Afterburner - Laguna Beach, California
The Shot
Back in December, 2009, I headed south to Orange County in southern California for a few days to spend the holidays with Kendra's family. On one day, I snuck away to the San Diego Zoo and on the drive back north, searched for nice beaches near Laguna Beach.
I had no clue where to go and ultimately found a small cove below a residential area. I headed to the rocky point and settled in for what appeared to be a lackluster sunset. A thick and gray marine layer lingered offshore.
I am trying to come up with terms for all the different types of sunset phenomenon. There are 'sizzlers' and there are 'fizzlers'...you know the kind that start off strong and quickly fade to nothing. Those are just big teases. There are the extreme ones from good to bad: epic' and 'dud'. This sunset was an 'afterburner'. When all hope is lost, and it is difficult to tell if the sun has even set, the color creeps in and grows, even if it isn't a sizzler or epic.
The Gear
Nikon D300
Nikkor 12-24mm @ 20mm
25 sec @ f16, ISO 100
Singh-Ray Vari-ND Fitler
Singh-Ray Daryl Benson 3-stop Reverse GND Filter
Lee Foundation Holder with 77mm Wide Angle Adapter Ring
Markins M20 Ballhead, Really Right Stuff Lever Clamp and L-plate
Gitzo GT3531 Tripod
Software & Editing
-RAW file adjustments in ACR included custom white balance, small exposure, brightness and blacks adjustment. I typically do all color, constrast and sharpeneing once in Photoshop.
-In PS, contrast increased using a Basic Mid-Tones luminosity mask, color intensified using Tony Kuyper 'Make it Glow' action and opacity adjustment to taste. Tony Kuyper Saturation Mask used to desaturate areas slightly. Burn and Dodge layers through various Light and Dark luminosity masks to adjust localized contrast. Selective sharpening using Nik Sharpener Pro.
Afterburner - Laguna Beach, California
The Shot
Back in December, 2009, I headed south to Orange County in southern California for a few days to spend the holidays with Kendra's family. On one day, I snuck away to the San Diego Zoo and on the drive back north, searched for nice beaches near Laguna Beach.
I had no clue where to go and ultimately found a small cove below a residential area. I headed to the rocky point and settled in for what appeared to be a lackluster sunset. A thick and gray marine layer lingered offshore.
I am trying to come up with terms for all the different types of sunset phenomenon. There are 'sizzlers' and there are 'fizzlers'...you know the kind that start off strong and quickly fade to nothing. Those are just big teases. There are the extreme ones from good to bad: epic' and 'dud'. This sunset was an 'afterburner'. When all hope is lost, and it is difficult to tell if the sun has even set, the color creeps in and grows, even if it isn't a sizzler or epic.
The Gear
Nikon D300
Nikkor 12-24mm @ 20mm
25 sec @ f16, ISO 100
Singh-Ray Vari-ND Fitler
Singh-Ray Daryl Benson 3-stop Reverse GND Filter
Lee Foundation Holder with 77mm Wide Angle Adapter Ring
Markins M20 Ballhead, Really Right Stuff Lever Clamp and L-plate
Gitzo GT3531 Tripod
Software & Editing
-RAW file adjustments in ACR included custom white balance, small exposure, brightness and blacks adjustment. I typically do all color, constrast and sharpeneing once in Photoshop.
-In PS, contrast increased using a Basic Mid-Tones luminosity mask, color intensified using Tony Kuyper 'Make it Glow' action and opacity adjustment to taste. Tony Kuyper Saturation Mask used to desaturate areas slightly. Burn and Dodge layers through various Light and Dark luminosity masks to adjust localized contrast. Selective sharpening using Nik Sharpener Pro.