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Soberanes Point, in Big Sur near Carmel California is a rugged piece of coastline backed by 4,000 foot mountains. I wanted to isolate this arch and give it a 3D look by doing a long exposure so that the waves do not distract from the rock forms. Also, it was isolated more when I made the top of the arch break the horizon just in one spot. I had to run across a low point in between waves to get out to a rock similar to the arch in order to get this composition. And yes, I did get soaked of course, which ended my plans for a night time image from here!
This may be my last upload for a while, as my birth defects research ogranization is moving a few miles away from where it is now in Berkeley. They are not sure about internet connections right now and when we get it, it may be too slow for EPZ'ing. LOL - Time for a new job! So I may be commenting during the night time GMT for a while after about Wednesday of this week.
1 minute exposure @F22 with ND grad 0.9 + 8 stop circular ND filter. (That got the exposure up to 1 minute from about 2 seconds, which reduced the cottony messy water effect of shorter exposure times.)
Also, on long exposure shots like this, wait for the ocean to calm down so that colour comes through and it is not so white that the water blows out from being too bright.
| Title: | Soberanes Arch |
| Username: | 
PatrickSmith |
| Uploaded: | 21 Apr 2008 - 3:30 PM |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D |
| Lens: | Canon 17-40L @22 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Tags: | Big sur, California, Garrapata, General, Landscape / travel, San francisco, Soberones point |
| Votes: | 221 |
Comments
looks a great place Patrick, hopefully you will be back online very soon 
Fine work Patrick hope you are well sir, do not be away for to long that man
Doug
Like the details and lighting in this Patrick - the milky sea works well.
Hope your back clicking soon.
Regards Richard.
Like it well enough Patrick - tho must confess a little too 'cottonwolly' in the sea for me -- good luck to you - see you soon.
db
I like the colours and exposure for the sea, don't be away too long Patrick!
Sarah *
More fantastic painting with light. So delicate and atmospheric, I love the way you manage to wring out every ounce of detail.
Great shot I hope the move goes well and look forward to seeing you online soon
You are the only man on this sight who can paint with a camera. Respect honey. Respect. helen x
Thanks for your kind wishes and comments!
I just got an email stating that we may not have any internet access at all for at least a week after this Wednesday! I better get my EPZ fix now!
lol Jouko, we will see what happens! I may have to go to the nearest coffee house with my laptop if things get desperate!
Patrick
Nice exposure, got the sea perfectly, good luck.
Phil
This harks back a bit for me Patrick.....it's very pristine and colourful but lacks any...and I'll have to use the word 'soul' for want of any other.
It's back to that disney-esque look.
Magicall soft water, emphasizing this fantasticallyrugged coast line-- Arch is special!
jennn
Thanks Phil And Jen.
Hi Keith, I have something more dramatic and 'alive' planned from this spot that you will probably like more. But I could not pull it off on this night! Stay tuned... but you may fall asleep because it may take me a year or more to get it!
Patrick
don´t you have WLAN there?? We have lots of open WLANs here in Finland.....Last Friday, while waiting my cars tires changed to "summerones", LOL, I browsed with my Nokia N95 8GB shots from EPZ!
I´m so addicted to EPZ! LOL.......My Nokia found an open WLAN and time really flies then 
Jouko
Too late to edit my above comment......You obviously have those WLANs in those cafes, but many people have they own open WLANs here in Finland....And I mean OPEN for all to use! It´s illegal to use your neighbours WLAN, even if it´s open! My own WLAN at home is well secured! Confused?? LOL
Jouko
Well, Jouko, we do have them (both open and private) but we are not allowed to bring laptops into work because we deal with sensitive data, so I'd have to go away from the office. LOL - Yes, you are addicted if you are EPZ'ing while getting your tires changed! Time to go to Rehab!
Patrick
LOL......That link MUST BE ILLEGAL! LOL....
OK! Case closed! LOL......I understand! But that Rehab-thingy is something else!
Jouko
Very very good I like the sense of calm. Good luck with the move hope all goes well, and hope to see you back soon.
Like the long exposure effect on the water, and the fact that you can now see through the waves to reveal the sea colour.
Hopefully, you'll be back online soon Patrick.
Martin
Supreme exposure, the water quality is superb. Great compositon.
John
Magical and mystical..wonderful colours and so much atmosphere. This is superb Patrick.
Di
Another really Awesome shot Patrick...
Hope to see you back on line soon..
I want be on here as much myself ..start back to work this Thursday.
Quote: Also, on long exposure shots like this, wait for the ocean to calm down so that colour comes through and it is not so white that the water blows out from being too bright
This is where soooo many people get it 'wrong' for me - blown to bits! They end up with a lump of 'gunk' with 'burnt' blobs 
Excellent, the detail in the rock is absolutely fascinating and the water is gorgeous
Beverley
Thanks for dropping in!
I liked that too Martin.
I don't like the messy lumpy look either Beverly. This was a close call on that account and I was hoping to get longer exposures as it got darker but I got nailed by a wave that that was it for the evening! Big seas mean that longer exposure times are required to reduce the cotton effect.
Patrick
Good luck with the next attempt from this place, anyway there is still tat lovely dremlike effect here
Peter
Great exposure in this beauty, beautiful color and great atmosphere.
Bob
Strangely surreal effect you have created Patrick, the rock certainly looks almost 3D
Malcolm
Lovely shot,Thanks for the explaination on how you achieved this,
Alan
A super shot patrick well worth the soaking, the detail and colour are fabulous.
Paul
When the revolution comes and us Brit's regain the colonies.. you will all be on GmT over the pond..!!! winks
Seriously superb texture to the sea and waves, also textures and persepctive of rocks/scene..!!!
truly stunning... Good luck in the New Job..!
Nikki !
Well thought out and well executed!!!
Love the colour retained in the water, most miss the mark doing long exposures and get it too white. Well done Patrick and hope your move at work goes smoothly!
Scotty
Thanks for looking!
Yes Malcolm, I was going for the 3D effect with the light and where i put the arch in relation to the background. And with the long exposure too.
Well Nikki, GMT would be fine though my sunrise will be 14:30. I guess I could sleep in! I'm keeping Big Sur if the revolution comes...
I'll admit Scotty that my first attempt did blow out the water. So that is why I waited for a calm period, which in these rough waters does not happen very often or for very long.
Patrick
This is another great one, Patrick and all the better for your story. Thanks also for the very helpful guide to making the best of long exposures.
Best wishes
David
love the long exposure effect here Pat, i'm just a milky kind of guy......lol
nice textures in the rocks too, pity there wasn't a bit more cloud around though, it's getting scarce in these parts now, will have to find something else to do for the summer.
the colour in the water and the fact you can see the bottom of the sea gives this a bit of a vertigo feel for me.
Like the movement from the sky Patrick and the I do like your narratives and the way you're happy to post your techniques for us to learn from
Sean
I really don't know what to say. It's one of the few images I've just stared in awe!
Don't need to say more than that I reckon.
Paul
Looking forward to getting to the seaside in a few weeks after seeing this. Hope you not offline long Patrick.
Amazing - beautiful water and wonderful colour and detail in the rocks.
Leigh
top shot of the day if not the week ,month , year.
Rgds Bob
Well worth getting wet for, super detail in the rocks and great water movement. Hope you wont be away for long.
Dot
Certainly succeeded in your ambition to create a 3D rock - looks good Patrick.
Nick
Hi Patrick,
I'm no100.
Stunning misty,3d,gorgeous,superbly lit,rugged rocks and arch,i'm getting a crane in my neck looking at this shot.Amazing.
Good luck in your knew job,don't be away too long if your connections down we'll miss you.
Take care,Ann
Very nice Patrick. Like the texture of the rocks and the long exposure gives the water a nice texture. All the best. John
Thanks for stopping by! I will squeeze in my EPZ'ing where I can.
David and Sean, if I notice anything, I try to remember it so that nobody will have to make the mistakes that I make!
Yes, Terry, I tried to give an impression of depth to the water here. And the clouds are evaporating quickly now. Not much left!
Paul, if you had seen me hanging onto the rock while trying to get this shot, you would have been laughing instead!
Martin, so you're migrating from the mountains to the sea? I looks forward to seeing what you find, once I get a chance.
LOL Ann, sorry about the neck!
And the best to you too John (johnjrp)
Patrick
A fabulous image Patrick, the water and lighting on the rocks are amazing.
Lisa
Picture perfect Patrick, everything about it is spot on.
Hope you are not away for too long
gill
Hi Patrick,
I do like misty water effects as much as the next person, but I can't help feeling that this scene demands a faster shutter speed to catch the waves crashing on the rocks. I guess it's because the misty water evokes 'serenity' and the rocks evoke 'anything but serenity' (LOL). I think it's a bit of a mismatch in this context.
It's no reflection on the quality of the image nevertheless, and there is no faulting the technical execution of the shot.
Pete
EDIT: just read Keith's comment above (and your response) and I think we're all kind of on the same wavelength.
Magnicificent location Patrick and interesting lighting. This is one I feel I can really 'step into'
Thanks for your comments and ideas!
Yes Pete, I always try to get a short and long exposure from each location. On this evening, only the long ones were looking good, and the tide was not exactly right for the kind of waves I wanted to see.
Patrick
Good one Patrick and thank for the short tutorial.Good luck with the new job location.
a stunning image patrick ,the movement ,detail and light is superb
well done
mark
A++
They said it all
Thank you for always telling us what are your gadgets and how you shot your images. It help a lot most especially for the beginners like me.
Dennis
So beautiful, a brilliant exposure, beautiful tones
and a beautiful composition and a Great explanation on the exposure. I hope your move goes well, I love this place.
Pauline.
Beautiful - love the contrasts with the sharpness & long exposure.
Mia
Hi Patrick.
I have to echo the comments of Keithh and Peedeephoto on this one.
Technically excellent, but (and despite your derring-do to get the shot!) compositionally I think it isn't up to your usual standard. It lacks a certain "oomph" and the straight-on view feels a little "flat."
I think Pete's comment about the shutter speed is well made in this particular case - a sense of energy and movement seems to be demanded by this location.
I'd love to see what else you shot here. And, assuming I'm not dead, I look forward to the night shot. (Please try to not fall off any rocks and drown when you shoot it )
I hope you're not out of touch for too long. Very remiss of your employers to not consider you when moving offices!
All the very best,
Bill
Thanks for having a look around!
No problem Dennis. I've learned a lot here and I try to give it back where I can.
Yes Bill, this is one of 2 versions that I usually shoot from a location. One with a long exposure and one that is shorter with some good wave action. You will probably like the shorter one. We will see. lol about the moving comment!
Patrick
Hi Patrick, it looks so light but you managed to get 1second to slow down that water beautifully (but no pebbles in sight lol)
Hope your internet problems are few and you manage some quality epz time soon
Mari
Thanks Mari, I hope you are right and there are few problems. LOL - Consider these to be very big pebbles and I got my shot!
Patrick
This certainly looks 3D Patrick. I hope you don't suffer too much from epz withdrawal symptoms.
Nigel
Thanks Mandy!
I don't know Nigel, I could not get into EPZ until 8pm my time. A whole day without EPZ? I'm getting the shakes and the sweats already!
Patrick
An interesting rock formation Patrick, the exposure, composition and detail in the rockface are all excellent. Well worth getting soaked to get this one!
Patrick - I'm blown away by this shot. Your attention to detail never ceases to amaze. I like the exposure treatment...
Cheers, Jon
Lovin' that exposure time Patrick ! you have used it to great effect.
Well I don't see any imminent danger so I guess I have to let you off with the sarcastic comments on this one
Janet
Thanks for looking!
LOL Janet, long exposures can be decieving. You don't see the size of the waves here and how I had to stay put while they raced by! I did get nailed after this one and gave it up for the night.
Patrick
So much invaluable information in your description, Patrick - thanks so much Your pics are not only inspiring and awesome but we learn a lot!
Andrew
Thanks Andrew!
I'll probably be away from EPZ for at least another week or two so I'll catch up then.
Patrick
just to round it off... Don't know how I missed this Patrick, famn fine shot
I see you're up to your usual (fantastic) tricks!! Very nice shot - this and all the other's that I've missed.
Mike
Arh another cracker.. Not much more to say.. I like it a lot...
( back to the land of the living after India )
Hi Patrick
Am back after along time away. I saw this arch when going up the Big Sur, when coming back when the light was better I couldn't find it. You have done a brilliant job, this is an exceptional shot.
Tanya
Always great to return and see a stunning portfolio of landscapes! Keep up the great work Patrick!
Thanks for stopping by! Sorry I have not been stopping by myself. I still have no internet access at work and I'm landscaping my back yard in the evenings, so it will be a few weeks before I return. I have EPZ withdrawl symptoms already...lol...
Patrick
Super image Patrick, the 3-D works but may be enhanced if the shoreline rocks were thrown out focus a little maybe?
MikeA.
Great scene Patrick, love the roughness of the rocks, and the colours, you've created beautiful atmosphere, fine image, Adrian
Recently I've been experimenting with Neat Image, a free noise reduction program. More often than not, I use it to give me that creamy , ultra-smooth background a 9 blade aperture imparts. I could see it doing just the bit extra for your water here, not that your work isn't sensational already.
Where've ya been, P......?
Another Awesome shot......Yep!
Have a great weekend,
Suz
Quote: Also, on long exposure shots like this, wait for the ocean to calm down so that colour comes through and it is not so white that the water blows out from being too bright.
Good tip! Thanks
And a lovely shot too!
Cheers, Goggz
Another cracker, Patrick. Sorry to hear you don't get on EPZ to much at the moment. I know how you feel.
Ted
Don't know how I missed this one, sorry.
Superb as ever. Annette
Thanks for stopping by for a look! I'm still really busy but I'll be back in September with some new stuff including some from Maui.
A narrow DOF Mike? Perhaps. I'd have to experiment, though I could do it a bit in PS.
True Steve (Ameythst_Imagery), there are lots fo ways to go with the smoothing. I'll have to check out that program.
Well Megzie, I've been so busy that I've had no time to be here, and the daytime connection I used to use is very slow now. And then I got a Border Collie, who is totally insane and needs 2+ hours of intense running per day. I'm fine though but overworked so a nice trip to Maui is in the offing!
Thanks Ted.
I snuck it by you Annette!
Patrick
Sorry for not always commenting on the photos. Here at Qatar Airways they believe a pilot should fly maximum hours. I would love more time on ePz and making comments. Sometimes I do, mostly I don't. All depends on the time I have. Have a splendid day!
Georg
They just keep coming mate. Your portfolio is amazing. Keep up the good work.
Thomas
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