• The Pelicans are almost always here. It really should be called Pelican Point!
  • I waited for it to become bright red behind the top of the lighthouse for added effect. Most fo the time it was grey behind it.
  • There was some water movement, so a long exposure smoothed the water out and reduced the distraction.
  • The long exposure even allowed a reflection, which I could not see in the shorter exposures.
  • These were lit for about 30 seconds, and that was it.
  • Fortunately a bit of red outlined the bluff, which had been hiding amongst the grey for most of the time.
  • There were large breakers just a half hour before this moment but then it calmed down for a while, so I went for long exposures instead of trying to capture water movement.

Pigeon Point Evening

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Evening comes to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse, on the San Mateo count coast near San Francisco.

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Settings etc.:
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8-second exposure @F22 with ND grad 0.9 + 0.6
Canon 5D
Canon 17-40L @ 18

Pigeon Point is home to large numbers of pelicans year round. It really should be called Pelican Point. As the sun set, the sky began to glow, but that alone is not enough to make a good photograph. I noticed that the water had become calm and the light enhanced the color of the water.

I decided to use a long exposure to define and accentuate the rocks in the foreground. This reduced the distracting motion of the waves while the glow was retained. There are other times, however, when showing the motion of the water is the better choice. Experimentation is often necessary to determine the best way to go.

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stager57, Richard Roscoe Photography, algo, Estrella Esteve, and 474 other people added this photo to their favorites.

View 20 more comments

  1. MarsW 53 months ago | reply

    Sublime image.

    This fantastic photograph was seen in
    Cherry on top! Photography

  2. kypt@nuy ~ very busy!!! 53 months ago | reply

    Lovely light, great composition and accurate exposure! Excellent!

    This fantastic photograph was seen in
    Cherry on top! Photography

  3. cabite30 52 months ago | reply

    It's a nice place and a beatiful picture, you must be happy with your picture. It's a good job.

  4. CONOR LEDWITH 52 months ago | reply

    Fantastic smooth image

  5. Joel Olives 52 months ago | reply

    Truly amazing composition and execution. You are a master of your craft.

  6. oןɹɐɔcarlo 52 months ago | reply

    Wow!!!

  7. ScottHampton 52 months ago | reply

    WOW Patrick. You truly inspire me.

  8. mark@pfalz 52 months ago | reply

    I have been there two times and love this place !!!
    Thank you for sharing this gorgeos picture with us, I remember the wonderful evening mood in the sunset.

  9. © Lucie Debelkova / www.luciedebelkova.com 51 months ago | reply

    stunning capture !

    This masterpiece of Perfect Light was seen in:
    Oracle of Perfect Light (Invite Only - 250+Fave)
    www.flickr.com/groups/oracleperfectlight/
    Please tag your photo "OPL"

  10. S Alex Maier 49 months ago | reply

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called The Watchtower, Admin Invite only, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

    A Brilliant Image

    Posted in The Watchtower , admin invite
    Towers and Lights in reality and imagination

  11. JPBJr. 46 months ago | reply

    Please consider adding this picture & any other great pictures of Northern California to: www.flickr.com/groups/1124231@N24/

    --
    Seen in the group"San Mateo County Group" (?)

  12. Jeff Parry Photography 46 months ago | reply

    Nice photo. I like the reflection. I like the Pelicans too, but they do migrate away for part of the year. The 'Carrier Pigeon" wrecked here in 1853, thus the name. I look into buying this photo for the hostel web site. A non profit. B~D Jeff

  13. Melkor13 ON/OFF 38 months ago | reply

    Fantastic shot!!

  14. mayaq 37 months ago | reply

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Wonderful water!!! (POST 1 COMMENT 1) NEW CONTEST!!!!, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

    Stunning!!

  15. soy sissi 33 months ago | reply

    Seen in 100+ Faves Flickr 's Finest (100+ Faves Only)

  16. B℮n 33 months ago | reply

    I saw this in the 400+ Faves group and Faved it.

    Love the lighthouse Patrick!

    GRZ,BEN

  17. blinkingidiot 30 months ago | reply

    Glorious light, majestic image.

  18. Emotioned.com 27 months ago | reply

    We are working on a monthly travel and adventure sport competition, all winning entries will be published in an online magazine. Judge panel will selected from Flickr.

    There are 3 parts of the competition, 2 parts are currently under development:

    A Flick group called : www.flickr.com/groups/emotioned/

  19. Harley Tuner 14 months ago | reply

    This light got its name from a ship that ran aground near the station...the ship's name: Carrier Pigeon. This lighthouse is approximately 160 feet tall, making it one of the tallest on the Pacific Coastline. It sits about 50 miles south of San Francisco on California Route 1. The lighthouse sits on the grounds of a hostel. ........... nice work

  20. Anzor82 9 months ago | reply

    wow!!! nice shot

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