Golden Sunset by abirkill

Golden Sunset

At this time of year, the sun sets so far to the south that it's difficult to get a clear view from downtown or Stanley Park, so I often find myself either going to West Vancouver or UBC for an uninterrupted view.

I photographed this sunset on a beach in West Vancouver. Some clouds provided a wonderful golden glow on the horizon, and a very high tide meant that the water level was right up to the driftwood and rocks. Only a few feet out of shot to my right was one of the oceanfront houses that line this long stretch of coastline.

The large waves meant that the top of the driftwood was quite wet, reflecting the rays of the sun and the golden light on the horizon. I waited until a wave swirled around the logs to take this shot, which with a half-second exposure captured the motion in the water.

A three-stop graduated ND filter allowed me to control the light in the sky and on the horizon, while a circular polariser emphasised the reflections in the rocks and wood on the beach.

Looks great large!
Fantastic capture, all perfect, most notable those 'driftwood' logs pointing to the horizon. Fav
December 4th, 2013  
Wonderful large, love everything about it. The textures the silky water Fav!
December 4th, 2013  
Looks even more beautiful large - wonderful light , a perfect composition. Fav.
December 4th, 2013  
So much to like in this shot , the detail and glow on the logs, the swirl of the water and the sunset in the hinterland. Perfect composition and fav.
December 4th, 2013  
Wonderful capture. Great lighting.
December 4th, 2013  
Glorious and fav
December 4th, 2013  
Absolutely stunning. An instant fav for me.
December 4th, 2013  
Instant Fav!! What a stunning image!!
December 4th, 2013  
A stunning perspective - so perfectly captured with the water and sunlight.
December 4th, 2013  
fantastic. fav.
December 4th, 2013  
Love the warmth and golden tones in this shot
December 4th, 2013  
Looks amazing viewed large! Everything about this is just beautiful. Fav for me.
December 4th, 2013  
Love those waves rolling in and the light on the wood with the ship silhouetted on the horizon. fav
December 4th, 2013  
Fantastic! I just come , FAV and leave lol
December 4th, 2013  
Wow! Thanks for sharing! Fav!
December 4th, 2013  
Amazing shot.
December 4th, 2013  
Stunning......fav!
December 4th, 2013  
Better than great large...gorgeous colors and light ...stunning indeed! Fav:)
December 4th, 2013  
A masterpiece. In fact, you only post when you have a masterpiece! Fav.
December 4th, 2013  
Really beautiful. Love the end of the sun with that flare!
December 4th, 2013  
This is gorgeous! Instant FAV!
December 4th, 2013  
Another wonderful capture and a Fav!
December 4th, 2013  
Love the lighting! But the water is my favorite thing about this shot!
December 4th, 2013  
nice one!
December 4th, 2013  
magical! fav
December 4th, 2013  
What a beautiful scene. I like the sun glinting off the log and the log pointing to the sun. Really stunning. Fav'd.
December 4th, 2013  
wow another stunning shot Alexis!! fav!!
December 4th, 2013  
Lovely shot and sun burst. A FAV for me.
December 4th, 2013  
Cool shot, love the boat. Fav.
December 4th, 2013  
awesome shot
December 4th, 2013  
Really fabulous! A definite fav!
December 5th, 2013  
Caz
Amazing shot ! fav
December 5th, 2013  
wow stunning :)
December 5th, 2013  
has to be a fav - amazing
December 5th, 2013  
Love all the foreground color and txture
December 5th, 2013  
Alexis, that came out incredibly nice. When editing are you using the adjustment brush on the logs to lighten them up? -brian
December 5th, 2013  
@beatnikphoto Thank you! In this case, the graduated ND filter is doing the hard work of darkening the sky, allowing both the logs and the sky to be captured at the correct exposure in a single shot, without needing to brighten or darken the top or bottom of the photo significantly.

Because the graduated filter has a straight edge, but there is a section of ground on the far right that protrudes above the horizon level, I did need to use the adjustment brush on that small triangle, to recover the detail from the darkening effect of the filter.
December 5th, 2013  
Wow! Instant fav!
December 5th, 2013  
It does indeed look great enlarged. Has to be another fav, without doubt.
December 5th, 2013  
Simply stunning. Fav. Love the sunflare and the wonderful reflection off the logs and water.
December 5th, 2013  
Stunning!
December 5th, 2013  
Amazing and a fav. Congrats on TT!!
December 6th, 2013  
Caz
Congrats on TT, Alexis !!
December 6th, 2013  
Breathtaking image! FAV!
December 7th, 2013  
Congrats on TT
December 7th, 2013  
Congrats on TT! : )
December 7th, 2013  
Congrats on the TT :)
December 7th, 2013  
Incredible, Fav, as I seem to say for all of your shots at the moment!
December 8th, 2013  
just wow…. fav :)
December 8th, 2013  
Kev
The composition is fantastice with the logs leading to the sun and the ship o the horizon. Fav.
December 8th, 2013  
Absolutely superb...fav!
December 9th, 2013  
Spectacular and an instant fav! Love learning from you!
December 17th, 2013  
Magnificent! +F
December 25th, 2013  
Nice composition, beautiful colors! Great shot!
December 26th, 2013  
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