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This 50 foot rock on San Carpoforo beach at the south end of Big Sur really takes a beating at high tide. And this is one of my favourite beaches in California because it feels so massive.
The ridge behind the beaches here range from 3,000 feet on the top right of the frame to 5,200 feet just above the big splash to the left of the rock. The one mile drop to the ocean with a 45 degree angle, might be the largest in the world depending on how you define ocean cliffs. There are sheer drops of 3,500 feet in Hawaii and some places in New Zealand, Norway and Alaska have larger mountians a few miles from the ocean.
Regardless, this place makes one feel rather small and insignificant!
The trick to getting this shot besides shooting and running with my back against a cliff, was waiting for the ocean to calm down from a white roiling overexposed mess. The first wave in the a series is the best because the ocean colour and sand texture comes through a lot better.
1/4 second exposure @F20 with ND grads 0.9 + 0.75
| Title: | The Rock |
| Username: | 
PatrickSmith |
| Uploaded: | 7 Apr 2008 - 3:57 PM |
| Camera: | Canon EOS 5D |
| Lens: | Canon 17-40L @18 |
| Recording media: | RAW (digital) |
| Tags: | Big sur, California, General, Landscape / travel, San simeon |
| Votes: | 190 |
Comments
Superb composition, great light and colours - your timing was immaculate
It certainly looks a grand place Patrick.
Your timing was spot on for this one.
Paul
fantastic capture,In large vesion can almost feel the waves hitting the rocks, Chuck
could ONLY be yours, Patrick...........
Any car problems yet?? Hope not.....
Jouko
Like the details and lighting in this Patrick - first class as always.
Regards Richard.
Thanks for looking!
The car is behaving itself Jouko. Good thing too, as this beach is an hour away from nowhere!
Patrick
Thanks Colin and jojo!
lol.... Okay fine Mike, I kicked it out there to get a little extra foreground interest and it made the splash as it came to rest on it's flat side in the water!
Patrick
Superb capture
Really enjoyed my trip around the Big Sur a few years ago 
Trevor
beautifully composed , really love the light through the spray.. stunning.. !
Nikki !
Thanks for your comments!
I enjoy it every time Trevor!
I liked that too Nikki. I watched it happen several times before deciding to capture it.
Patrick
Hi Patrick, love the detail and colour in the fg pebbles and the exposure to capture the wave crashing against the rock. Yet another superb cornifornia shot!
Charlotte
Wonderful timing (we will make a wildlifer of you)
of the wave.. Shows the power of the sea. The pebbles in the FG add some calm to the image..
Regards
Edgar
Thanks for stopping by.
Hey Charlotte, it's great to hear from you. And there is a bit of Cornwall in here I think!
LOL Edgar, well this beach is near two colonies of Elephant Seals with 15 foot long males making lots of noise. I suppose I could work them into a landscape and become a wildlifer! I'll use my 17-40 for wildlife!
Patrick
Haha yes, my Mum just literally arrived home, saw it and said 'that's definitely a Cornifornia shot'! It still surprises me how similar the two coastlines look sometimes! Thanks for the click and comment on mine, just left a reply over there for you.
Charlotte
Excellent timing Patrick. Thanks for the info on the size of the rock and heights of the slopes behind. I wouldn't have guessed they were so high.
Nigel
It is amazing Charlotte. I have 'flown' over your area in Google Earth and it does look quite similar. Someday I hope to see it myself.
Thanks Steve.
True Nigel, it is tough to tell except for the very small seagulls on the top of the rock in the big version!
Patrick
I do hope you are getting some work done now that you got the priority sorted first 
Well composed, and timed, and exposed and caught!
Rgds
Paul
Beautifully composed and exposed Patrick.Lovely.
Tom.
Great timing Patrick, like the light on the f/g pebbles
Malcolm
Lovely light and your timing was as impeccable as we've come to expect with the wave Patrick.
Martin
Super light Patrick and the timing shows off the impact the wave makes on the rock, guess can be quite noisy as well.
MikeA.
I know I say this everytime .. so here it goes again.. Stunning!!! love the timing on the shot ...
Thanks for having a look around!
True Mike, it gets really noisy here. And the cliff behind me reflects the sound right into my ear!
Patrick
Great capture Patrick - I wish it was the W. coast of US I was going to in a couple of weeks not Florida.
Mark.
Thanks Dawn Michelle and Marilyn!
It's a shame mark, but there are some nice places there. There are some awesome swamps and beaches with great water colour and features. No hills though!
Patrick
Super timming Patrick and some wonderful light on the beach, rocks and distant hills you captured. Great work.
The light is beautiful Patrick and lifts the colours so well, a single boulder at 50 feet - I bet it does takes a beating
Sean
Lovely crisp foreground detail contrasts well with the hazy background...and of course good timing with the wave.
The dynamics around the rock combined with the beauty around it make this an outstanding image!
Paul
An outstanding beachscape Patrick, you've timed this shot to perfection. The light, colours and composition are all exceptional, a real class act yet again
wonderful photography
I can only marvel at your work Patrick
pareen
Well timed to capture the power of the sea and the magnificent light. JNC
Thanks for looking!
I guess it was difficult to time this because most of the time the wave would impact while the previous wave was all the way up the beach. It took about 10 minutes of trying to get some decent timing on this one.
True Mark, hoping for clouds on a holiday can create a bit of a conflict of interest when better weather is wanted!
Patrick
You never fail to impress us all Patrick. Not seen anything quite like this before ☼☼☼☼☼
Rob
Hi Patrick,
That wave really looks for all the world as though it is determined to shift that rock and it will one day with a determination like that.Fantastic timing,motion,detail,textures,saturation,lighting,shading,sky,the dynamics,perspective and shapes on this one are inimitablely yours.Breathetaking!take care and stay safe,Ann
I see my Daughter beat me to it yet again
Love the contrast in textures and also between the wild waves and calm fg. Good use of the diagonal too.
I don't think you need our Caliwall clouds as you look to have some good ones over there in Cornifornia!
gill
Thanks for having a look!
I rarely do either Rob, it is a 2 hour drive from nowhere!
I think you are right Ann, the waves will win eventually!
LOL Gill, she's a fast one! But I must admit that my photography is deceptive because we only get decent clouds a few times per month in the winter and rarely in the summer. I squeeze out what I can! So I will take all the Caliwall clouds that I can get my lens on....
Thanks CB.
Patrick
What an amazing place that is. Great description Patrick, I always enjoy them.
I love being on the coast because besides their beauty I am always in awe of the Geology! That huge rock just sat there is something I could stare at for ages, wondering!...
Cheers
Matt
A real knockout, Patrick, especially when viewed large.
Out if interest, did you have one filter upside down for the foreground, or where they both on the sky?
Great advice in the description Pat, something i will take onboard when i get to do a shot like this.
lots of people will probably be impressed with the wave on the rock, but for me it's the gorgeous light on the cliffs, worthy of a place in any gallery!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope to catch up on your new uploads in the next couple of days once I finish this work thing....
Yes, Matt, I love the geology too. There is a vast timespan involved in the making of this place, and so many others. I enjoy watching the waves making more history right in front of my eyes.
Michael, in this case one grad covers the sky and one covers the sky and down tot eh bottom left corner where the wet sand is. I had a 30 degree angle on the grads.
I waited for the light to hit the cliffs Terry for about a half hour. Before and after I did this, the mountains were dark. I only got a few different ones with this light. Then it was gone!
Patrick
Beautiful light Patrick. The timing is obviously spot on, but the sense of scale is fascinating
I'll echo your thoughts on the similarities with New Zealand, Patrick. I almost felt like I was stood back on the West Coast!
Stunning light and clarity my friend. It's something I struggled with due to the sea spray on my recent trip.
All the best
Dan
Superb 'action' shot. Perfect timing with the waves hitting that rock, excellent as ever.
Annette
Thanks for looking! I'm glad you liked the timing of this one. And that gives me time to run away.
Yes Dan, I have LOTS of problems with sea spray and what seems like the whole ocean trying to get into my camera! It is a pain compared to regular landscapes, but worth it.
Patrick
Such information and a great picture as well really has made my day
Mavis
this is awsome patrick. love the light and that crashing wave.
daz.
Stunning image Patrick, looks awesome in the large version. Nice work.
Cheesey.
Hi Patrick - catching up as I've been away. Well it's a long way down here - so many well deserved comments, not sure what else to add?
Your timing is impeccable as usual! I like the splash off the rock and it's reflction on the wet sand but also the light and colours on the ridge behind - excellent work again
Sarah *
Gorgeous light and tones, love how you've captured the waves crashing into the rock.
Alexandra
Thanks for stopping by!
No problem Michael!
LOL Sarah, you probably got lost in one of those labyrinthine castles!
Patrick
Hello Patrick..I love the sunlight on the beach, the colours are glorious. Wonderful detail of the sea as well..an excellent seascape.
Di
Fabulously timed, yet again, Patrick.
I hope the San Francisco Tourist Board, or whatever its called, are aware of you being such a great ambassador for the stunning scenery of the West Coast. You should be on a retainer of some sort.
Colin
Thanks Di!
Speaking of tourists Colin, are you coming out this way again? I'll make sure we meet this time!
They don't know about me yet, but they will....
Patrick
Love the light and colour detail Patrick..glad you didnt get wet...
Superb timing and a great shot..
Don
perfect timing to take the picture, beautiful landscape,
congratulations,
arpad
Wonderful capture! I like the explantion you give with each shot so the rest of us can learn.
Valerie
Thanks for looking!
I wish you were right Don.
I learn from everybody else Valerie so I try to return the favour!
Patrick
dramatic capture... Big Sur is one of those places on my wishlist to visit
Wonderful light all around in this shot Patrick - the coloured pebbles in the f/ground are very effective.
Brian.
Quote: Speaking of tourists Colin, are you coming out this way again? I'll make sure we meet this time!
Nothing planned, Patrick but would dearly love to spend more time experiencing the west coast. My daughter starts University in September so have to dig deep to fund her for the next 3 years. Maybe after, who knows
Colin
This has a definite glow to it, you have captured the light perfectly.
Penny
Thanks for stopping by!
Sounds like you're in the poor house for a few years Colin! After you recover, come on out!
Patrick
A fantastic and atmospheric image Patrick. i love the detail shown in the small pebbles strewn on the beach and the detail on the rather larger pebblr ( Boulder ) in the water. Wonderful.
Ron
Thanks Scotty!
True Ron, that is quite a large pebble. I'd hate to stub my toe on it!
Patrick
Stunning shot with wonderful composition and great juxtaposition of the solid rock and the water crashing into it.
Rende
Beautiful lighting picking up the 'highlights' on the pebbles in the f/g.. .lovely well timed capture on the wave too.... excellent composition... Karen
Perfect timing and photo!
I guess it's time I use the ND filters again...
Not that I can shoot pics like this!!!
This is definitely one of those WOWSA shots.....You've caught this perfectly, P...
Cheerios,
Suz
Hoping the pinky is better by now.....
love the colour and light shining away on the pebbles as for the rock and wave thats something special.
Perfect timing and rendition of the wave as I expect from you! Beautiful shot.
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