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For five minutes a year the Fresnel lens at the Pigeon Point lighthouse is lit. I have been waiting for this event for nearly 10 months now and I almost missed getting this image. I showed up at the lighthouse a good 6+ hours before the show so no I wasn't late. The day was clear and shattering 100+year old records for high temps around the state. little did we all know that this clear weather was going to play havoc on our carefully planned exposure settings. In past years there was a slight to medium fog lingering around the lighthouse but this year it was clear. I had a feeling that the fog would help define the beams kind of like dust passing through the light beam of a flashlight. As much as I like being right this was the worst time for that to happen.

So for five minutes the beams stood still while we all frantically ran through as many exposure settings as we could to try and get some sort of light. I was able to get one or two images with just enough light to see the beams but it just wasn't going to have the look I wanted. Finally the beams started to move and the lighthouse grounds started to clear of the hundreds of photographers that had lined the fences and walk ways of the park. I was a bit frustrated that my shots didn't work the way I wanted when I remembered that I packed my 50mm 1.4. The 50mm was not nearly as wide as I wanted but the giant aperture combined with a super high ISO would give me the speed to capture the slow moving beams with enough light to show the detail.

Its a little noisy and soft but at least I managed to get something usable.

It was nice to meet all of the people out there today as well as getting to talk to some of the few that I have met before. Thanks for your company...

ShutterBugStroll, KFrench Photography, and 158 other people added this photo to their favorites.

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  1. Darvin Atkeson 56 months ago | reply

    Wish I had know you were there. From the angle of this angle it doesn't look like we were too far apart. My best shots came at the very end when they once again stopped the lens. I was shooting frantically and wishing I had turned off the noise reduction due to the time it was taking. In the end, I got three shots.

    Wish I had thought to get a good prime lens for the speed. You really captured the stars in the background nicely.

    Darv

  2. PatrickSmithPhotography 56 months ago | reply

    Aaargh... I missed it! Hopefully next year I will think ahead. I can see why fog would help, still a good one though.

    Patrick

  3. Nicklen 56 months ago | reply

    this is a great capture.. i'd love to take tips from you :D

  4. Conceptual-eyes [deleted] 56 months ago | reply

    not only is this image spectacular... but the story behind how you achieved the shot makes it all the more impressive.... and at first glance it looks like a computer generated image.... just overall an "awesome" image... ;)
    and for all your efforts you certainly deserved the shot.....!

  5. EmilioMejias 56 months ago | reply

    Amazing!!!
    Congrats!

  6. VEMB 56 months ago | reply

    very cool

  7. foundatsea 56 months ago | reply

    such patience you have!
    very very nice photo!! :D

  8. parlamentaria58.maria azucena 55 months ago | reply

    fantastico ,bello, y bonito,

  9. CatalinaPachao 55 months ago | reply

    Beautiful photography

    Many regards! =)

  10. N.B.R [deleted] 55 months ago | reply

    Impresionante!!!

  11. Maresado 55 months ago | reply

    bella!! adoro i fari!!!

  12. Ted Rivera 55 months ago | reply

    Cool shot... have to make the time to visit this and the surrounding area as well

  13. Hrvojé Jelić 53 months ago | reply

    I love the story behind it! :)

  14. nathan makan 49 months ago | reply

    This is really stunning.

  15. odditty 46 months ago | reply

    Most certainly worth the wait. I must say, the stories behind your pictures are always a pleasure to read! I can tell I will be coming back here again and again =)

  16. stammberger13 43 months ago | reply

    shiiit I think I missed it this year or did they not even do it? awesome shot-just talked yesterday with my wife about staying over christmas in the hostel...so I have plenty of time to find nice spots...the rocks along the pigeon point bluffs are also amazing!:)

  17. DBB4000 34 months ago | reply

    Very nice!

  18. lauraalisonwebster 33 months ago | reply

    Hi,, great photo, absolutely lovely image. Just wondering if it was possible to discuss using this for a website I'm building!

    Keep up the great work, the stream is great!

    Matt

  19. NICK1828 21 months ago | reply

    --------------------------------------------YES---------------------------------------------------------

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