North Coast Light

[AlanLichty]

The northern coast of Oregon hasn't gotten a lot of love lately so I dug around for something to fix that. This is a scene from the Arcadia Beach Recreation Site just south of Tolovana/Cannon Beach that was taken in early December a number of years back. Winter storms earlier in the day had broken up and left some nice clouds and colors before the light was gone. This was about as close to colorful as the sunset got that day before everything went gray. One nice part about winter storm photography is the lack of footprints in the sand.

Arcadia Sunset

• AlanLichty
• Jan 15, 2018

Colorful light at Arcadia State Park, Oregon.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I like those little seepy waters flows that cut across the sand after rain or storm. This has a noce Oregon coast look to it.

 

[Dean]

Alan,
Pretty neat, I really like the soft tones and the clouds are beautiful.
I might crop this as a pano jsut under the water line on the beach (left side). I think that would focus the attention on the very strong part of this image . I don't feel the FG sand is adding here I am drawn to the right corner initially instead of the main attraction.
Regards,
Dean

 

[Darcy Grizzle]

Really makes me want to come back to Oregon . Been 4 times but usually head to Coos Bay for dune riding. I would like to come just to explore more.

 

[Kyle Jones]

Pretty light and clouds. I think Dean's crop suggestion is a nice idea.

 

[BarryHamilton]

I love the subdued colors and light in the sea and sky! Beautiful!
I'm OK with the current crop, as it speaks to the really long, flat beaches up there. But I can see the possibilities in a pano crop, too.

 

[AlanLichty]

Still scratching my head on the crop suggestion - I was kind of aiming for the negative space that the expense of untracked sand offered up with the original comp but here's another version with that removed.

Seems a little cramped to me.

 

[Jim Dockery]

As others have said I really like the light and clouds, but think the crop idea is good. I wouldn't cut off quite as much as you did - I'd leave a bit of smooth sand under the stream.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I agree, you need more foreground, I would try cropping just above the right corner sand disturbance.

 

[AlanLichty]

OK - new crop - this feels less cramped than the first rework.

 

[Kyle Jones]

I think that last crop works pretty well. I am struggling a little with having that much visual weight (the dark stack) right by the edge of the frame, but can't argue with the clouds and light across the rest of the frame.

 

[Ben Egbert]

This last one is very nice to my eyes.

 

[Dean]

Alan,
The last version is more of what I visualized when I first saw your image. I might go somewhere in between this and your first tight crop.
I know what your saying about the negative space and I believe if the larger area of sand was completely flat with no distractions that may work well given that the right corner has so much going on its not negative enough for me.
Regards,
Dean

 

[JimFox]

Hey Alan,

I am a bit late to this. That is some cool color you got there.

Now it's funny, as I looked before I read all the replies my first thought was it should be cropped as a pano losing some off the bottom as Dean suggested. Then I saw your two crops and thought the one was two much and the other was not enough. Then I read Deans reply and I again agree with Dean, I think a crop in between the two crops would be perfect. Not sure why, but for this one Dean could have written my replies as well I see...

 

[AlanLichty]

Hey Alan,

I am a bit late to this. That is some cool color you got there.

Now it's funny, as I looked before I read all the replies my first thought was it should be cropped as a pano losing some off the bottom as Dean suggested. Then I saw your two crops and thought the one was two much and the other was not enough. Then I read Deans reply and I again agree with Dean, I think a crop in between the two crops would be perfect. Not sure why, but for this one Dean could have written my replies as well I see...

<sigh> I am still trying to get over hacking out that nice little dendritic seep down in the corner I went out of my way to include when I composed the shot.....

 

[Alan Hoelzle]

There is no focal point. Without one, no photo is successful.