Uploads from PatrickSmithPhotography, tagged california, with geodata

Santa Monica - Evening at the pier

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:10:25 -0700

A cool evening on the Santa Monica Pier. A perfect way to beat the 104 degree (40c) heat just a few miles inland. No HDR

Visit me on Google Plus!
profiles.google.com/patricksmith1

See the super-big 1500 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/593549409...

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Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 24-105L @ 58 (Same as the last photo, but the results are different for sure!)
8-second exposure @ F16 (to get that 8-sec. exp.)
No filters
No polarizer
ISO 50
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod with Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol grip ball head
I put the tripod, legs in, on the wooden railing
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop

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Story:
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The Santa Monica Pier is a great place to escape the summer heat and enjoy an ice cream and watch all the people walking by. I used an 8-second exposure to show the movement without the people disappearing entirely. The timing on the wheel was important. The wheel would stop to pick up passengers and then move a little, eventually filling up and then spining several times. Here, a little movement was combined with a medium amount of light to fill the circle with light, yet not overpower the rest of the scene. The spokes show too stongly when there is no movement in the wheel and though it looks great to the eye as the complex patterns flash by, a single image simply shows the spokes. If the wheel is too bright, it overpowers the rest of the photo and blows out the highlights.

It was not easy to do this and despite 30 minutes of trying really hard to capture it, this is the only shot I like a lot! It realyl captures the festive atmosphere here.

The map shows exactly where this is.

---------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
---------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Myst - Point Reyes National Seashore, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:14:11 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

A fine mist envelops a quiet lane in Point Reyes, near San Francisco. Sometimes, fog really enhances a scene. No HDR.

Visit me on Google Plus!
profiles.google.com/patricksmith1

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/591649592...

---------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 24-105L @ 58
3.2-second exposure @ F16 (For big DOF with low light)
No filters
No polarizer
ISO 50
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod with Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol grip ball head
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop

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Story:
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Last week, I went out for a sunset shot at the beach here in Marin County, just north of San Francisco. This is the dry season, but there were some rare clouds and (even more rare) rain in the area and as sunset approached, it began to clear up. I was all ready for what I had planned when a bank of fog moved in and that was that. I had to go to my backup plan. (Always have a backup plan since nature does not often cooperate despite how carefully you study her!) I knew about this row of trees on the way to the Point Reyes Lighthouse so I headed over there. I have been waiting for about 3 years for a misty foggy sort of day where I could capture this scene with some extra depth and light that you don't see without fog. So here it is! ... If you try this, walk the entire length of the path looking for the best composition. It took about 15 minutes of fiddling around to settle on this composition. This was halfway down.

Here is some history on this radio installation:
www.qsl.net/w2vtm/rca_history_kph.html

The map shows exactly where this is.

---------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
---------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Tamalpais Glory - Marin County, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:53:31 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Last weekend, I went up on Mt. Tamalpais (10Mi. NW of San Francisco) for the sunset. The fog was too thick towards the ocean so I went to the other side and saw this rather intense scene! No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/584395713...

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Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40 @ 20
3.2-second exposure @ F16 (to show the moving fog, but not too much!)
2 0.9 (3-stop) Lee neutral density soft grad filters
(Lee is having production problems (can't keep up with demand) so Singh Ray makes good ones too.)
No polarizer
ISO 50
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod with Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol grip ball head
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop

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Story:
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At sunset, the coastal fog began to move inland towards the distant horizon. As it did, it wrapped around Mt. Tamalpais creating fantastic swirling shapes. It was moving fast! I used a 3-second exposure to capture the motion of the fog as the last rays of the sun turned the high clouds a brilliant red. The fog looked a bit 'mushy' using a 10-second exposure, but 3-seconds seemed to be just about right.

Usually by June, the flowers have faded for the dry season, but because of a cool spring, they were still there fortunately, so I backed up the hill under a prickly Manzanita bush to get the flowers into the foreground. Sausalito and Mill Valley are in the foreground with the Richmond San Rafael bridge crossing the bay under the fog to the left. San Francisco is behind the fog bank to the right.

The map shows exactly where this is.

---------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
---------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Garrapata Surf #7 - Garrapata State Park, Big Sur, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Sat, 14 May 2011 11:19:44 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

The State of California announced that it is closing 70 of its 278 parks. Read more below. So in memorium of the incredible Garrapata state park (which could easily be one of the best looking national parks in the US), here is one from the archives. No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

Here is a link, do something!
secure3.convio.net/cspf/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&pag...

See the 1400 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/571908111...

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Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @22
1/5-second exposure @F13
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm) 0.9 + 0.75
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
Small Slik tripod with Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol grip ball head
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Bare feet and rolled up blue jeans. You have to get wet for this.

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Story:
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As I read the story about the park closures, I skipped down to see which parks were closing and sure enough, Garrapata is closing. I'm not sure if that means that nobody can walk to this beach. There are no fences, gates or rangers. It is an easy walk down here so I'm not sure how this could be 'closed.' but we will see.

Then I went back into the my archives to look through old photos and I saw this unprocessed photo made on an evening with some superb light. (I have a bunch of stuff I should process but just haven't around to it yet.) I wonder how long it will be before I can see this place again? Maybe any time or maybe years? Not sure. The budget is out of balance and nobody wants to compromise, so it may be a long wait!

Here is the press release about the park closures.

www.parks.ca.gov/pages/712/files/2011ParkClosures_attachm...

I made with Ivan Makarov a while ago.

The map shows exactly where this is. It is an easy hike from the parking lot.

---------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
---------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

I get my cameras, filters, etc. here:

www.bhphotovideo.com/
or
www.adorama.com/

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Faultlines - Mt. Tamalpais, Marin County, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 09:22:53 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

The sun sets over the Pacific Ocean just north of San Francisco, illuminating ridges formed by the San Andreas fault, which slipped 16 feet at the surface in 1906. The japan quake moved the surface by 15-20ft in the tsunami area and 9 inches in Tokyo, with bigger slippage far offshore. This fault slipped right through the city in 1906! No HDR, though this high contrast situation is perfect for HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

I left the saturation slider on zero despite the vivid colors! I was tempted to desaturate but the greens did not look blown out so I left it alone.

See the 1400 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/567293434...

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Details:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D mark II
Canon 24-105L @ 58 with some cropped of the edges
Live preview
1/6-second exposure @F8
ISO 200
1 Lee soft grad filter (4x6 inch, 100x150mm, 0.9, 3-stop)
1 Singh-Ray 3-stop reverse ND grad filter (4x6 inch)
(Lee filters is having trouble with production,
so I also just got a regular 3-stop ND grad and it looks just like the Lee!)
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

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The Story
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Mt. Tamalpais is the ultimate place to watch the sun set over the Pacific. It is over 2,000 feet (700m) almost straight down to the shoreline and there is commonly low fog drifting though. The San Andreas fault (and erosion) have created lots of undulations and photo opps! It runs left to right just in front of the darker (forested) Bolinas Ridge in the distance and has rippled the surface on either side.

In the summer, there is fog that drifts under this location creating surreal scenes of impressive beauty. In about a month (by the end of May) the green grass dries up and turns a golden brown making this place look completely different. It will be brown until December. It can be very dangerous to shoot here in the summer because the dry grass becomes slippery and as you can see in the foreground, the slope is about 45 degrees with nothing to stop you from sliding 1000 feet into a gully or a tree at the bottom.

I will do this exact composition in the summer to shot how different it is.

The contrast was extreme on this evening so I had to be careful to get the grads into the right place to keep it looking natural. The sky turned an unusual color which I would not believe if I had not seen it myself. When shooting, look closely at the sky and then at your viewfinder to see how accurate the photo is to reality. Remember it so that you can accurately process it later.

In this case, the grass in the viewfinder after the shot had a bluish tint to it that I did not see with my eye, so I desaturated the blue channel in the grassy areas to get it back to a natural green color.

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

A great weather mashup map of the world with local temperatures, weather and nice popups. See where it is hot and not!
www.wunderground.com/wundermap/

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/
ad.

Night Shooter - Hole in the Wall Beach, Santa Cruz, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:20:04 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Last Saturday evening a lone photographer at Hole in the Wall Beach, near Santa Cruz, California braved high tide on this ledge of rock waiting for the moonrise as the sun set behind and to the right of the frame. He was also patient enough to stay put for this 2-minute exposure! It is probably someone on flickr. Any ideas? No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

Late update:
MYSTERY SOLVED! This is David Shield.
See his shot here. I hear that he likes moonlight swims in the sea!

www.flickr.com/photos/davidshield/

See the photographer battling the elements in this 1800 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/564441705...

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Details:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D mark II
Canon 24-105L @ 45 with some cropped of the edges
Live preview
2-minute exposure @F11
ISO 100
1 Lee soft grad filter (4x6 inch, 100x150mm, 0.9, 3-stop)
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

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The Story
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So, there I was doing a small group workshop on the top of a cliff. The sunset was red, but I kept watching the moonlight on the ocean as the almost full-moon rose opposite to the sun. As it got darker, the moonlight got relatively brighter. Eventually the light between the moon and the sun became even. These short moments near the full-moon can produce unusual lighting effects. I have another one from near Carmel that I'll show later with huge waves lit by a rising sun while the setting moon lit up the foreground water. You should try this sometime!

Sometimes people get upset when photographers get in 'their shot.' But I say, "okay, hold still now!"

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

A great weather mashup map of the world with local temperatures, weather and nice popups. See where it is hot and not!
www.wunderground.com/wundermap/

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/
ad.

Suspensions - Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 07:50:24 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Finally we had a few clouds come in yesterday morning. A brilliant red sunrise to the right lit up this scene nicely for a 2-minute exposure. No HDR required! Super-easy to process with good light. Feel free to try this composition. I do not own it! Nobody owns a composition.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the rust flakes on the chain in the super-detailed 1500 pixel version!!
(though I must admit that it is softer than the verion I see now in Photoshop on my PC)

www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/562409707...

Here is the same composition under extremely violent conditions. Over 3,600 faves/160,000 views now!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/2969769911

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Details:
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Canon 5D mark II
Canon 17-40L @ 26
(I focused on the front of the chain, then backed off halfway to infinity mark)
(It is all super sharp in the 5600 pixel version, chain is 1m from the lens)
Live preview
2-minute exposure @F16 (I wanted lots of DOF, F22 makes things too soft..diffraction..)
Lee Big Stopper 10-stop super dark glass filter.
(BTW, it dropped out of the filter holder to the
concrete, halfway through one exposure. Not a scratch! Sounded awful though!)
ISO 160
1 Lee soft grad filter (4x6 inch, 100x150mm, 0.9, 3-stop)
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

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The Story
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Yes, I've done this composition before, but not at sunrise on a spectacular morning. The waves were small which meant lots of reflections were coming off the bridge and the red bricks of the 150 year-old Fort Point.

When the waves are small, it is easy to set up this composition, though you have to be meticulous about it. The chain can not touch the rocks/concrete or it loses its impact. Also, you want the top of that rusty post to not go above the horizon. After a bit of fiddling around, this always seems to be the best composition, at least for me. You can't fiddle around much during big surf or you will be sucked into the bay. No kidding! Be careful here.

Then the sky turned red to the right which turned everything red. The rest was done with the 2-minute exposure, which really brings out the chain nicely. I took a short exposure shot beforehand to test the sharpness and the temperature. Then I put on the dark filter and did a series of long exposures. They always turn out blue-ish compared to the short exposure shots. So I use the short exposure shots as a guide when adjusting the temp in post-processing to get it back to looking natural.

There were lots of runners out but they do not show up in this long exposure. Also, extremely large ships always seem to come and go at sunrise/sunset so you have to anticipate that in a long exposure. They take 2-5 minutes to pass through the scene and have wrecked several trips here in the past because they can often pass by just when the light is the best. Uggh!

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

A great weather mashup map of the world with local temperatures, weather and nice popups. See where it is hot and not!
www.wunderground.com/wundermap/

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/
ad.

Bid for Japan Earthquake relief! - Garrapata Surf #1 - Big Sur, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:26:30 -0800

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Auction Closed! Peter Kent is the high bidder at $450! Thanks! Here is his Flickr stream.

www.flickr.com/photos/45072502@N02/!

I have entered this image in to the Flickr group Charity Print Auctions - Japan for Tsunami and earthquake relief. The group is not quite open yet but will be soon, but you can still bid below. All proceeds will go to Japan via the British Red Cross or your favorite local Red Cross for tax writeoffs. Last time, 2 bidders each bid US $400 and I made two canvas prints. So far,
Here is the print auction group page. Hmm.. still not up yet.
www.flickr.com/groups/charityprintauctions/pool/

The framed print that is for auction is 24 in. wide x 16 high in a 33x25 frame with non-breakable plexi 'glass' in front. It is custom framed with high quality rounded wood with two mattes and ready to hang on your wall. Here is a link to the actual framed print hanging on my wall right now that you will recieve. Here is a quick snapshot and does not really do it justice, but you get an idea of the frame.

www.patricksmithphotography.com/temp/Gar1OnWall25x33.jpg

See an 1800 pixel version here for a better idea of the quality.

www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/552045732...

A video showing the magnitude of the damage:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-8Lhgv3nk

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

-------------------
To Bid:
-------------------

You need to make a comment below the image with the amount that you would like to bid in US $. When the auction closes, the person that has bid the most, wins the print. The auction will close this Tuesday at 8pm California time. To see the bidding, just read the comments!

The winning bidder (or runner up if winner can not pay) will pay the amount they promised to the Red Cross.
www.redcross.org.uk/Donate-Now/Make-a-single-donation/Jap...

When you have made your donation, you MUST make a screen grab of the donation confirmation page to send to me for confirmation. This is the only way that I can know that you have paid. Then I can arrange for the print to be sent to you.

It is easy to make a screen print, see here!
take-a-screenshot.org/

I will send this print to anywhere in the world and I'll pay the shipping costs. It may take several weeks if you live in a place far from California. Last time, it took 2 weeks to get a print to Australia! I will put the winner's name and Flickr page (if any) right below:

The winning bidder is: ???

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-- now for the usual description ----
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Large waves were rolling the cobblestones on the shoreline of Garrapata State Park, Big Sur, California. This was taken a few minutes before a similar photo I uploaded to Flickr earlier. This one has the wave striking the sea stacks instead fo the cliff in front. No HDR

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Details:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D with Canon 17-40L @35
1/5 second exposure @F16 with 1 LEE ND grad 0.9
Cokin z-pro filter holder
ISO 50
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head
Keen water shoes

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The Story
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There was a big storm and fortunately it began to clear out right at sunset. The rocks made a lot of noise as they rolled around. It made me feel like the entire beach of rocks would slide right into the ocean, carrying me with it! Be careful on this beach because it is easy to break an ankle and it is not easy to get back up the cliff even with a good ankle though anyone in decent shape can do it with care.

Some rocks are easy to step on and some are slippery but of course, the closer you get for a better shot, the more slippery they become.

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

A great weather mashup map of the world with local temperatures, weather and nice popups. See where it is hot and not!
www.wunderground.com/wundermap/

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/
ad.

Winter Light at La Jolla, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:36:10 -0800

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

A winter storm whipped up the ocean and spread a glowing light onto the sandstone for just a few minutes before the rain hit. I got close to show detail but had to run away with each crashing wave. No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/540583172...

---------------------------------------------------------
Details about this image.:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D mark II
Canon 17-40L lens @30mm
1/4-sec. exposure @F11
ISO 100
ND Grads 0.9 + 0.9
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A winter storm was clearing right at sunset, which is often the best time to photograph the seascape on the California coast. Only for a few hours after a storm do you get these fluffy clouds which light up nicely about 15-30 minutes before sunset. After that, the skies clear up fast leaving you with 'good' weather, which is usually boring for photography.

Storms pass by quickly here. So when the cumulus clouds are thick and fluffy like this in California, they often they disappear at sunset or the light fades into a color-less sunset. You need the light coming down through these sorts of clouds for the best effect. In general, the thicker the clouds, the higher the sun must be for the best light. When the clouds are thin, the best time is right when the sun is at or just below the horizon. As a result, thin clouds can be a brilliant red, while these clouds are more yellow and orange and the light fades before they turn red. Still, always be on the lookout for a surprise!

A note about 'intimate landscapes:'

Some photographers specialize in intimate landscapes. That is when they spot an interesting area within the bigger landscape that could make an artistic photo all by itself. It could be a twisted log with moss on it, or a small part of a stream with a nice rock with water flowing by. I think that a good landscape with a big view like this should include an interesting 'intimate landscape' within it. I always look for intimate landscapes that I can incorporate into my big landscapes. In this case, I am just fascinated be the sandstone formations in La Jolla near San Diego. They come in a variety of shapes and colors. The problem is that they are carved by the violent pacific Ocean, so a close view of the intimate landscape usually comes with a price. A very wet price! But it is worth it as long as you are properly prepared with a plastic bag, or as you may have seen in my last photo, an umbrella!

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

The Photographer - Jared Atencio, Pfeiffer State Beach, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:44:29 -0800

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Nature photography contains risks. One must capture nature before one is captured BY nature! No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1800 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/539179878...

---------------------------------------------------------
Details:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D mark II
Canon 24-105L lens @105mm
1/4-sec. exposure @F14
(I wanted more DOF than F14 but I didn't want to go over ISO 100 (quality) or 1/4-sec. (movement))
ISO 100
No Grad filters.
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Be forewarned that if you recognize me on a beach such as Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, I will think of you as part of nature and work you in somehow! I met Jared hiding behind the forest of about a dozen tripods. While most of them were taking the same shot, Jared was up there taking the blows for the sake of landscape photography. He had an umbrella that he used as a shield and it did a good job but as you can see in the big version, it did not protect his entire body. But the camera is most important, right?

This is what the edge of nature photography is all about. (Well almost.) Pushing the limits. Risking your equipment on slippery rocks while trying to stay out of the shots of the rest of those that had gathered in this place to see this spectacle. Sure, not everyone is in perfect shape to attempt these feats, but it is good to step out of your comfort zone to see what you can discover regardless of age or disability!

Here is one of the photos that Jared captured at the portal. I think it was taken slightly to the left of where he is in this photo, but you get the idea. Have a look!

www.flickr.com/photos/52637422@N08/5387887685/

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

Light Force - Pfeiffer State Beach, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:59:32 -0800

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Ocean waves, mist and light streamed through the portal in the Tafoni sandstone formation on a clear and warm January evening at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. No HDR. (though at this place, it could help when pointing towards the sun in the portal.)

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/538564140...

---------------------------------------------------------
Details:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D mark II
Canon 24-105L lens @105mm
1/10-sec. exposure @F14
ISO 100
No ND Grads (though when you are closer, inverted grads help with the bright water!)
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even though Pfeiffer beach is a winding and vertically oriented 45 minute drive south of Monterey in Central California, there were about 20 photographers out here trying to capture this famous place during the Dec.-Jan. window when the sun streams through the opening at the best angle. So it is difficult to come up with an original view. But I noticed how all the other photographers had their tripods set up in more or less the same place. So I looked around for a different perspective. And after a bit of browsing on Flickr, I have yet to see a shot that intentionally uses a reflection on the glossy sand of low-tide. I'm sure there is something like this somewhere though. There are just too many people shooting this place. So I had to add something extra that may not be original but at least have it be as good as I can capture it.

The light is especially good when it is sunny but with a bit of mist from the huge waves behind the rock wafting through the hole. On this evening, the slight breeze alternated between onshore and offshore. When it would blow offshore, the mist woould get sucked through the hole and the light-beam effect would disappear. Also, big waves help add drama, especially at low tide when the water barely comes through. At high tide, it is like a water canon and those rocks are slippery so watch out!

Every once in a while during this extra low tide sunset, it would almost appear as though the light were striking the water, sending spray away from the impact point. So I waited for that moment. I chose to step back far behind the other photographers, to include some reflected light off the sand at low tide to add that extra element of interest.

I met some nice people on the two evenings I came here. It was clear so this is the best place to go when there is no drama in the sky. On both evenings, I was recognized by different people. It seems like this happens a lot lately, though I am hardly the celebrity type. Still, it is fun to talk photography and everything!

I have more unusual things from here that I'll show later. This is a great place to experiment.

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

Oceanside Surf - Oceanside Pier, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:45:42 -0800

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

A lone surfer waits for a wave as people stroll the pier watching a brilliant sunset at the end of a winter day. No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/536814054...

---------------------------------------------------------
Details about the entire panorama.:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D mark II
Canon 17-40L lens @28mm
1/4-sec. exposure @F11
ISO 100
ND Grads 0.9 + 0.9
No polarizer.
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop cs4
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have a bit of a backlog of photos made during the past two months so here is one from December 30th in Oceanside, California just north of San Diego.

It had been clear all day and by noon, things were looking grim for any sort of a dramatic sunset. I was watching the satellite movies during the day and this very same band of clouds had set in over the ocean but too far out to be very interesting. Most of the time the weather and winds come from the west off of the ocean. But about 3 hours before sunset, the band evaporated and reformed almost overhead. Then I started to worry whether it would stick around for sunset. Of course there is always something to worry about, right?

Fortunately, the cloud bank held up all the way to sunset and I saw this amazing scene just as I had hoped. It extended to the north and south for at least 50 miles in each direction. The cloud was moving quickly but it was evaporating on the backside and forming in the front side, so overall it remained in place for hours. It was still there at 10 at night!

Needless to say, it is really important to study the clouds to know whether it is worth your effort to drive 40 miles as I did to capture this scene. I watched the cloud and realized that it would hold in place despite how it seemed to move so quickly.

Also, I just learned that I will have a photo in the 2012 Nature Conservancy Calendar. That makes three years in a row. Voting is going on to see which one will be the cover photo, but at least I know I'm in there!

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the
state Government. of California website and the new Governor, Jerry Brown's website too. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

2010 World Series Celebration, San Francisco, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 06:20:17 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

So, how did I end up seeing the San Francisco victory in Game 1 of the (US Major League Baseball) World Series when I was really out to get a beach sunset shot? Read on! Single 2.5-sec. exposure, no HDR (The San Francisco Giants won the series 4-1!)

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the super-big 1600 pixel version!!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/512274498...

---------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @19
2.5-second exposure @F10
LEE soft ND grads (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 160
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, actually I did make it to the beach and the sunset was great, but I had to drive 50 miles south of here to avoid the incoming dark storm clouds. The satellite photos let me know that there was a bit of sun to the south.

On the way back home, I got stuck in really bad traffic as I approached downtown San Francisco. It was so bad that I had to turn off my engine and just sit in 12 lanes of traffic. I was listening to the game on the radio and it was almost over. The SF Giants were ahead and I thought about the fireworks that go off after a victory. Then, I had this very shot in mind. So, I eventually worked my way over and exited the 'freeway' and drove through some massive new building construction and amazingly enough, there was a parking space just a block away. Some people were leaving early and I slipped into the open space. And the parking was free!!

I made my way over to McCovey (a famous player) cove. This stadium is built next to the bay in downtown near the 10,500 ft. Bay Bridge. So you have great views even if you do not like baseball! There is even a platform straight ahead where you can watch the game for free! People park their boats, party a lot, and wait for a home run to get knocked out of the park. They have big fishing nets to catch the balls.

So I walked around, knowing that the game was almost over. I found this spot which seemed compositionally to be good. I put on a single ND grad 0.9 (3-stop, 2 grads would make double reflected light effects) and took some shots to get everything right. Finally, I heard the roar of the croud and the fireworks went off and everybody went wild. It was thrilling!

I made several exposures and then got out of there as quickly as possible to avoid the traffic. We won 11-7 in Game of 1 of 7 over the Texas Rangers. People in mid-america think that San Francisco is a crazy town and they are right! I wouldn't have it any other way.

This is a single 2.5-second exposure. No HDR.

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the newly redesigned
The state Gov. of California website. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

Grey Whale Granite #1 - Grey Whale Cove, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:44:29 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

I went to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin festival last weekend. A 1535 (697kg) monster pumpkin won the contest. Then of course since I was near the ocean, I looked around for some seascape action! No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/510525284...

---------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @17.5
(I never go out all the way, too fuzzy on the edges)
0.3-second exposure @F14
LEE soft ND grads (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9 + 0.75
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 100
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fog began to move in as the sun went down and it looked hopeless. However, after looking at the satellite pictures on my little 3g notebook pc, I noticed a hole in the fog forming at Gray Whale Cove Beach. (A great spot for whale watching.) The rest of the coast was socked in by low fog. This beach is about 10 minutes south of Pacifica, California. It is an easy drive but a somewhat less-easy place to approach. It is surrounded by cliffs and the parking lot is across the very busy highway 1 so you have to dodge freeway speed cars coming around curves in either direction. Fortunately if you do not become road-kill, there is a solid set of stairs which provide easy access and a nice workout on the way back up with no danger whatsoever.

The soft golden granite sand is perfect for walking and photographing too. Here is a view down the beach looking south as low fog slides under a brilliant red sunset in the high clouds. This is a super-dangerous beach in the winter stormy season and even on this somewhat calm evening, surges woudl wash over these rocks every few minute with little notice. Ther is something about the underwater topology that makes for lots of chaos. But what beautiful chaos it is!

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the newly redesigned
The state Gov. of California website. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

.
.

Fog at the Golden Gate #1 - San Francisco

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 10:27:41 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

The fog settled on the bridge deck just before sunrise! No HDR. See my Flickr profile profile page (link below) for my blog entry on the events of the morning and how I did this. I have more Hawaii photos but I'll show them later.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/504427056...

---------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
---------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @19
2-minute exposure @F8
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Small Slik Sprint mini II tripod
Manfrotto 322RC2 pistol-grip ball head

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September and October are great months for capturing low fog at the Golden Gate. The inversion is weaker but still there and the fog is often not as deep. So I got up at 2 hours before sunrise, checked the weather and headed out. You need to get here before sunrise to capture the best light. As I left the hillside after sunrise, a bunch of other photographer were setting up their tripods but the light was already harsh and bright because the high clouds were thin. Too bad I was alone to see this!

I have lots more information about this sunrise on my blog including some extra pictures, so stop on by and have a look! See the link above to go to my Flickr profile and then my Blog.

The map shows the exact location.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the newly redesigned
The state Gov. of California website. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

.
.

Convergence - McClures Beach, Marin County California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 10:31:56 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

So a few months ago, I was walking along watching the stormy ocean and clouds when I noticed ... this! No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/469072728...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @17.5
1/5-second exposure @F14
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9 + 0.75
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Bare feet and shorts
(People laugh, but fussing with trying to keep dry is a distraction!)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is another photo from the day before my spring workshop. I was scouting out the location on a very stormy day. It was so dramatic that it was difficult to narrow down the possibilities when there were so many. So I focused on the first thing I noticed. The clouds and receeding surf seemed to converge to the horizon. So I concentrated on getting the best view of it that I could. It almost looked like a vortex out there!

That is about it. It was a great day to be alive.

The map shows exactly where this is. It is an easy 1 mile hike from a small parking lot. There is a 400 ft. elevation drop to McClures beach and then you have to walk to the left and through the crack in the rocks. This side of the beach is dangerous at high tide with high surf, so be careful!

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Other stuff
---------------------------------------------------------------------

My pictures are featured on the front page of the newly redesigned
The state Gov. of California website. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

See my Flickr profile for a link to
my newly designed website.

Go to my Flickr profile to follow me on Twitter, and for small group workshop information and to sign up for my free monthly newsletter. In the newsletter, I will answer questions and talk about theories and techniques. No spam will be sent!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

.
.

Orbs of Mystery #1 - Mendocino County, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 08:11:23 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

(eerie music playing..)
Could these 'coccoons' have been left by extraterrestrials planning the domination of our planet?
Read 'the story' below to discover the truth! No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/466877725...

Also, my pictures are featured on the front page of the newly redesigned
The state Gov. of California website. Have a look! It is Flash with my pics cut into layers for a 3-d slideshow. If you are into building apps, the State has opened up lots of data to the public, so check it out!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @19
5-second exposure @F14
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9
+ Singh-ray reverse soft edge grad 0.9
(I'm not sure about the singh-ray filter. I had to desaturate the blue channel in the sky
to make it look natural. The sky looked too blue in the camera compared to my eye.
Also, the edge of the grad is too hard, despite it being called a soft grad.)
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, well actually these 2-3 ft tall (1m) rounded rocks were embedded in sandstone layers. Then, as the soft layers eroded, the harder sections separated and were eroded by the sea into these round shapes. Some were round even while embedded in the sandstone layer, so they must have been formed and then were locked up in the layers and released in place in more recent times. So they have been eroded twice at least! I could not find out how they originally became round.

Here is a good explanation showing some of these rocks still embedded in the sandstone layers. There is even a video in there.

www.gem-n-i.org/news/oct08.php

This is a -1.0 ft low tide, and I used the reflective water as best I could. A medium tide (+2/+3 ft (1m) is best here for showing the water moving through the many dozens of round rocks. It is called 'Bowling Ball Beach' but these are far too big to be rolled around by hand. Actually the smallest round rock is the size of a bowling ball. See the notes above.

There was a perfect medium tide at sunset on the three nights I was here, but not a cloud was in the sky. So I came out at sunrise when there were a few clouds. They were gone an hour later, so I lucked out!

These are similar to the Moeraki Builders of New Zealand, but there are more of them here and they are more densly packed. And they look just as good!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moeraki_Boulders

The map shows exactly where this is. It is an easy 1/2 mile hike from a small turnout just north of Schooner Gulch. Once you get to the cliff, there is a path with wood boards tied together with steel cable. The hill has eroded under the last part of the 'stairs', so you have to climb down, almost like on a very shaky ladder!

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Other stuff
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See my Flickr profile for a link to

my newly designed website.

My landscape photography e-book is up to 310 pages and is ready for a final edit. then I'll write my newsletter again. (The book is about how to learn landscape photography from the old masters of painting.) It is in pdf format, but the conversion to ePub (iPad) is looking good too.

Go to my Flickr profile for small group workshop information and to sign up for my free monthly newsletter. In the newsletter, I will answer questions and talk about theories and techniques. No spam will be sent!

Follow me on Twitter!

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Resources:
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Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

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The Sea's Embrace - McClures Beach, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 21 May 2010 08:21:20 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

What could be better than a beautifully lit evening at the beach, enjoying the pounding surf as it tries to destroy ... erm... .. I mean embrace everything in its path including you and your camera? Sometimes it is best to turn down a nice hug! No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/462708868...

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Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @17
1/10-second exposure @F13
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm) 0.9 + 0.75 (5 1/2 stops total)
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
Small Slik tripod with Manfrotto pistol grip ball head
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Keen water shoes

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The Story
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McClures beach (30mi NW of San Francisco) makes me nervous when there is moderate to big surf. (This is moderate!) The waves come in big with no resistance. There are many rougue waves, which make for lots of dramatic moments as long as you stay alert enough to aviod being obliterated! Every minute or so, a large wave strikes this rock, so I waited for light to strike the cliffs and moved into this spot. After about 20 shoot-and-run attempts, I finally got this. Sometimes the waves were too big, but this one was just right. When they are really big, they just fill up the frame looking like a big blob.

I'll repeat this warning... Always have an escape plan formulated in your mind in advance of heading in close to the action. When a big one hits, you have no time to think, but you do have time to execute your planned exit strategy!

This was taken during a winter workshop with Dave Fitsimmons. Thanks to everyone who attended. See other photos in my new group.

www.flickr.com/groups/patricksmithworkshops/

The map shows exactly where this is. It is moderately easy 1/2 mile downhill hike from the parking lot. But you have to hike back up!

See my Flickr profile for a link to my website.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

Pinnacle Rock #4 - Point Lobos, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Fri, 14 May 2010 07:01:00 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

Here is a less-stormy view of the rock at Point Lobos, California made about 20 minutes after #3. No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/460662340...

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Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @20
1/4-second exposure @F16
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9 + 0.75 (5 1/2 stops total)
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 200
Joby Gorillapod (flexible tripod so I could lay down and not fall off the cliff!)
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop

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The Story
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After shooting for about 30 minutes, the sun began to set so I got back here as the clouds began to evaporate. Fortunately they hung around long enough to add a warm glow to the sky. So I bumped up the ISO to 200 to keep the 1/4-sec exposure and angled the dark part of the filters over the brightest part of the sky. I took about 25 photos in total on this evening including 5 around this time. The trick to getting this water color is to wait until the water calms down, which makes it a deep grenish-blue because the bubbles have risen to the top and evaporated. Then shoot just when the first nice wave curls around the rock. If you do not wait, the water will be churned up and too bright to photograph!

(Here is the rest of the description from #3.)

Point Lobos, at the north end of Big Sur just south of Carmel, California (100 miles - 160km south of San Francisco) could keep a photographer busy for months or even years. It is a peninsula that has been sculptured by large Pacific waves over millions of years and the results are stunning. This is one of the western-most points of rock and is probably 50 feet tall at high tide. Sometimes waves wash over the entire rock and they did during a big set just after this photo was made. This is a wider view with more light striking the cliff face and sea than my previous attempt which is in the 2010 Nature Conservancy calendar for November.

www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/275016883...

The biggest hazard is getting low enough to have the tops of the rock rise above the horizon. Then you must literally hang off the cliff to get an open view around the right foreground rock. So the Gorillapod allowed me to lay on the rock and not fall in! Also, I had to wait for a seagull to land on the top of each rock, though I made some with no seagull just in case. In a big print, the seagull really helps.

The map shows exactly where this is. It is an easy <1 mile hike from a small parking lot.

See my Flickr profile for a link to my newly designed website.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

.
.

Shark Fin Surf #1 - Santa Cruz County, California

nobody@flickr.com (PatrickSmithPhotography) — Sat, 08 May 2010 07:59:54 -0700

PatrickSmithPhotography posted a photo:

A few weeks ago, an unusual storm visited California on what should be the dry season. So on a last minute decision, I headed to the most difficult spot to photograph I could find with a high tide. Shark Fin Cove! Shark Fin Surf #2 was made about 20 about to the left of this. No HDR.

Free wallpaper for over 100 of my images in 6 different screen sizes is now available!

See the 1200 pixel version!
www.flickr.com/photos/patrick-smith-photography/458869533...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Settings etc.:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @17
0.3-second exposure @F13
LEE soft ND grad 0.9 (100x150mm - 4x6in)
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 50
Small Slik tripod
Manfrotto pistol grip ball head
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
Bare feet and shorts for the inevitable drenching, which did happen!

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The Story
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This was the first version I did from down here. #2 was done near the sea arch while this was closer to the escape route. The following is the same description as for #1.

Shark Fin Cove, as it is known to the locals is near Bonny Doon Beach in Davenport just a few miles north of Santa Cruz California. It is a 1.5 hour drive from my house so I don't get here often. But it is so outstanding that despite the fact that I've been here several times with nothing to show for it, I keep coming back. There are tall cliffs on both sides and the waves get focused into the cove and around the fin in the middle. So it seems like avery 5th wave is a rogue wave! The cliffs also focus the thunder from the waves, which heightens the nervous feeling of doom.

Of course, the best vantage point is out on this sandstone ledge created by the shelter of the fin. But the waves pound both sides and cut you off from an escape during a high tide because there is a vertical cliff 3 feet behind the tripod as it is sitting here. It is hard to describe this place, but basically to the left a few feet from the camera is a sea arch (almost a cave open on both sides.) The water goes in as you see here and then it circles behind you and exits back to sea on the right side.

So, when you get onto this ledge you are committing yourself with no way out. Not a problem during a low tide, but if you want to get close to the action during high tide you have to find a good spot on the cliff behind you to brace yourself and hold up the camera on the end of the tripod. So plan that out first. The rocks are slippery so watch out.

Also, you need lots of clouds because the sun sets on the right side of the frame, rendering the fin and cliffs as dark silhouettes. So even lighting is important. Or, go at sunrise.

The map shows exactly where this is. It is a moderate hike down a somewhat steep 100 vertical ft. trail. Watch out for tons of poison Oak!

See my Flickr profile for a link to my newly designed website.
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources:
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Earth
earth.google.com/

Simply the best way to scout out locations that there is. You can see sun angles and pre-visualize light under lots of different conditions. Sometimes you can actually pre-compose your shots! This has saved me many thousands of vertical feet of climbing by avoiding spots with blocked views etc.

Satellite imagery (choose 'National' for a local US region or use your fave website)
www.wrh.noaa.gov/satellite/?wfo=mtr

Tide charting and preditions: (chose your area in US, other countries have similar websites)
tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/tide_predictions.shtml?gid=235

Wave Heights (I choose 'North Pacific from Global')
polar.ncep.noaa.gov/waves/main_int.html
Or Here:
www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/shtml/RP1bw.gif

Photos of every inch of the California coastline from a small plane. Excellent for close in detailed views.

www.californiacoastline.org/

.
.