AC FILTER GRILLE

The alarm went off at 5am.

I thought of blowing it off and going back to sleep, but I since I had to get up and walk across the room to stop the infernal bleating anyway, I decided that what the heck, since I already had the camera and the tripod in the car anyway, I'd just throw some water on my face, brush my teeth and jump in and head down to the beach and see what was happening at Malibu Pier.

I knew it was going to be foggy, but I thought maybe, just maybe some light might eventually peak through the clouds and light up the rocks and pier, but no such luck. Not while I was there anyway.

This is a tonemapped version of three separate exposures shot with a Sigma 10-20mm lens and a +3 ND filter. Lotsa cool mossy rocks just south of the pier to add some color to an otherwise bleak scene. I like too, how the wide angle just makes the pier seem dwarfed and distant.

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I'm not sure how well this photo will be received... Please provide some constructive criticism if you wish.

Personally, I'm not sure about the angle - I think that it might be a little too hard on the brain. It was getting way too cold at the beach so I only managed to get this one photo at this vantage point.

I am unhappy with the other photos I took - I balanced my options: a camera and tripod sinking in the sand/ washed away by a random wave against being too far away from the action; I think I got a little too far on the dry side :

Hope you all have a great day!

*Also, Thom Hogan was right... I do want to upgrade my tripod and ball head and get an Arca Swiss ball head and a Gitzo carbon fiber tripod. Only I will give it a bit longer before I drop that kind of cash on "three sticks" :{p