Light at the End
Photograph by Michael Caskey
Early morning is, as some photographers would agree, the best time to shoot landscapes. On this particular morning I drove about fifteen minutes in the dark over an unfamiliar road from Inverness, CA on the Pt Reyes National Seashore peninsula. One has to be careful driving here. Coyotes, owls, deer, bobcats and other creatures are prevalent. During my four and a half days on the peninsula, I saw all of them.
My destination was the famous Cypress Trees Tunnel which lined a short road to an old 1920's era shore-to-ship radio station. Similar stations used to dot the west coast of the US but sadly, only this one exists now. Unique by any definition, the Cypress Trees Tunnel - originally planted in the 1930s - creates a picturesque and one-of-a-kind landscape.
I arrived before the sun rose and I had to use my headlamp. Though I could hear the surf a bit, it was eerily quiet and kinda spooky! I was alone.
I was startled by a Bull Elk bugle as I walked down the road towards the radio station building. It was the Rut season and it seemed to come from somewhere in front of me. It also seemed very close. I turned around, quickened my pace and returned to the spot that I thought offered the best view.
Over the next ten minutes I captured several images. I'm not even sure this is the best one!
The one I really like has mist at the far end of the road, but it obscures the building. I feel the retro design of the building is too important to not include as it contrasts with the twisted and gnarly branches and trunks of the trees.
Fog covered much of the landscape and the sun rising through the clouds and fog created a definite reddish/blue/purple cast. I wanted to capture that color! That color did not last long.
The fog was quickly replaced by sunlight, colors turned flat and the mood shifted entirely. Even the Bull Elk bugling stopped. I was fortunate to get a couple nice shots.
The particulars: Nikon Z8 with Tamron 16-30mm f/2.8 A064 Z lens at 30mm, ISO 120, f/8, .4 sec.
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