Sonora Desert Sunrise Series #6

Sunrise over the Sonora Desert #6

This interpetation was done with sepia and purple tones.

Sunset at Crystal Cove #2 - Blend

In this version I applied the cool grey effect to the water. I think this is my favorite of the series.

See the entire Crystal Cove series

Sunset at Crystal Cove #2 - Cool Grey

To me this version of Sunset at Crystal cove could actually be the full-moon setting. But it's not; it's the same photo of the sunset but I cooled the colors down with blue-grey to give this nighttime appearance.

Sunset Opito Bay #2 Sepia Toned

This photo of the sunset at Crystal Cove but with a sepia effect this time. Make sure you click the image to get the full-sized version to be able to enjoy the full effect. Hope you like it.

See the entire Crystal Cove series.

Sunset at Crystal Cove #2

I thought this one had more focus by cropping it in a panorama format.

There's a boat on the horizon just to the left of the sun if you take a look at the full-sized version by clicking on the image.

Sunset at Crystal Cove #1

A group of us went for dinner at "The Beachcomber" at Crystal Cove last night, so I went a little early to catch the sunset which was at a couple of minutes before six. I am posting a series of the photos I took, with different coloring effects. I hope you like them all. This and the next one are "originals" that I haven't added color effects to.

Crystal Cove is famous around these parts because a small group of people had leases on land at the beach which recently went back to the State of California at the expiration of the leases. The State is in the process of renovating the cottages that had been built along the beach and the renovated ones are now available for rental. (See crystalcovebeachcottages.org for information). Dinner, by the way, was excellent, but a little pricey.

Crystal Cove is located between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach on the southern coast of Orange County, California.

This photo was created using HDR (high dynamic range) technique.
Camera: Canon EOS 20D
3 exposures at 2 EV (1/8, 1/30, 1/2)
Aperture: f/22
Focal Length: 45 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Grab this swicki from eurekster.com

Smokey Southern California Sunset

This is a photo I took tonight about an hour before sunset to show you the effect of the smoke on the sun here in Southern California where there are many wildfires burning currently. This was taken at the Irvine Ranch Water District's San Joaquin marshlands.

Camera: Canon EOS 20D
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 75 mm
ISO Speed: 400

Grand Canyon Chief #1

This is the first of two composite photos I made using Photoshop and two of my photos: this Native American Indian performing at a pow-wow and this photo of sunset over the Grand Canyon South Rim.

I'd really be interested to know which of the two photos you prefer by posting a comment for either this photo or photo #2 of the Grand Canyon Chief. My favorite is actually this one, but an artist friend of mine prefers #2 because he thinks it's more abstract.

Grand Canyon Chief #2

This is the second of two composites made from two of my photos: this Native American Indian performing at a pow-wow and this photo of sunset over the Grand Canyon South Rim.

I'd really be interested to know which one you prefer by posting a comment for either this photo or photo #2 of the Grand Canyon Chief. My preference is for #1 - I find this one too washed out and wasn't even going to post it, but an artist friend said he prefers it because it's more abstract and ghostly. Who am I to argue with an artist? Anyhow, post a vote for one or other. Thanks!

Olympic Range Silhouette

This is a photo of the Olympic Range facing west from Beckett Point on Discovery Bay, Washington State. The sun had not long gone down creating this silhouette of the range.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 18-55mm lens at 55mm
1/40 secs at f/10
ISO 400

Sunset at Beckett Point #3

This photo was taken from Beckett Point Rd. on Discovery Bay looking north west. On the horizon is Victoria Island, British Columbia, Canada. The island rising on the right side of the photo is Protection Island. To the left side is the other side of Discovery Bay. You can put it all together by referring to the map I've pasted below. The bay was full of salmon jumping from the water when we arrived a couple of hours before sunset. You can see another photo I took that evening of two women performing a native American Indian chant to the salmon.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 18-55mm lens at 25mm
1/4 secs at f/18
ISO 400


View Larger Map

Sunset from Becket Point Color

Here's the very same photo as the previous sepia-toned photo post but in its original color. I like the way the pine trees are silhouetted against the sea and sky.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 18-55mm lens at 25mm
1/6 sec at f/5.6
ISO 800

Beckett Point After Sunset with Sepia Effect

I created a sepia effect for this photo taken from the same spot as the previous post. The pine tree in the center spoiled the photos I took with landscape orientation unfortunately. Actually, there were two pines in the center of the photo, one of which which was a very tall stump from which the branches and top of the tree had been removed. In front on this was the pine that features in the center of this photo and the previous one. I had to line it up so that the bare trunk of the other tree was hidden behind this tree - you can't tell that the second tree is there, but if I moved just a little either way, the bare trunk came into view and spoiled the composition completely. You can see stumps of the branches of the tree behind sticking out. This gives you some idea of just how high the stump was. I guess strictly speaking it's really too high to be a stump.

This photo was taken at 8:05pm so there was less light than for the previous photo, and I was at this point shooting at ISO 800. I shot thise photos without a tripod, so had to adjust the ISO and appeture settings so that the exposures weren't too long.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 18-55mm lens at 25mm
1/6 sec at f/5.6
ISO 800

Sunset from Becket Point Road Discovery Bay

This photo was taken just after sunset from Beckett Point on Discovery Bay in Washington State. I just spent some time up there this week. Beckett Point is at the top end of Discovery Bay, and north-west beyond Protection Island you are looking at the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Canadian border and Victoria Island. It was quite a view at night with the lights of Victoria Island visible. The twilight was quite long; about 1 hour, and this photo was taken just a few minutes before eight. Here's a link to a map of the Beckett Point, Discovery Bay area.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 18-55mm lens at 28mm
1/30 secs at f/5.6
ISO 400

Sunset Over the Grand Canyon #2

This is the same sunset as in this other photo of sunset at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Notice how much less color there is in the sky as the sun drops lower and with the longer exposure.

The first time I went to the Grand Canyon's South Rim I went with a group of friends and we took the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams. We had seats in the Parlor Car and what a time we had. I really recommend it to you. Plan on staying over in the Park a couple of nights if you can, and then get the train back to Williams. Here's the website for the Grand Canyon Railway.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 70-300mm lens at 300mm
1/200 secs at f/5.6
ISO 100

Sunset Over the Grand Canyon #1

I really love the national parks of the South Western United States. I'm lucky to live in Southern California as these wonders of the natural world are just a day's drive away. I have been to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon twice in the last 2 years and can't wait to go back.

Of course one of the favorite times at the Grand Canyon is sunset and crowds gather at favorite points overlooking the canyon to watch the fiery display that nature turns on each evening.

This happens to be one of my favorite photos. But what do you think? Please post a comment and let me know.

Canon EOS 20D
Canon 70-300mm lens at 165mm
1/800 secs at f/5
ISO 100