Surfin’ USA

Something a little more fun from me today!   

While photographing rain-soaked hosta leaves, I was already drawn to their wave-like form. So, when a small black gnat decided to do some surfing, well, it’s times like this you simply cannot believe what you are seeing through the lens!

"Shooting the Tube" (Black Gnat Surfing on Wet Hosta Leaves) Nikon D300, 105mm F/2.8G Macro, F/8, 1/50s, ISO 640, Black & White with Blue Tint

Since the foliage colors of this particular hosta are a variegation of green, white and yellow - not the hues that evoke a strong feeling of the sea – I decided a color change was necessary to successfully convey the ‘surfing gnat’ idea. So, the image was first converted to black & white and then tinted using blue. I also bumped up tonal contrast a bit using Color Efex Pro.  

Gnarly, dude!

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04/21/10 Update

Sean Kane requested a close up of the ‘surfing gnat’ so, here he is!

"Hang Six" (Surfing Gnat Close-up)

 (If you listen really closely, you can hear ‘wheeeeeeeeee!’ )

Sunshine on my shoulders

We may have started out with snow this morning, but boy-oh-boy when the clouds lifted, what a day!   

"Crash Point" (Waves Crashing Against Rocks with Hospital Point Lighthouse) Nikon D300, 32mm, F/16, 1/400s, ISO 400

The Nor’easter may be gone, but we are still feeling the effects! Our churned up seas continue to pound the rocky shoreline of Beverly Harbor, with Hospital Point Lighthouse standing proudly by, as it has since 1872.   

I could have watched this all day long…

The girl is loco

"After the Nor'easter" (High Tide Waves Crashing Against Lynch Park Seawall) Nikon D300, 50mm, F/16, 1/320s, +0.3EV, ISO 640

What the hell is WRONG with me?

That is the question I should have been asking when I jumped off the sea wall, at high tide after a Nor’easter, to get this shot!

Fact of the matter is, I tried all conceivable angles from atop the wall and nothing was properly capturing the power of the incoming tide. The sight was amazing; the sound, deafening.

So there I was, faced with (really) the only choice. All I had to do was jump. 

Yes, I got completely soaked.

Yes, the water was freezing.

And, YES, it was TOTALLY worth it!

Look out!

Just before it began to snow (again) yesterday, I went over to Lynch Park to check out the surf. 

"Breakwater" (Stormy Waves Crashing Over Rocks) Nikon D300, 45mm, F/22, 1/25s, +0.7EV, ISO 200, Color Efex Pro 'Low Key' Filter

As the tide rolled in, it was amazing to see the ocean undulating from relatively calm to thunderous booms! as walls of water pounded against the rocks. I have to admit, on more than one occasion, I needed to retreat or else be caught in the sea’s fury!