My pal Bryan Frank and I hit the Santa Monica Pier one evening a few weeks ago. Nominally, we planned to take some pictures as the sun was going down. But the “buddy” system carried with it something a little stronger, the no-need-to-say-it admonition that we had to try for something more than cliches. Bryan’s term for it is getting out of our comfort zones.
It should be the goal every time I pull the camera out of its case to try something a little different, a little harder, a little less cliche. And it is my intention. But sometimes it’s just plain hard.
It’s especially hard at the Santa Monica Pier, which has been photographed at more angles, in more kinds of light, and in more of just about every kind of circumstance there is. Put the words into Google, click “images,” and you get back 4,690,000 pictures.
But I tried. Some of the snaps were a little lamer than others. I picked a spot on the Pier’s north side, which gave me a view of curve at the north end of Santa Monica Bay, and the Santa Monica Mountains in the background. From that vantage point, the sun actually sets behind the mountains rather than over the ocean.
The elements vary a little from season to season—how many people are near the water’s edge, how much clothing they have on, and whether the lifeguards are in their towers. But in many respects, there’s little variance at all—the waves are always crashing, the birds are always floating, and there’s usually a pretty good breeze.
And then there’s the sun. Sometimes you can watch it set. Often it’s hidden by clouds, what’s known in these parts as the “marine layer.”
But this was a day the sun did its magic.
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Mesmerizing images. No wonder there’s so many pics … she’s a beauty. Great post!
I think there’s a distinct line between taking images that are “comfortable” and taking ones that are “different.” Capturing the “different” image necessitates crossing that line or, as they says, stepping outside our “comfort zone.” All too often we go for the comfort of beauty. I think if we start asking ourselves “Am I going end up with another beautiful postcard shot?” and then force ourselves to search fot an alternative, only then will we begin to discover our “photo potential.”
I was definitely outside my comfort zone when i took this photo; This 6 5″ guy was seconds away from punching me when I snapped the shutter. http://www.mikehaywardphotography.com/p870254235/h11c34210
Love that shot, Rock. And you’re right: it’s certainly no postcard! I guess the Zone wouldn’t have been that comfortable had his fist come crashing through it!
These are SO beautiful, dear! I trust we’ll see some of them framed and hanging in the house soon.