless movement of the waters.
Patrick this Just STUNNING!!!! The long exposure has worked its magic here and the misted water is just beautiful. The composition is great too and the wait for the sun to appear in just the right place was well worth it.
Having a root around your folio for me this is one of your defining images (together with rust and surf). The subtle processing work and wonderful colouring together with a cracking composition make this a truly outstanding shot. I think you should invest in getting a really large print of this framed and hung up in your house!!!
Excellent work, Ben
SERIOUSLY! Me thinks this IS quite awesome piece of art! Brilliant composition! That water looks like milk.........Haven´t walked my 20D for a week! Too hot for me ...LOL.......
I really should go out and take some new shots........and I was thinking of shooting some sunset shots ; )
Totally new dimension for me...LOL.......
Have a nice week...and what a start!
Jouko
Wonderful shot Patrick. I'm impressed that you knew the sun would set in the right place within a few days of your first seeing this. As with many of your shots, your planning and patience has paid dividends.
Nigel
Stunning image with a great fell of softness. Love the moss covered pier leading directly to the red sun. A great piece of art.
Antonio
You were certainly rewarded for your patience Patrick! This is absolutely stunning and is even more so when viewed large!
Thanks for looking!
Thanks Ben, maybe I'll have a go at the decayed end of the Berkely pier, where the sun will set at exactly the right spot twice per year, with the Golden Gate Bridge in back!
LOL Jouko, sorry that this is too slow for you. I'll try harder next time! Yes, you should get out there for some new shots, you still have 299,996 lakes to photograph and as you can see, I AM keeping track!
Thanks Nigel. The sun sets in a predictable pattern throughout the year and fortunately I was there on the right week so I could wait for just a little nudge of the Earth to do its job.
Patrick
That is one of the best captures I have seen in my very short time here. Something truly magical about that!
Steven
Damn! You have still that calculator beside you! : (
Jouko
Thanks Steven.
That's right Jouko. Unless you can admit to me now that there are really just 4 lakes in all of Finland!
Patrick
Can see, your not a construction man, Patrick.
For myself, I had put them first in a good row.
Perfect shot and thanks for the nice story.
Worth all the work,
Jan
Patrick it's stunning I love it, worth the wait oh and can I have it in a large print please ;o)..lol..
Angie x
A lovely over all silky,milky look to this one Patrick.The tops of the peer almost look like they are floating.Superb pic.
Are you sure that is the sun going down- it could be one of Mr H's (keithh) Red balloons.LOL.
Brian.
Thanks for looking!
Jan, you might change your mind if you saw the shed I built... well maybe not LOL!
Sure Angie, for a mere 5,000,000 pounds (the standard price of a 'fine art' print.) this could be on your wall soon!
LOL Brian, I don't see any balloons, but maybe there is a sheep floating in the clouds? No?
Patrick
Unfortunately the amount of the lakes hasn´t decreased : (
Jouko
Its all been said Patrick, an absolute corker of a shot, a good holiday and a superb image to remind you of it,
.
Chris.
I haven't a month spare to read through the comments above to see if someone has already referred to the almost dreamlike quality of this beautiful image, so I'll risk mentioning it!
I was watching Basic Instinct the other night and thought of you, Patrick. I hasten to add that it was the coastal landscape, and not the rather more salacious qualities of that motion picture, that made me think of you.
You realize you're getting old when you're watching a film like Basic Instinct and the only things that really excite you are the heather growing on someone's lawn, the wisteria growing up someone's walls, and the wonderful coastal landscape.
Oh well will just have to keep coming back to visit it :o)
Angie x
Absolutely superb, Patrick.
I guess the planning really paid off here. A brilliant image - I think you've already produced more than 10 fina art pics this year. Love this one - the colours are great. And the brilliant crimson of the setting sun..... couldn't be much better
Richard
Very, very special Patrick. I love long exposures as it gives the misty water effect and movement in the sky is great also. This has it all, it looks like a Timecatcher image and that is a compliment.
Dave
I know your question is rhetorical but my answer is "This is fine art." -=Walter
Thanks for your comments!
Well Jouko, then it's time to get snapping! I hear that the 20D is good for at least 100,000 shots so you may need 3 new cameras to finish the job!! And of course, that assumes just one frame shot at each lake, so you better get it right unless you want to buy many more cameras!
*** Anybody want to contribute to the 'Jouko shoots all 300,000 lakes in Finland' fund?
LOL Ian. That is too funny. I'm glad you clarified things a bit. And yes, it is a sad day when you are admiring the botany and landscapes of the Northern California coast over Ms. Stone's!
Angie? 3 million? 2??
I wish you were right Richard!
Thanks Dave, I like those images too.
Patrick
Did you realise that the clouds are all blurry?
;-P
Cracking shot,
Rob.
I can afford 1 million virtual Dollars if that is ok?? ;o)..lol..
Angie x
Thanks for looking!
Actually, the 'Jouko shoots all 300,000 lakes in Finland' fund should allow for the purchase of 12 cameras, because you should be allowed at least 4 frames from each lake!
LOL Rob, you're right... time to go back. (Any excuse is good enough for me!)
I know Kin. Actually I'd like to take a long exposure with clouds that are hardly moving just to see how it would look!
Fine Angie, throw in a load of Spam and it's a deal!
Patrick
Absolutely blinking stonking.
Translation: I like this very, very much.
Pete
This really surreal Patrick, amazing work, worth all the effort and wait
Malcolm
love everything about this, wonderful colour and composition. you obviously thought about composition reading your notes and your patience really paid off. congrats on a super shot.
Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam....is that enough ;o)
Has Pete not seen this yet? ;o)
Angie x
Thanks for looking!
LOL Pete (peedeephoto), I never knew of the word 'stonking' until I found EPZ! And I only thought it applied to lenses...
Gary, I did come here 4 times getting different shots just in case the last day did not work out. I do plan things out a lot I guess.
LOL Angie, Pete has seen this one but it's just rubbish! What about more spam?
there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam; spam bacon sausage and spam; spam egg spam spam bacon and spam; spam sausage spam spam bacon spam tomato and spam spam spam spam egg and spam; spam spam spam spam spam spam baked beans spam spam spam... or Lobster Thermidor a Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and spam
But for the losers who just do not like spam at all, there's egg, sausage, ham, chips and spam.. There's not much spam in that one!
Patrick
no wonder Patrick is a superb photographer, he has all the quality in his images that teach us the color balance and simpliciy, angle of view, and most of all , the patience to produce gallery images.
Congrads,
alex
Awesome--- Thanks for waiting-- What a capture!
Jennnnnnn
Remind me to do that one of these days-- (pick the right spot and wait)
Interesting... looks like another world.
I like it a lot, and wish I could do stuff like this!
Fine art? Just art with a capital F I guess.
Kathy
Well if there is such a thing as fine art in photography you nailed it, this looks like a scene someone would digitially manipulate to duplicate, nice work! Spot on! Click!!!
Greg
Quote: there's egg and bacon; egg sausage and bacon; egg and spam; egg bacon and spam; egg bacon sausage and spam; spam bacon sausage and spam; spam egg spam spam bacon and spam; spam sausage spam spam bacon spam tomato and spam spam spam spam egg and spam; spam spam spam spam spam spam baked beans spam spam spam... or Lobster Thermidor a Crevette with a mornay sauce served in a Provencale manner with shallots and aubergines garnished with truffle pate, brandy and with a fried egg on top and spam
Now apart from never being able to compete in the photography stakes now you've beaten me on Spam... :o(
Angie x
made me laugh though :o)
Hi, me here, down the bottom of the list ..... lots of worthy comments for you to browse through....
What can I say that has not already been said?? um...... Happy easter?
(silly me!)
Jeanie
: )
Well I found my way down the list to add my thoughts.
Errrrrrrrr...................
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Ah I know.
That's one hell of a good shot
.. that means I like it.
PS
Easter!! I'm confused now!! (Nothing new there then eh)
WOW!! Fantastic capture, well worth your wait, you must be very pleased with this.
Pete.
Patrick, not only are you a great photographer, you seem to have an uncanny memory for Monty P lines.
Nigel
Yes Patrick this is what I would call Fine Art very fine art indeed!
Great shot!
Ted
;o)
Patrick this is out of this world stunning!! Amazing colour coming from the setting sun at end of pier with the water colour meet ing the sky as the horizon line divides! genius capture!!
stay well
tonymarq
It's all been said already Patrick, so I'll just add that I think it's beeeoootiful too!
Eileene.
Absolutely top shelf shot. Certainly goes does easy with a glass of Merlot.
Congrats on this one.
bill
wow stunning shot well done, love the long exposure effect, great work of art!
Joe
Thanks for your comments. I'll try to catch up more this week.
LOL Alex, the check is in the mail!
Be careful Jennnn, people will give you funny looks if you stand around doing nothing for so long!
Kathy, you could do this... you really could. It is just a matter of planning for it.
LOL Angie, don't make me to the parrot sketch or the one where mrs. Nigerbader explodes!
It's halloween Jeanie... halloween!
Nigel, I knew them all in high school!
Patrick
Awesome! I love how milky the water is. And how the rotten pier posts point up to the tiny red sun. Good work!
Hi Patrick, this looks soooo good large, I love the effect you have created with the water and the red sun at the end of the pier was well worth waiting for, a beautiful Fine Art image,
chris.
Can this guy take shots or what! its original with nice lines leading you into the eerie distance.
To get this lucky, you have to work very hard indeed. No one would ever call you a slouch Patrick, your work is always well crafted and taken with so much care.
This is very fine, art? I don't know. What I do know that every photographer who has looked at this image must wish they had pressed the shutter on a fabulous piece of fine photography.
All the very best my friend
Dougie
You probably won't get this far down the list of comments, but this is a cracker Patrick, a wonderful shot.
Martin
Fabulous, stunning, amazing etc... patience pays off in the end if you can hold out long enough!
guess it's all been said. this is soooo eyecatching. very saleable, so get it sold!
Thanks for your comments!
Dougie, I don't know either, but I do take a lot of time on each one. I came out to this spot 4 times before getting this shot. Fortunately, not much had to be done on PS!
LoobyLoo, sometimes it does but sometimes I come back with nothing after many hours of hoping!
Hi Chris (Chris_Ceaser), I will try. I have not made a big effort to sell any yet but I'm getting closer to that point.
Chris (Chriscj), The sky and land were almost the same brightness so only a 0.6 was required. There were some bright clouds straight overhead and above this frame that brightened up the ocean a lot. That is how ocean can be brighter than sky sometimes.
Patrick
I like this very much, Patrick. Very dreamlike and the foreground detail is excellent
Cheers, Paul
Fantastic pf Patrick and this photo is no different, well done for having the patience to wait for the correct conditions its paid off a treat, stunning ,Adrian
>I thought I'd get grief for this one from certain people
I dont know what you mean, I dont see a refelction ( as such!)
Great image, unusual to go centred for the jetty but works for me here. Great ocean, an effect I like .
You certainly "captured the moment" /hour with this one Patrick.
MikeA.
Thanks for looking!
Russ (LeCCy), I thought I'd get grief from the ones who don't like long exposures and white milky seas! But I put it up anyway. So far, no grief LOL! So now, I've got another one planned. I've got to go out and plan it further, as it may take months for the sun to be in the right place, if ever. Time for Google Earth! This one will have the Golden Gate Bridge in the distant background.
Patrick
Well Patrick, I think you are lucky, you certainly have a good eye - go ahead and give them your details, and tell them you produce a damn sight more and, I bet, of a much better quality!
Amazing, I was there the week b4 the hurricane last october, where is this, Cancun? great shot!
Tom
Thanks Angela!
Tom, this is on the north side of Isla Mujeres, a small island (5 miles long) with the closest part fo the island just 8 miles offshore from Cancun. See my profile pic. It took a direct hit in the bad quadrant of the storm with category 5 winds for 8 hours!
Patrick
Fantastic pic, the effect on the sea is brilliant here, inspiring stuff!
Kev
Beautiful exposure Patrick...I would have tended to offset the old timbers to one side or the other, but I am old fashioned...notwithstanding a catchy scene to be proud of.
Doug.
Your question on comissioned work, yes I get requests from people from time to time to photograph a certain castle or village which has clan or ancestral connections...the Forth Bridge was for a couple who were married in the hotel where I took the shot who now live in Germany.
This is stunning Patrick, and is that the sun at the end of the pier? Just looks like its surrounded by a milky mist.
One of my favourites.
Love Tanya
Sorry here again ;o)
Can I have the first freebie ;o)..lol.. I'm a cheeky little madam hee hee
Seriously I am surprised you have been selling these you could make a fortune I reckon...good luck if and when you start to sell
Angie x
Superb, dreamlike quality here, Patrick. Your patience, as always, has paid great dividends.
Hope you are well
Colin
Thanks for your comments!
Yes Doug, I do have some taken at different angles as well as different exposure times. I just wanted the one I posted to be straight on with no complications!
Sorry Angie. I've decided to make this a limited gelatin print of a total of just one copy. Then I can charge exhorbatant prices by making it seem like a rarity.. You know, the way the beaniebabies did it! LOL! Anyway, I will have a booth in a local art and craft faire (the kind where they close the street and put up tents) in September, so we will see.
Patrick
So definitely arty, and I want to see a vertical pano of the central part of the image.
I would say this is art.You have a great eye and are good with the camera.What can i say i like your work.Take care.
Amazing shot - that red sun is so small yet such an important part of the pic, good for you for waiting for it!
You asked about my border, and it's such a simple one, I just added it (in Photoshop)in Canvas size and used the eye dropper to take a sample from the background. It must be easy or I wouldn't be doing it.
Kathy
As 160 people have already pointed out, this is sooo good. I've never seen the sea looking quite so 'milky'.
The bright red centrally positioned sun actually reminds me of a shot by Adam Burton on the Timecatcher site.
Mike
Superb shot and the story to go with it is great..Hope they get over it soon..
Don
Really wonderful shot - such an interesting story to it too! What a fantastic colour sun, well waited and taken, very patient! lyns x
Thanks for your comments!
LOL Paul, send the million pounds to...
Thanks Doug!
Melanie, I do have a portrait version, taken just about 1 minute earlier.
Sounds easy Kathy, but I've never done anything like it.
Mike, I'll check it out.
Don, so do I. Cancun looks like a war zone, half interspersed with completely reconstructed properties that look perfect. Isla Mujeres still needs lots of work, but is still a great place to visit. The central shopping area is excellent.
Patrick
popped by again, Good luck in September you will not fail to sell your images :o)
Angie x
Missed this one but better late than never!
fabulous image, well worth waiting for the sun to hit the right spot.
Simon
Hi Patrick
This one really is exceptional and is a testiment not only to your skill as a photographer but also to your patience and dedication. There is nothing not to like about this piece,I'm just speachless.Send that mag some shots!
Hope your well, so busy now that I am hardly here to visit :-(
Roll on Winter :-P
Hi Patrick, I have looked at this shot three times now, but haven't commented as I wanted to say something to do justice to this unbelievably beautiful photo, but I'm still stuck for words. I LOVE it, this is one I would be truly proud to have in my
PF.
Wow! wonderful image full of colours and great mood lovely composition absolutely top shot nicely done.
As usual what an outstanding picture and story!!
I've not been on here for awhile so I'm just trying to make the rounds. I see that both you an Jouko have kept up to your usual excellent standards.
Cheers
Mike
Thanks for your comments!
Thanks Angie(beaniebabe), I hope you are right!
Angee (arwensgrace) you are making me blush!
Good to have you back Mike!
Patrick
Thanks Gregor.
Kris, based on that lightouse you put up there, It does not appear that you need any lessons! But come on over and I'll show you a few good places.
Patrick
Belting Patrick. The effect your shutterspeed has on the water is just magnificent. Stroke of genius with the sun BTW.
As Kris said, lessons needed for me please too!!
Martin
Well done for being so patient! Lovely shot. Like the milky quality to the water. Lovely story to go with it too! Very well caught!
There's no way I'm reading all the other comments but that is awesome photography, and a great story with it.
The large version just seems to glow....
Steve
A stunning image Patrick and a great story. Obviously waiting is the key to outstanding landscapes.
Hawk
Such a shot, no words really just to say I'm very, wery impressed.
Davey P.
How did I miss this. My loss. I think this is your best ever picture and one of the best on the site.
Allan
Thanks for your comments!
C'mon over Martin......
Yes Hawk, waiting and waiting.......
Thanks Allan!
Patrick
Firstly, thank-you for taking the time to comment on my little picture. I came her for a glance and I am absolutly in awe of you! Your work is superb, in fact it's made me feel quite inadequate!..... but i'll keep striving to get to your level one day!!!
Tracey
What a shot! What a place! I think it has all been said and the amount of clicks speaks volumes for this lovely shot. Great colour, lighting, exposure and all that make this a breathtaking shot.
Thomas.
Thanks Thomas and Vismaya!
Tracey, I was saying the same thing just a year ago. You can do it!
Patrick
What an extraordinary story behind the emergence of the pier. I wonder how old it actually is then, if the sand used to cover it so much.
Superb positioning of the sun. Superb picture.
Not much I can say which has not been said already. A truely magnificent image well worth the wait to get the sun straight down the middle. Superb
scott
Great long exposure, I love the effect it has produced. Super comp and timing, bet it makes a tasty print.
Steve
beautiful shot Pat, love the effect of the long exposure on the sea and sky.
I can't belive this is 230th, and soo well deserved, I an in awe of your p/f.
CLIX
WOW! Simply stunning. I'm lost for words! Awesome capture. Beautiful combination of light, colour and water detail.
Tracy
Thanks for looking!
I'm going to get more of these, as people do seem to like them. I have a few places in mind!
Patrick
Add a Comment
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.
Got A Photo You Want To Share?
Login or Join Now
New to ePHOTOzine? Join ePHOTOzine for free!
Twitter
Facebook
Google+
RSS
Join Our Free Newsletter
Current Competitions
Vanguard 'Nature' Competition
1st February 2012 - 29th February 2012
This month we want you to capture 'Nature' in all its beauty! We want to see your very best images featuring land, sea, or sky. It can be of animals, rain, sun (if y...Featured e2 Photo
Featured Directory Listing
February's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.
