I love watching waves.
The ocean has this way of being still and moving at the same time. I’ve been trying to capture that moment and I think I finally got it in this photo I made at Bandon Beach, Oregon.
Please click the image to view a larger version.
You have to watch the waves for awhile to figure out when the moment is going to happen. There will be a series of waves that come higher and higher and then the highest wave reaches up the shore and stops for just a moment before it goes rushing back down to the sea.
The trick is to figure out how far that last wave will reach and get your tripod firmly planted in the sand ahead of time. Give yourself a little room and use your zoom lens to make sure you stay in the dry sand. If the wave comes up farther than you anticipated, the water seeping into the sand will make your tripod sink and ruin your shot.
This image is a half second exposure which allowed me to capture the moment of stillness in the foreground and the rushing motion that came after in one single exposure.
Yes Anne I was carefully watching the waves and I assumed that the big surge would just come close to my tripod. I then made the cardinal mistake of turning around for a moment. My wife, high and dry on a rock said the wave was coming in a little more forcefully. I turned around just as the wave hit me just above the hips.
The good news, wooden view cameras and bellows float really good.
I did not get the photo.
Oh no, don’t turn your back on the ocean!! Especially in Oregon where the waves change so fast. I’m glad you just got wet and not swept away. I am always working on my running backwards while waves try to touch my toes technique 🙂
Oh so nice Anne. Am headed to the Oregon Coast next month, so will be using this technique. Thanks.
Thanks Joe, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
The Oregon coast is wonderful, and you have so beautifully shown that here.
Many thanks Lisa, I always appreciate your comments.
beautiful …. as always!
Thank you very much Michelle!
You definitely got it – it is a moving picture
Thank you Natalie!
Excellent, excellent, excellent, Anne!! I think this might be your best moving water shot; at least for my taste. It is not difficult to get a stop action shot of moving water or a long, silky exposure (they both have their place). But, like you said, this is a scene of dynamic and grace. To capture that as you did requires a very narrow shutter speed band AND at the right moment.
I think you have really set yourself apart from the rest of the professionals!
Thanks for posting this one; you made my day!
Thank you so much George for your very kind comment! I have been striving towards making a photo like this with the stop action and motion in one exposure. I very much appreciate your comments 🙂
I agree with George, this combination of motion and stillness is lovely. Well done, and well explained!
Thank you so much Laurie!
This is such an amazing photo. You really did a great job of capturing a great moment. It is beautiful! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Thank you so much Mary, I really appreciate that. I also very much enjoyed your post about the world’s best road trips! Some of them indeed went on my bucket list.
Hi…i am with George….blurring and freezing has its place but what you did is perfect! Just the right movement and stillness. You also gave a clear explanation that was very helpful…i want to run to the beach!
Thank you so much!
Thank you very much Robin, I’m glad you found the explanation helpful. Now go run to the beach and try it yourself!
Hi..as soon as the weather warms up…freeze warning tonight and we live in FL!!!! Seriously it is on my list!
Thanks again!
The two coasts are so very different! I hope you get a chance to see the pacific coast, its worth the trip. Thanks for your visit and comments Robin!
Hi
Have been to the west coast and up to Alaska. We full timed for 2 years about 12 years ago but I was not into photography then. It is a recent passion!
I think back on the beauty I saw and my heart aches because I know I won’t be traveling like that ever again. So i travel through you!
Hi Anne,
I think your Stillness of Motion is the best image I’ve seen of Face Rock in Bandon. You can see what the Coquelle tribe saw as they described the face of a young woman rising out of the sea surrounded by her little racoons (or kittens, as some interpret them).
Beautiful!!
Thank you very much Mike, that is a huge compliment because there have been many many photos taken of this location. I really appreciate that.