CaliforniaNaturescapes Photo Keywords: large print

"Badlands of Pescadero"
Location: Pescadero State Beach, California. [GPS/Map]
This image has been many years in the making. Believe it or not, I have been to this particular spot a countless times but never witnessed a sunset like this one.
The eroding patterns on the coastline are unique here. The ground below feels just like compacted sand to me and every rainstorm take a little bit away slowly creating these watershed pattern.
The erosion here can be quite fast and the landscape looks different to me every year I visit. So visit soon if you can... it's incredible as is to watch the sunset on Pacific coast but it can be even more amazing to watch it from the coastline of Pescadero state beach.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L @ 25mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 0.6sec at f/13 and ISO 50
Filters: LEE 0.9 (3-stop) ND Grad + SinghRay 3-stop Reverse ND Grad
Processng: All processing wass done in Lightroom 4. The sky gets bit more warm color temperature. The foreground gets bit more exposure... that's pretty much it other than dust removal, sharpening and noise reduction. Enjoy!
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From California: Pescadero State Beach
"Bridalveil Falls in Spring"
Location: Valley View Visa Point, Yosemite National Park, California.
I guess it is great to be in Yosemite at any time of the year and I believe I have been here in each season at least once. But when I witness great lighting conditions in the valley the visit is just that much more memorable. Here is the view of the famous bridalveil falls when dense storm clouds were rolling in with pockets of opening in them. Through these openings late afternoon light momenterily illuminated the falls and created very appealing contasts in the scene.
Characteristic of the spring season the waterfall was near it's peak and there is still some snow on the higher elevations. The meadow is just beginning to thaw and will turn lush green in few weeks. However, the storm clouds will be all but gone by that time.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L @ 31mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1.3sec at f/14 and ISO 50
Filters: Hoya 8 stop solid ND filter to allow long exposure. LEE .6 (2-stop) soft edge graduated ND filter.

Yosemite is the arguably the most beautiful national park. It's grandeur and the time scale it took to evolve is very humbling. I learnt that the granite peaks started out as molten magma deep below the earth's surface about 100 million years ago. Merced river then carved it into a "V" shaped valley and finally glaciers shaped it into its present day "U" shape. The beauty of the valley has inspired many. It's lush forests, tall granite peaks, amazing monoliths and beautiful waterfalls are so pristine that a visit to the park often overwhelms the senses. A visit here at least once in lifetime is a must.
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From California: Yosemite National Park
"Pigeon Point Lighthouse"
Location: San Mateo Country, Highway 1, California.
This lighthouse is an awesome place to photograph, especially during sunset. This is the image from the north side of the lighthouse. The sunset colors of the background clouds were looking great so I did a long exposure image to create a minimalist effect and further emphasize the lighthouse.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L @ 70mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 30sec at f/16 and ISO 50
Filters: LEE ND Grads 0.9 and 0.6
Post Processing: Adobe Lightroom, for saturation, white balance, levels and curves to bring out details in both shadow and highlight areas.
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From California: Pigeon Point
"The Tree That Giveth Life"
Location: Joseph D Grant State Park, California.
When I saw this oak tree on the rolling hills of California I was struck by warmth and purity of light bathing the canopy of new leaves. The air was chill but fresh. The moisture in the air after rainstorm was very refreshing. The lush green color of the grass and the new sprouting leaves was very pleasing to look at. I sat here thinking this is how elements would have come together to create and nurture life. It was certainly a very Feng-Shui moment for me.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS @ 70mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/60sec at f/14 and ISO 640
Filters: No filters
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From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"Sunset and California's Oak Tree"
Location: Joseph D Grant State Park, California.
What a day today! Monday always starts off busy and you never seem to have enough time. It has been raining on and off all day today but it was a perfect weather for landscape shots. I almost thought of taking a day off today but that did not materialize. Anyway, the best I could hope for was to run to the hills after work and catch those fleeting moments at sunset. It was indeed an awesome sunset and I was just happy to be here and witness all the drma in the sky.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS @ 70mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/15sec at f/13 and ISO 200
Filters: No filters (Though I think I should have used ND filter but light was changing so fast and I was pressed for time that I just managed to setup a tripod and catch this)
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From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"Valley View"
Location: South Bay Hills, California.

View of the valley from the hills that surround it is always enjoyable. After I got off work one day in spring I headed to Mt. Hamilton road and saw this incredible view when the city lights were turning on and sun had just set. Moreover, spring time green on the hills is my favorite and passing storm clouds added that extra bonus to the view.

Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L @ 38mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 135sec at f/14 and ISO 50
Filters: LEE ND Grads 0.6 and 0.9 soft edge stacked together
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From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"California Oak"
Location: Joseph D Grant State Park, California.

There is something very captivating about the branching of an oak tree. During spring when the hills are green here in California and the oak tree has not yet sproutted new leaves, it is a great time to photograph it. On this particular day the air was crisp and late evening light was illuminating the tree against interesting backdrop of passing clouds.

Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L @ 35mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/6sec at f/14 and ISO 50
Filters: B+W Circular Polarizer
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From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"Great Cheese Comes from Happy Cows,
Happy Cows Come from California"
Location: Calaveras Hills, Milpitas, California.

Remember the ad, "Great cheese comes from happy cows, happy cows come from California". One foggy morning of spring at sunrise I came here to visit these happy cows. The visit went okay except for some weird calls and hand waiving I had to do to make these guys move into the frame. It was fun.

Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L @ 70mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/30sec at f/13 and ISO 800
Filters: LEE ND Grad 0.9 soft edge
5D Mk II LEE filters ND Grad Filters SinghRay filters bay area photography bay area seascapes calaveras hills california clouds fine art nature photography high resolution large print long exposure milpitas oak trees rolling hills storm sunset horizontalformat
From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"California Oak"
Location: South Bay Hills, San Jose, California.

I have been on the look out for these lone oak trees for a long time. It is such a quintenssential California landscape that I had to capture. Surprisingly, I found this oak tree very close to where I live and since then I have been visiting here to capture it under best light.

Spring is a unique and transient time for this landscape. The hills are lush green after winter rains but are about to turn golden in few weeks. Oak tree will sprout new leaves and will look entirely different. And the dramatic sunsets will be long gone. In that sense I really liked this image and was happy to have captured it.

Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS @ 70mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D MK II
Exposure: 3.2sec at f/20 and ISO 200
Filters: LEE ND Grads 0.6, 0.9 soft edge and Singh Ray 3 stop reverse ND Grad stacked together
5D Mk II LEE filters ND Grad Filters SinghRay filters bay area photography bay area seascapes calaveras hills california clouds fine art nature photography high resolution large print long exposure milpitas oak trees rolling hills storm sunset horizontalformat
From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"California Oak"
Location: South Bay Hills, San Jose, California.

When I think of Bay Area landscape I think of rolling hills that are ocassionally dotted with lone oak trees. I have been on the lookout for such views but so far found none that were in the form I could capture in a frame. So I was very happy today to finally find a lone oak tree and that too close to where I live.

Spring is just around the corner which means this landscape will look drastically different in a matter of few weeks. The oak will get new canopy of leaves, the grass will turn golden yellow and storm clouds will be all but gone. I will be back to capture it again but like the oak tree in this look better. There is something about the way it branches that stands out in contrast against the simplicity of the rolling hill.

In the distant sunset is taking place with shades of warm colors in the sky.

Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS @ 89mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D MK II
Exposure: 1/4sec at f/5.6 and ISO 400
Filters: No Filters
5D Mk II LEE filters ND Grad Filters SinghRay filters bay area photography bay area seascapes calaveras hills california clouds fine art nature photography high resolution large print long exposure milpitas oak trees rolling hills storm sunset 6740 rolling hills oak tree horizontalformat
From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"Sunset and the Raingods"
Location: Calaveras Hills, Milpitas, California.
Storms in California have a very transient nature. The sky can be very dark at one moment and a clear blue the next; but somewhere in between are these magical fleeting moments that are fun to capture.
Fortunately I happened to catch one such moment today evening. As I got off from work I saw some great light over the Calaveras hills which are just a few minutes away from where I live. The sunlight was reaching the storm clouds at a low angle and illuminating just the low lying layers of the clouds giving this fiery effect.
This show of light and dark was truly transient. A minute later the sunset glow was gone and it was all but a dull gray sky.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS @ 93mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 4sec at f/10 and ISO 50
Filters: B+W Circular Polarizer, LEE ND Grads 0.6 and 0.75 soft edge stacked together
Single exposure with no HDR treatment
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From California: Bay Area Landscapes
"San Francisco Skyline"
Location: Treasure Island, California.

Treasure Island offers one of the best skyline views of San Francisco. On the left is the west span of the Bay Bridge. On the far right is the Coit tower.

I have always wanted to capture this view. So today while the sky was still dark with winter storm activities I made this image.

Tech Info:
Lens: Canon 70-200mm f/4L IS @97mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 30sec at f/10 and ISO 50
Filters: No filters
A panoramic stitch from 5 images
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From California: San Francisco
"Pacific Sunset"
Location: Graywhale Cove, San Mateo County, California.

A long exposure with minimalist composition was definitely the way to go for this image. The sunset light that was reflecting off the water was very subtle and using long exposure the water was rendered smooth and quiet adding to the mood of the image.

Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon 17-40mm f/4L @17mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 15sec at f/16 and ISO 50
Filters: SinghRay 3 Stop ND grad hard edge to balance exposure of the sky and the foreground

An image shot directly facing the direction of the sun can often result in excessive contrast or dark areas. Using graduated neutral density filters I could "even-out" the exposures in the sky and land but that was not enough. By selectively working on the shadow areas in post processing I could obtain this image that resembled what I saw.
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From California: Half Moon Bay
"Sunset Glow",
Location: Montara Beach, California.
Montara beach just north of Half Moon Bay is quite featureless but an interesting place to wind down at the end of the day. As the sun was setting over pacific the beauty of this place was even more appealing.
Tech Info Tip:
Lens: Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 @18mm
Camera: Canon 30D
Exposure: 2.5sec at f/16 and ISO 100
Filters: SinghRay 2 stop ND grad hard edge
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From California: Half Moon Bay
"Pelicans"
Location: Pescadero State Beach, San Mateo County, California.
Pelicans are such beautiful and graceful birds. I watched them as they glided past me and gave me this image.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS @ 200mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/1000 sec at f/8 and ISO 200
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From California: Pescadero State Beach
"Rocks of Pescadero"
Location: Pescadero State Beach, California.
What I love about coastal photography is that every beach has something unique about it. On Pescadero the highlight ought to be these rocks that constantly get pulled in by the waves and pushed back ashore with every tide cycle.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L @24mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 10sec at f/9 and ISO 50
Filters: SinghRay 2 stop and 3 stop ND grad stacked together
The dramatic perspective of the rocks was created using the wide angle lens positioned close to the ground and directly behind the largest rocks. Use of wide angles is interesting and often tricky due to perspective distortion but can help to create dramatic landscapes.
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From California: Pescadero State Beach
"Pescadero Sunset"
Location: Pescadero State Beach, Pescadero, San Mateo County, California.

The sunbeams peeking out of breaking storm clouds are always fun to photograph. Especially during a fast moving storm you can actually see the beams scanning the horizon... a truly awesome sight to see during winter months in California.

Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L at 50mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/3sec at f/9 and ISO 50
Filters: SinghRay ND Grads 3 stops hard edge

The clouds that are not too dense and not too sparse make the best lighting in my limited experience shooting thse incredible sunbeams.g
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From California: Pescadero State Beach
"Rock Pattern Abstract"
Location: Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur, California.

I have never seen anything like this before. The erosion pattern of the rock is absolutely amazing. From a distance the entire rock face appears to be decorated.

Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS @ 116mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/8 sec at f/14 and ISO 50
Filters: No filters
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From California: Big Sur
"Gateway to Pacific"
Location: Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Big Sur, California.
Google Maps Link
The naturally formed passage in the rock opens to the Pacific ocean on the other side. The interesting hues in the rock come from different minerals that possibly came together in ancient volcanic activity. At sunset the passage has a golden glow from the sun that is setting over the Pacific ocean. Occasionally, waves pass through and create splash with the rocks on the beach.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L @ 45mm
Camera: Canon 30D
Exposure: 1/4sec at f/9.0 and ISO 500
Filters: SinghRay 2 Stop Hard Edge Graduated ND filter
The sand is constantly shifting based on tides and it is difficult to predict if the rocks in the foreground will be exposed or buried in the sand. In addition, the low light conditions at sunset create best lighting conditions to bring out all the natural hues in the rock face.
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From California: Big Sur
"Fog View" Location: Mt Tamalpais, Mill Valley, California. It is such an experience to drive through the the valley below the fog and then break out of it and see the same fog from above. It is nothing short of feeling like being two places at the same time. I highly recommend a visit to Mt. Tamalpais during summer months. Tech Info: Lens: Canon 17-40mm f/4L @40mm Camera: Canon 5D Mk II Exposure: 10sec at f/13 and ISO 50 Filters: SinghRay 2 stop hard edge ND grad A long exposure works very well to not just show fog movement but also to make the image possible during low light conditions after sunset.

San Francisco is a busy metropolitan area but just a few miles to the north exists a place so quiet and unique that it is such a perfect escape from the chaos of the city life. Mt. Tam, as it is locally know, is a perfect vantage point to watch the summer fog rolling into the bay or just enjoy the hike on its undulating hills and redwood forests.
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From California: Mt. Tamalpais SP
"Lichen Rock" Location: Mt. Tamalpais, Mill Valley, California. One of the most spectacular displays of nature in the San Francisco bay area is the fog rolling into the bay, and viewing it from the top of Mt. Tamalpais is like going to another world above the clouds. Also seen in the image are lichen covered rock and the golden grass that are so characteristic of the California landscape. Tech Info and Tip: Lens: Canon 17-40mm f/4L @29mm Camera: Canon 5D Mk II Exposure: 2sec at f/11 and ISO 50 Filters: SinghRay 2 stop hard edge ND grad I learnt recently that lichens were one of the first species to evolve on the planet giving rise to more complex plants. This place gives a sense of perspective where these lichens can be seen together with the giant redwoods at the foothills.

San Francisco is a busy metropolitan area but just a few miles to the north exists a place so quiet and unique that it is such a perfect escape from the chaos of the city life. Mt. Tam, as it is locally know, is a perfect vantage point to watch the summer fog rolling into the bay or just enjoy the hike on its undulating hills and redwood forests.
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From California: Mt. Tamalpais SP
"California's Gold" Location: Mt Tamalpais, Mill Valley, California. Golden grass on undulating hills is a characteristic California landscape. Up here it is dry but at lower elevation fog is abundant and brings in enough moisture so giant redwoods can grow. There has been extensive logging in this area which took away acres of redwood forests but many still survive such as Muir woods seen in this image. Tech Info and Tip: Lens: Canon 17-40mm f/4L @26mm Camera: Canon 5D Mk II Exposure: 0.2sec at f11 and ISO 50 Filters: SinghRay 2 stop hard edge ND grad Hiking on these trails can take you all the way from top of Mt. Tamalpais to the ocean floor at Stinson Beach. I highly recommend this hike for spectacular views and good exercise coming back up. Remember going down is optional but coming back is compulsory.

San Francisco is a busy metropolitan area but just a few miles to the north exists a place so quiet and unique that it is such a perfect escape from the chaos of the city life. Mt. Tam, as it is locally know, is a perfect vantage point to watch the summer fog rolling into the bay or just enjoy the hike on its undulating hills and redwood forests.
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From California: Mt. Tamalpais SP
"Heaven's Trail" Location: Mt Tamalpais, Mill Valley, California. Among the places that can make you feel being on the edge of the earth, Mt. Tamalpais certainly ranks high in its ability to do so. A visit to this area during summer months is guaranteed to give you a view that is out of this world. The undulating hills rise above the fog which rolls into the San Francisco bay from the Pacific ocean. And what could be a better way to explore such landscape than to hike on the trail carefully managing steep slopes on all sides. I saw fog here several times but I never saw the moonrise. This day was truly special. Tech Info and Tip: Lens: Canon 70-200mm f/4L @70mm Camera: Canon 5D Mk II Exposure: 25sec at f/9 and ISO 1600 Filters: singhRay 3 stop ND grad hard edge ISO 1600 is very unusual for me. I usually shoot at ISO 50 or ISO 100, however, in this case the scene was near dark and without high ISO sensitivity it would be impossible to get correct exposure.

San Francisco is a busy metropolitan area but just a few miles to the north exists a place so quiet and unique that it is such a perfect escape from the chaos of the city life. Mt. Tam, as it is locally know, is a perfect vantage point to watch the summer fog rolling into the bay or just enjoy the hike on its undulating hills and redwood forests.
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From California: Mt. Tamalpais SP
"Mt Tamalpais Sunset"
Location: Mt. Tamalpais, San Francisco, California.
There is nothing better than being on a quiet hillside watching sunset. Fortunately, not far from where I stay, Mt. Tamalpais in San Francisco offers such a vantage point. So when the lighting conditions were just right I decided to capture this view forever.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon 17-40mm f/4L @40mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 6/10sec at f/13 and ISO 200
Filters: SinghRay 2 stop hard edge and 3 stop hard edge ND filters stacked together
The grass is green for a very short time of the year. But golden grass on the hills look equally good. I am hoping to return to this spot again next year and try some of those shots.

San Francisco is a busy metropolitan area but just a few miles to the north exists a place so quiet and unique that it is such a perfect escape from the chaos of the city life. Mt. Tam, as it is locally know, is a perfect vantage point to watch the summer fog rolling into the bay or just enjoy the hike on its undulating hills and redwood forests.
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From California: Mt. Tamalpais SP
"Doomsday Forecast" Location: Garrapata State Park, Monterey-Carmel Area, California. It is sometimes fun to venture out on a stormy day. As the clouds were just getting ready for the downpour I decided to make this final shot before heading back to shelter. Tech Info and Tip: Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L @28mm Camera: Canon 5D Mk II Exposure: 0.6sec at f/11 and ISO 50 Filters: SinghRay 3 Stop ND grad hard edge

Garrapata state park is one of the most photographed locations on the California coast. People are drawn to this spot due to the rugged coastline and its famous sea stacks. Just south of Monterey, California it is one of the best places to see waves crashing against the rugged coastline.
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From California: Garrapata State Park
California Coastline
Location: Garrapata State Park, Monterey-Carmel Area, California, Map
The rugged California coastline around Big Sur area is one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. I have been fortunate enough to see and photograph it several times. My favorite time of the year to visit the coastline is during winter months when you can see interesting cloud formations and vibrant hues of sunset colors. This is a long exposure image which renders the water smooth and helps to bring out the beauty of the place further.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L @32mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 30sec at f/11 and ISO 50
Filters: SinghRay 2 Stop ND grad hard edge
The vibrant colors in the image are the result of sunset glow and long exposure time. It is often possible to obtain rich vibrant colors in an image if it is captured during twilight conditions when the light is warm and the shadows are not harsh. I emphasized the mood further by using long exposure that "averaged" the ripples in the water and created a surreal minimalist look.

Garrapata state park is one of the most photographed locations on the California coast. People are drawn to this spot due to the rugged coastline and its famous sea stacks. Just south of Monterey, California it is one of the best places to see waves crashing against the rugged coastline.
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From California: Garrapata State Park
"Forces of Nature" Location: Garrapata State Park, Monterey-Carmel Area, California. The relentless forces have been at work since the dawn of time. Each crashing wave carves the shoreline in a seemingly intangible yet powerful way. Though it looks as if the rock is winning the battle the ocean will eventually erode it and the march will continue. Tech Info and Tip: Lens: Canon 70-200 f/4L @100mm Camera: 5D Mk II Exposure: 1/5sec at f/20 and ISO 50 Filters: SinghRay 2 stop ND grad hard edge This water splash needed precise triggering of the shutter button. I typically have mirror lock enabled, however, for such cases continuously looking through the viewfinder was a better option for precise triggering.

Garrapata state park is one of the most photographed locations on the California coast. People are drawn to this spot due to the rugged coastline and its famous sea stacks. Just south of Monterey, California it is one of the best places to see waves crashing against the rugged coastline.
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From California: Garrapata State Park
Crashing Waves
Location: Garrapata State Park, Monterey, California, Map
The relentless forces of nature beat down on these two very famous and often photographed sea stacks of the Garrapata coastline. The stacks were once part of the coastline that once existed several miles into the ocean but has been gradually claimed by the sea. The best way to witness these natural forces in action is to see it in person and hear the thundering roar of crashing waves first hand.
These two sea stacks make for a very good composition. It is not unusual to find a photographer or two at this spot anytime you visit. I made this image at sunrise on a February morning when the sun directly lit the stacks against background fog. I have been to this spot several times since then but always felt that I would never be able to able to replicate this image... sometimes you only get one chance to make an image and I was glad to have clicked at the right time.

Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L @70mm
Camera: Canon 30D
Exposure: 1sec at f/8.0 and ISO 100
Filters: Solid Hoya ND filter with 8 stops of light reduction to allow 1sec long exposure.

This image is the result of so-called continuous shooting. I realized that it was terribly difficult to press the shutter button right at the moment when a wave would hit the stacks. Fortunately today's SLR's have continuous shooting mode where a burst of images can be shot allowing for one of them to have all the right elements in place.

Garrapata state park is one of the most photographed locations on the California coast. People are drawn to this spot due to the rugged coastline and its famous sea stacks. Just south of Monterey, California it is one of the best places to see waves crashing against the rugged coastline.
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From California: Garrapata State Park
Golden Stacks
Location: Garrapata State Park, Monterey-Carmel Area, California, Map
These sea stacks at Garrapata coast are very famous for their beauty. Every time I have visited this place over last three years I have seen photographers on the beach trying to shoot these stacks from different vantage points. Most often the hardest part is the get a good light on the stacks since sun sets behind them for most part of the year. However, late December light is unique. Just before sunset the last rays of the light make these stacks glow in a beautiful golden color. Using long exposure of the camera the waves were rendered smooth and the effect further enhanced the beauty of the stacks.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon EF 70-200 f/4L IS @ 78mm
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mk II
Exposure: 47 sec at f/20 and ISO 50
Filters: LEE 0.9 soft edge ND grad, circular polarizer and Hoya 8 stop solid ND filter

Garrapata state park is one of the most photographed locations on the California coast. People are drawn to this spot due to the rugged coastline and its famous sea stacks. Just south of Monterey, California it is one of the best places to see waves crashing against the rugged coastline.
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From California: Garrapata State Park
"Ocean's Fury"
Location: Garrapata State Park, Monterey-Carmel Area, California.
When I shot this image California was being battered with one crazy storm after another. It was sort of a freak storm with unusually high swells in the ocean and high surf warning along the coast for those few days. So on this particular morning while I was at Garrapata I got to witness the intensity of this storm up close and personal. I had never seen waves so crazy. Though I was using a long lens these waves were scary enough and made me run to higher ground a couple of times. It was fun.
Tech Info and Tip:
Lens: Canon 70-200 f/4L IS @ 85mm
Camera: 5D Mk II
Exposure: 1/4sec at f/25 and ISO 50
Filters: LEE 0.9 soft ND Grad

Garrapata state park is one of the most photographed locations on the California coast. People are drawn to this spot due to the rugged coastline and its famous sea stacks. Just south of Monterey, California it is one of the best places to see waves crashing against the rugged coastline.
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From California: Garrapata State Park
"Pigeon Point Lighthouse"
Location: Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Half-Moon Bay Area, California.
The lighthouse was built in 1871 and stands at one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. On a cloudy I like to experiment using long exposures which not only allow me to smooth the water but also capture the wind driven motion of the clouds.
Tech Info:
Lens: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L @33mm
Camera: Canon 5D Mk II
Exposure: 55sec at f/11 and ISO 160
Filters: SinghRay 3 Stop ND grad rotated during exposure
The water here can come out overexposed. By rotating ND filters this can be minimized. Another technique is to simply block the light using an opaque object.
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From California: Pigeon Point

California Naturescapes

Fine Art Nature Photography by Saurabh Deoras