• I wanted a bit of room to the left of the trunk, just for space.
  • I would have liked a bit of room to the right of this trunk, but it was too bright so I carefully composed around the bright spots. I did that by moving forward to preserve the central focal point. in the middle.
  • I moved up to show this opening, but too close and it gets too bright.
  • I tried to show how the branches fade away in the mist with increasing distance.
  • I wanted to show the light coming through here, for a second light source. Too far back and this disappears.
  • A torch lilly that I didn't even notice at first, then I made sure it was in the frame in front of the darker trunk.
  • There are patches of red lichen in some areas.
  • It was not raining, but the heavy fog dripped of the trees. Wet asphalt looks better than dry!
  • The RCA radio building. See more here: www.qsl.net/w2vtm/rca_history_kph.html
  • Superb lighting ! - SHAZRAL

Myst - Point Reyes National Seashore, California

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

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profiles.google.com/patricksmith1

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

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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.

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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

Nino H, Silent G Photography, Steph & the ocean, teflonjedi, and 2822 other people added this photo to their favorites.

View 20 more comments

  1. Summer Ms-María 3 weeks ago | reply

    Hypnotizing! Congratulations.

  2. Glenn Gilbert (erstwhile GargoyleG) 2 weeks ago | reply

    Gorgeous shot! And thanks for all the information about your process.

  3. frostnickity 1 week ago | reply

    ahh I know this spot. Need to make it up there more often.

  4. Eliza Frydrych 6 days ago | reply

    Amazing picture!

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