The Adventure of Photography
One cannot take the same photograph twice. Even if the subject were static, the light changes, and so do we. That’s part of the magic of trapping light in these little boxes. The shifting of time feels most evident when I’m at the coast.
These photographs were taken yesterday evening near Jenner, California, where the Russian River meets the Pacific. It’s beautiful place of constant evolution. It’s also home to a small colony of harbor seals and as it is still pup season, there are some cute little balls of fat wiggling along the sand.
Tips for photographing near the coast:
1) Dress in warm layers. I know it seems obvious, but the temperature can drop sharply at dusk and you don’t want to miss the best light because you forgot to bring a hat.
2) Wear the right shoes. If it’s summer, a water-friendly covered-toe sandal will do, or when it is colder I wear rugged boots. With camera in hand you are more likely to miss the piece of glass or jellyfish underfoot. Bare feet are for casual strolls and afternoon jogs at the surf’s edge.
3) Before you head out get online and find out what time the sun sets, and if the tide is coming in or going out.
4) Photograph the details. Everyone photographs the waves and sunsets, but the best images may be a small corner of a tide pool, the pattern in a piece of drift wood, or the cracks in a rock wall.
5) Look for unusual vantage points. Taking pictures at eye level always increases the risk of predictability and mediocrity. Lay down along the log, climb that dune.
6) If you are around wildlife, do your homework. Understand the behavior patterns, know what is a respectable distance, and then enjoy the show. Bring that zoom lens.
7) Safety first: rogue waves, uneven ground, slippery wet surfaces, tides taking back sand bars – all of these are easy to forget about when you are peeking through the viewfinder.
