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A couple of weeks ago I heard that a storm was headed our way. So I parked the car at the familiar tourist pullout where about 15 tripods were all set up awaiting the sunrise. Then I hiked 500 feet down a hill in the dark (not something I recommend before work!) to be on this beach for sunrise. I was hoping for some stormy and moody skies but saw this instead.
I had to desaturate the raw file by 5% because the reds were getting blown out. The unusual colour of this beach is partially from the sunrise colours plus the sand itself is a dark red! (See variation #2)
0.3 second exposure @F13 with ND grad 0.9
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D |
| Lens: | Canon 17-40L @18 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Title: | Golden Gate Dawn #1 |
| Username: | 
PatrickSmith |
| Uploaded: | 5 Nov 2007 - 4:01 PM |
| Tags: | Architecture, Beach, Golden gate bridge, Landscape / travel, San francisco |
| VS Mode Rating |
101 (100% won) These stats show the percentage of wins and the rating score that your photo has achieved. You can go to the VS Mode by clicking on this icon. Signup to e2Signup to e2 to see which photo this has won or lost against in the vs mode |
| Votes: | 188 |
 | Variant - Tests |
Comments
Never amazes me how many different moods/atmosphere you manage to inspire from this location, golden gate for many reasons.. so love the quality of the shore.. whole image truly stunning
Nikki !
Thanks for your comments. It's a busy day at work but I'll be dropping in when I can.
Good idea Matt! I do clean up in the bathroom at work before I start. Lots of poison oak here.
Yes Nikki, this place is different every day. You just never know what is going to happen.
Thanks Tony, with a good dose of luck thrown in as well!
Thanks Jouko, it was a bit of a surprize, but I'll take it! Let's see your versions.
Kris, I'll be trying to capture view #2 with a better sky later.
Patrick
Both shots are very nivce Patrick....I think I prefer the second one. 2 completely different shots with a quick turn of the hips!
Steve!
Thanks for looking!
Steve, I'll be back to get that one with a better sky I hope! Yes, hardly had to take more than a few steps to get that one.
Bet I did Maddie! I had my shoes off and my pants rolled up. I needed to get into the water for a closer view and I did bring a towel. But the hike up the hill made me sweaty so I had to clean up a bit when I got into work! And then there is the poison oak...uggh.....
Patrick
Wonderful colours and composition. A superb sight! JNC
You do grand work Sir, many congratulations.
All the very best
Dougie
Thanks for dropping by!
Yes Mari, very wet! I gave up running back and forth and took off the shoes!
Thanks Mike. On the second one, the waves are advancing because I wanted to overlay the water movement on top of the fine grains of sand that were not moving for part of the exposure.
Patrick
There are so many quality elements to this picture, but I especially like the lines, the diagonal wave and the pastel rainbow colours of the fg sand.
Another stunner.
That little touch of city sky line is a wonderful touch.
Simon
Thanks for stopping in!
LOL Mike...yep!
No Problem Ron, though #2 looks good at a larger size. The sand is amazing.
LOL Debbie, I did that on one recently. I just totally forgot and soon a foot of water surrounded me. I didn't even bother to try to move. You'd like the whole coastline a lot Debbie. Come one out and I'll give you guys the grand tour. I'll even drive!
Thanks Martin, it is always a good idea to look at everything when you get into a good situation.
Patrick
Down right incredible image. Like this one alot. Great looking water. Nicely done!!!
Took your shoes off and rolled your trousers up ferchrisakes? - you'll never make a pro.
Thanks Nigel and Danny!
LOL Kris, you gotta do whatcha gotta do! Plus I think it helped with the poison oak!
Patrick
I'm glad to see some clouds made it your way, Patrick, and you were able to make good use of them. I especially admire the beautiful colors reflecting under those clouds and the city visible in the distance. Excellent!
If I had a location like this on my way to work, I would always be late.
Eric
Thanks for your comments!
Yes Eric, lately I've been looking over as I go to work (after checking the weather sites and webcams) to see if the time is right. I hope to get a bunch of good ones this winter and at least one more 'fog under the bridge' shot before the summer fog goes away for this year.
LOL Sarah, now why did I think you'd like the buildings???
Patrick
lovely shot Pat, better sky than i had for my san fran sunrise last weekend. did you hike down from the first pullout as you go up the hill or the second one? i know there is a pathway from one of them but i can't remember which one, i was going to Sausalito this weekend to try to find that spot where you got your early morning shot but i'd like to try this one instead as the tide will be low at sunrise and there is rain and clouds forcast, might give me a great sky, sounds like i need to beware of the poison oak and take a flashlight with me at that hour of the morning?
Also i need to get there an hour earlier than last week since the clocks have gone back.....Grrrr
Hey Terry,
I hiked down from that first pullout. That is where the pathway is. Yes the quick route has the poison oak and the slower and longer route is easier but takes a while to travel the distance. A flashlight helps though I had the moon at the time, which was barely enough. 06:30 sunrise now, so you should be on the beach before then. It takes at least 15 minutes to get there from the pullout.
Patrick
Really nice.
Being really picky i would of liked to see the far left edge of the beach ,theres room for losing that amount from the right of shot?
Thanks for stopping by!
Yes Brian, there are many variations you can make with the framing of the city by the bridge depending on how high up the hill you climb. I do like this version. You can also make the city float just above the road deck.
I did try it Kim, but the left side is very dark in the shadow of that cliff, which just gets bigger and bigger. And I wanted to show the bit of colour on the sand on the right side. I was nearly wide open at 18mm so that was the limit.
Thanks Sean, the smaller waves worked better for some reason. The big ones were too chaotic that morning.
Patrick
Two images of the very highest quality Patrick, just what we've come to expect from a man of your calibre
Stunning - love the reflections in the incoming tide water. Love the faint skyline of SF in the background.
Anne
What can I say but that your work always inspires! To that note I was under some bridges this weekend at the C&N Canal trying to duplicate a similar shot you did in Hawaii, not could enough to post but I am working on it. Spot on! Click!!!
Greg
P.S. I have been moving around so much I have not even had a chance to read up on or think about making the trip to Florida for the event, though it would be nice since Florida is my home. I will send you a message later after I have looked at the site.
Thanks for having a look!
Yes Greg, it takes several attempts to get the hang of it. You need a cloudy day or at least for the sun to be down or shaded. F22, maybe an inverted ND grad filter if the water is brighter than the top. Then as if gets darker, the exposure get longer until eventually you get your shot. Once you go over 30 seconds you have to guess so after a 30 second exposure, go for 40. After 1 minute go for 1:20. 2 to 3. After 3 minutes you may have to go for 7!
Definitely let me know about Florida. It sounds extremely interesting!
Patrick
I actually prefer no. 2 does that make me different 
but as always both are excellent
Robin
Gota just love the mood in this Pat, really lovely
Colin
Thanks for your comments!
No Malcolm, but maybe someday.....
LOL - Well Robin, a little different but 3 others agree so far.
Yes Maggie, there are only a couple of days per lunar cycle where I think conditions are right for what I want to do, so it may take a while!
Patrick
Wonderful warm light under the clouds, lovely reflection in the wet sands.
Love the muted colours - composition, as always, first rate. Bruce
Thanks for stopping by!
There are lots of ways to do it Mavis. I'll be making other views with the city in different spots.
Same thing happes to me Alley!
Patrick
BOTH are gorgeous. I prefer the GGB image a bit more, but both are stunning!
Thanks for dropping in!
Kellie, thanks for the kind words. Everybody shoots the bridge from the same old boring viewpoints and boring light, so it is time do do something new with it. I have a tugboat in one of my photos on page two called Bay Bridge - HDR. I wonder if he is affected by the oil spill.
Patrick
I LOVE THEM BOTH... hope you have these hanging on your wall. I love them did I say that already???
Thanks for dropping by! Not enough wall space to hang them right now.....
Patrick
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