Ocean Ribbons

I had spent many weeks indoors… well, at least as far as the camera was concerned. I promised myself to get by toes back in the ocean. That day arrived. Me, my camera, and my tripod patrolled the coast of La Jolla.

The surf was lazy. The sky was empty. Not exactly the day I’d hoped to greet my triumphant return to the San Diego coastline. I photographed my normal fare of swirls of whitewash around rocks, the more intimate landscapes. I also turned to fast shutter speeds as what little waves there were splashed against the rocks, hoping for those chaotic yet somehow elegant curls of water.

I’d had my fill. The photos weren’t awe-inspiring yet I was happy to have put in some time behind the lens. I was packing up and I looked again at the lazy ocean. The rows of rippled waves were catching the late afternoon light. The tripod plunked down once again and I tried my hand at intentionally panning the camera while capturing the water.

I liked the results.

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Ocean Ribbons 1
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The colors were fading, shifting from a bright to dulled orange and a hazy teal. I loosely tracked a wave and panned the camera for a 1/4 second exposure. Then a 1/2 second. Trying out different speeds of both the shutter and my panning.

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Ocean Ribbons 2
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Those few moments as the sun approaches the horizon, then dips beneath it, never disappoint. The range of colors, as fleeting as they may be, were wonderful.

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Ocean Ribbons 3
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I am looking forward to doing another series of these types of images. Perhaps a set without any sky or horizon in them, an even purer abstract of just water and light.

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