The moon rises after sunset over the summer fog of San Francisco Bay. No HDR. I've been away from photography for a few weeks, so I'll catch up with the huge pile of emails soon!
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/478826670...
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Settings etc.:
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Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 17-40L @17
4-minute exposure @F8
LEE soft ND grad (100x150mm - 4x6in) 0.9 + 0.9
Lee foundation kit filter holder with Lee 77mm adapter ring
No polarizer.
ISO 200
RAW file processed with Capture One by Phase One
TIFF file processed with Photoshop
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The Story
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Once per month during a full moonrise at sunset, rangers on Mt. Tamalpais, just north of San Francisco have a moonlight walk. This is the only chance to see this place at night because the park closes at sunset. It was hot (90f (32c), dry and windy above the cold (59F (15c) fog. You can literally walk from the cold fog to the hot winds and back again in just a few minutes! And at times, you can feel cool breaths of air breaking up the hot winds. This situation is common all summer long at 1500-3000 ft elevation above the coast of California.
The grasses, fog and trees, blew a lot and became softened during the 4 minute exposure. So there is very little here that was stationary. So even though it is sharp, only the rocks on the trail, the short foreground grasses, and the background are sharp.
If you ever get a change to do this, definitely try it out. Sometimes the cold fog is too high and you see nothing, but it is worth a try.
See "Guided hikes" here:
www.mttam.net/
The map shows where you park to start the hike. The exact location is a 2 mile moderate hike in the dark from the ranger station, which is near the gate that they close at sunset. It is not far from the road that you can take during the day, but a long-ish hike at night. Bring your flashlight!
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Other stuff
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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!
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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.
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dazstudios, Tim Poulton, MV-WW, DFoxinator, and 412 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 20 more comments
Sykesa 34 months ago | reply
your photo's are amazing, you're such an inspiration. thank you
Jim Patterson Photography 34 months ago | reply
I'll bounce around here on your photos. ;)
Doing well, a bit stressed about giving a few photo talks in South Africa in October. I've procrastinated long enough, so I am fully immersed in getting ready. I also will have an image in NatGeo, so excited about that, too. Hope your vacation was relaxing and productive (the best kind of vacation, when the images come naturally and don't feel like work).
Munsch_DG 34 months ago | reply
So amazing, so much compassion to the details! How comes it's no HDR? But you had more than 1 exposure? Or have you used in Photoshop HDR-Toning? I guess it's your secret ;)
But how is that still possible, the moon is only in Its center overexposured and the foreground has got so much contrast and colour?!
I am still amazed!
PatrickSmithPhotography 34 months ago | reply
Thanks for your comments!
Dimitri, this is also a single shot and a simple processing job. There was still plenty of light in the sky and land from the setting sun behind the camera!
B℮n 34 months ago | reply
Magic colors of the evening!
GRTZ,BEN
Vanessa Salas Moreno 34 months ago | reply
that so cool photography, colors and framing are perfect, I love, and your gallery is good quality ^ ^
B.AA.S. 34 months ago | reply
Beautiful. Very good composition and colors! That path leads perfect into the picture. Nice deapth. Well done :o))
Soumen Nath 34 months ago | reply
Unbelievable skill..... I am speachless.
nutella lover 34 months ago | reply
beautiful
tschaus 34 months ago | reply
love the soothing colors.
Qba from Poland 34 months ago | reply
wow ... pure magic !
dreamwaters 34 months ago | reply
If only to have been there
beautiful
RavidGalWinberger 34 months ago | reply
It's so beautiful it's hard to believe it's real
Jared Bennett 32 months ago | reply
Amazing
Adrie Banko 32 months ago | reply
great shot!
trapezemike 31 months ago | reply
Brilliant work !!!!!!!
mamietherese1 30 months ago | reply
Absolutely beautiful !
Gilormu 28 months ago | reply
A very artistic work.
Strandvikfilm 28 months ago | reply
good!
Aman Nijhawan 18 months ago | reply
Great shot !!