LOCATION :: Soft Moody Morning

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Moody beach morning by Chip Bunnell PhotographyThere is no doubt that I am fortunate enough to live in, what I feel is, paradise. The famed rich blue waters and soft sandy beaches are the the stars of countless postcards. Perpetual sun and fun in the belief of how many live their lives in South Florida. For some, that is actually pretty accurate. We are blessed with the climate and natural resources to make that belief a reality. But is every day really like that? Is it really 365 of sun and calm blue oceans? Hardly, but is that really a bad thing? All good questions….

The answer, in my humble opinion, is no, it is not a bad thing to have a few windy, rainy days. That may sound kind of crazy, but stay with me. You see, without the rainy days, the truly spectacular sunfilled moments would become nothing short of routine. Without a few days of gray, the blue would be the norm and not appreciated or enjoyed. But does that mean there is no beauty in the gray days and we should wait for the sun? Again, the answer is no. Confused? How can a gray, windy day still have beauty?

I like this image as it shows a blend of a not-so-postcard day (and trust me, that is being kind), while at the same time showing the beauty from the textures. The long exposure changes the waves from menacing swirls of fury to a soft frosty flow. The thick clouds flowed overhead with a hint of a hidden colorful sunrise revealed on the edges. The solid pier gives a stationary reference point as the forces move about. While this may not be a sunny postcard day, there is still beauty in the moment fueled by anticipation of the next spectacular postcard scene to come.

Photo Stuff: Single frame with a variable ND filter, Processed in LR and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com

LOCATION :: Rush and Retreat

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Moody beach morning by Chip Bunnell PhotographyIn baseball it common to say, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes it rains.” I had high hopes of various images I would make this morning as I drove north well before the magical moment of sunrise. I have been fortunate to “win” well over 90% of the time in the almost daily match between Mother Nature and my camera. Today, she gets to put one in her “w” column as the rain kept me off the beach. But have I lost the match? Far from it….

For example, this is an image I made last week. The skies were gray and the wind was blowing strong from the East. Along the South Florida coast that is the recipe for keeping your boat in the slip and rolling over to catch a few more minutes of much coveted sleep. To me, however, this was a perfect day to grab my gear for a creative photo session. I liked how the power of the waves were crashing against the resolute man-made pier legs. After they unleashed their wrath, they quietly retreated to the sea to gather and rush the beach once again. Fueled by the constant wind, this scene replayed over and over with no end in sight. The long exposure of this frame gives an almost ghostly feel as both the rush and retreat are combined.

Photo Stuff: Single frame with variable ND filter, Processed in LR

www.ChipBunnell.com