Photo workshop- day four beyond sunrise
After that stunning sunrise, the rest of the day seemed a bit anticlimactic… but it still had it’s moments and much to offer.
This was the park where Sissy wasn’t even allowed to enter and stay in the car. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve is a nature preserve (as its name implies) and I’m sure they’ve had some occasions of folks abusing the privilege of having their dogs along… so I, for one, can’t rightly blame them. I kept hearing sea lions or seals barking in the distance, but never could locate them.
The morning visit for me was mostly about playing with the waves. It seems to take a bit more patience than I have since I’d see this stupendous, humongous wave crash out there before I’d have the camera ready. Then I’d stand there for what seemed like forever, until my arms and back started to ache, then another one would appear just as I lowered the camera. But here’s the best of the misses I came up with…..
Patience, grasshopper,” said Maia. “Good things come to those who wait.”
“I always thought that was ‘Good things come to those who do the wave,’” said Simon. “No wonder I’ve been so confused all my life.
― Cassandra Clare, City of Glass
You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.
― Henry David Thoreau
Then take me disappearin’ through the smoke rings of my mind,
Down the foggy ruins of time, far past the frozen leaves,
The haunted, frightened trees, out to the windy beach,
Far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow.
Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free,
Silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands,
With all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves,
Let me forget about today until tomorrow.
― Bob Dylan
People travel to wonder
at the height of the mountains,
at the huge waves of the seas,
at the long course of the rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean,
at the circular motion of the stars,
and yet they pass by themselves
without wondering.
― Saint Augustine of Hippo
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.
― Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad/Roughing It
Don instructing…..
The midday session was image review. This time I bravely presented some of mine and was pleased at Don’s assessment that I have an eye for light and composition. I have been encouraged to start shooting RAW in case I ever want to reach back to some of these shots and improve on them to some degree. I suppose this implies that I may have some worth working on. That was certainly a nice ego boost. Once again I was floored at the images the other folks produced. What a wonderfully talented group it was. And the very pleasant surprise was that we meshed well and all seemed to enjoy ourselves.
Love the quotes
I’m so happy to share them!
Loved all the shots Gunta but particularly that first one.
Thanks LuAnn… I aim to please!
Seems like you did have a great experience, Gunta…I know that I have enjoyed your takings from the trip…such beautiful images…good for you.
It surely was a great experience. One I would do again in a heartbeat. Lacking that, I might just have to do a return trip to Big Sur. I know I missed much on this trip. It was all pretty hectic.
I have the same thoughts for exploring my own neck of the woods here, too…and it has rubbed on my wife a bit, as well. She just returned from a little jaunt to Ariz and was telling me how I could not consider my portfolio complete (?) as a photographer (?) until I spent some serious time capturing the sunrise and sunset images in the red-rock area of Kanab…just a few hours south….. So…I wish you well on your exploring and photo capturing…down to Big Sur and back again…whenever that happens.
Ain’t it lovely to feel appreciated? I totally agree… the Kanab area would be a must if you can find the time to spare. It is my third (or possibly second) kind of beauty that I love best. The ocean being at the top of my list then mountains and the Four Corners Red Rock country closely tied for second place. I say definitely go for it. I would love to see what you come back with!!!
Yes, that is a lovely feeling…was actually a little surprised by it, to tell the truth…. Spring to summer is what was tossed-about for a time-frame…so we shall see how it goes…and I will definitely be sharing here whatever I bring home from the trip.
And yes, it is most understandable (and evident?) how the ocean would be on the top of that list of yours…..
Summer gets a wee bit hot and crowded….. but then you might be acclimated to that given your previous location.
Hmm…that’s a thought…I don’t like much heat or many people…and my acclimatization has gone in reverse already…start to sweat on my walks when the temp is over 35 degrees.
Definitely need to consider a spring-time excursion, then…. Thank you..
Great wave pictures – I always find these tricky!
I had hoped for better, but need a touch more patience. Of course the camera makes a difference…. how much of a delay there is between the push of the button to the shutter release.
Love them all.
Thanks footsy!
What a beautiful open-air classroom, Gunta, and great captures!
Couldn’t think of a more perfect setting for a photo classroom! Thank you Tricia.
I have loved the photos you took while attending the workshop, most of us are overly critical of our own work if we have the desire to improve our skills. I know that during these types of workshops that time is limited, but I think that it works better if some one starts shooting in the program mode if their camera has one, then learning one control at a time and mastering each one before going to the full manual mode.
BTW, the photos on most postcard were taken by professional photographers trying to do the best that they could.
Thanks for following my blog!
It seems I learn much from other photographer’s blogs. I probably am overcritical of my stuff, but it’s all about that itch to keep improving….
Thank you for following, too.
These are gorgeous Gunta. I spent a lot of time waiting for that wave.. I was doing it only yesterday and they only seemed to come when my eye wandered for a second or two. I tried counting the seventh wave but that didn’t seem to work. I got the distinct feeling the ocean was playing a game with me.
The colours in these shots are so beautiful. That steely blue and minty green. I most definitely agree with Don. You certainly do have an eye for composition and light and I’m so glad you’re starting to believe it!
Sorry to hear that you’re having the same problem with the waves toying with us. It’s utterly maddening! If I only had the patience to wait out those magical waves. Counting definitely doesn’t do it, but it worked at catching the light from the lighthouse.
Sheer beauty, Gunta! And captured really masterly – hat’s off!
Pateicos! Viss bija tik burvīgs!
These are all gorgeous! Love the pastel colours in the horizon!
Thank you for the kind comments, Madhu.
If I may be presumptuous I think Don is far behind you as you have the feeling for the great shot. I am not a photographic judge, but as a self taught photographer I have been the hobby for almost 63 years and believe me you have the eye for the great pic.Trust your instincts.
I find it difficult to answer this. Don was a wonderful instructor and he essentially provided what it was I needed. He never pushed me in any particular direction. For the most part he let me meander off on my own, but was there to answer any questions I had. If nothing else he gave me a bit more confidence in what it is I do and he also showed me possibilities for future improvements. I have a hard time seeing how he could possibly be “behind me.”
Thank you so much for sharing, ocean and sailing has been my passion
I’m pleased that you liked my images.
You may not have gotten the biggest splash but you sure did a lot
for the reputation of water, your colors are so rich and varied, I think
it’s a constant with your work. Even the overcast moments are strong
in color.
I have always been in a drool over the blues adjacent to those iron-rich red
brown rocks. Pt Lobos is easily one of the most beautiful places on
the planet, totally stirring, producing breathlessness.
I feel like I’m right back there, thanks for that, too.
I was so pleased to have the turquoise that is so typical of Big Sur water show up in these shots. It’s just one of the beautiful wonders of that area. I’m missing it already!