Cannon Beach, Oregon
This tranquil seascape was photographed at Cannon Beach, Oregon, in the early dawn light. It was a misty morning, with occasional light rain and diffused light. After two days of drab gray skies and no direct sunlight, it was refreshing to see some soft clouds and filtered light in the morning sky. Receding waves created a remarkably smooth mirror-like surface on the sand. By photographing from a low vantage point (e.g., kneeling), I was fortunate to capture a clear reflection of the 237 feet high Haystack Rock silhouette and the pastel colored sky in this transient water mirror. The biggest challenge was stabilizing my tripod, as I was standing in wet sand continuously washed over by the waves. Although I did not mind getting my feet wet, I wanted the camera to be entirely stable to capture this image in clear focus. A Lee .3 graduated neutral density filter was used to slightly darken the sky, balancing the brightness of the sky with that of the foreground.
Exposure: 1/1.6 sec – F/20. Nikon D70 camera, Nikkor DX 18-70 mm 1:3.5 – 4.5G ED lens, and a Gitzo G 2220 tripod with a Manfrotto 486 head.
