Sunset at Second Beach (Olympic National Park)

coscorrosa

Took Monday afternoon off from work to catch a sunset at Second Beach (9 hour drive round-trip - yeah - I'm crazy). The summer won't end (give me some crappy rainy overcast weather already!), so I figured I'd take advantage as long as it continues to overstay its welcome.

This was the first time I had shot a sunset at Second Beach (usually I go to its cousin about 40 miles away, Ruby Beach, but wanted to try something different). There was no one else there taking photos, so I'm offering these an exclusive

#1:



#2



#3:



#4:



#5 (Doofus):

Dee

These are gorgeous!!!!!

schmoo

Such a lovely set!

I love the color and stillness in all, but the light crowning the rock in #2 is extra sweet.

hawkeye978

As usual, all these are absolutely beautiful. Like Schmoo, I particularly like #2. The silhouetting of the rock by the sun and then the glow that comes out from that is stunning.

coscorrosa

Thanks for the comments!

Here's another shot with the same subject as #2, I couldn't really decide between them, I chose #2 because of the reflection, but I kind of like this other one too:



I tried some shots with a slice of the sun peaking out from the rock (similar to #1), but I liked the glow effect better.

The colors were so ridiculous that I actually had to desaturate them when I post-processed. I also lucked out on the clouds, I didn't think there would be any, but they showed up just in time.

dlplumer

That's it I'm moving to Washington. Beautiful Ron

JavaLover

Absolutely gorgeous!

I've said it before and I'll say til we move back, I miss the PNW! :cry

Thank you for sharing.

CatOne

Nice!

#4 is my fave by a long shot.

CWSkopec

Amazing shots, Ron!!!

But there's a problem... I can't decide whether I like #2 or #4 better?! I think the original one you posted for #2 is hands down better than the second version, the reflection really sells it!!

The only compromise I can come up with between 2 and 4 is that I would just have to go ahead and frame them both!!

ront

WOW, these are incredible photographs. Actually, some of the nicest beach sunset pictures I ever remember seeing. Just spectacular. What awesome colors and detail you captured!!

Ron

coscorrosa

Thanks!

dlplumer wrote:

That's it I'm moving to Washington. Beautiful Ron

Thanks Dan, lots of good stuff up here, but there's a lot of good stuff in the southwest too, but unfortunately, that's a longer drive for me

JavaLover wrote:

Absolutely gorgeous!

I've said it before and I'll say til we move back, I miss the PNW!

Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the comments, I really feel fortunate to be so close to these places, these day-trips are like mini-vacations, I had a smile on my face the entire time I was out there, and was rewarded with a great sunset.

CWSkopec wrote:

Amazing shots, Ron!!!

But there's a problem... I can't decide whether I like #2 or #4 better?! I think the original one you posted for #2 is hands down better than the second version, the reflection really sells it!!

The only compromise I can come up with between 2 and 4 is that I would just have to go ahead and frame them both!!

Thanks, I think I agree with you that the first #2 is better than the other one. It seems like there's two "peaks" for beach sunsets, right when the sun is on the horizon (and you can get some glow or star shots like #2), then there's a brief lull, and then the colors just start to get ridiculous (like #4).

ront wrote:

WOW, these are incredible photographs. Actually, some of the nicest beach sunset pictures I ever remember seeing. Just spectacular. What awesome colors and detail you captured!!

Ron

Thanks, it was probably the best sunset I had seen at Olympic National Park (and I've been there 5-6 times before at Ruby Beach), with the colors and the clouds and the reflections. There are so many composition possibilities at Second Beach too, rocks and sea stacks galore.

CatOne wrote:

Nice!

#4 is my fave by a long shot.

Thanks! I think I like #2 the best, #4 is right behind it though.

bskaran

this is a very nice series.
I like the 2nd shot the best.

Tee Why

Think I like 2,4,5 the most. Nice colors.

PaulThomasMcKee

Definately worth the drive! You got some really wonderful shots.

I live up in Everett - it's a relief to have some rain today so I don't have to feel quite so guilty for not getting out to photographically exploit all the wonderful 'indian summer' nights we've had.

Moogle Pepper

coscorrosa wrote:

Took Monday afternoon off from work to catch a sunset at Second Beach (9 hour drive round-trip - yeah - I'm crazy). The summer won't end (give me some crappy rainy overcast weather already!), so I figured I'd take advantage as long as it continues to overstay its welcome.

Awesome!!

9 hours?! Where were you driving from??

>.> I am gonna head to Ruby beach in November.. I wanna try t get to this spot too!

coscorrosa

PaulThomasMcKee wrote:

Definately worth the drive! You got some really wonderful shots.

I live up in Everett - it's a relief to have some rain today so I don't have to feel quite so guilty for not getting out to photographically exploit all the wonderful 'indian summer' nights we've had.

No kidding, though guilt is a pretty good motivator I'm glad we're finally getting some fall weather, when it's overcast, you can really shoot the whole day (as long as you don't mind not including the sky in your photos, but it's great for macro, rivers, waterfalls, etc.).

Moogle Pepper wrote:

Awesome!!

9 hours?! Where were you driving from??

>.> I am gonna head to Ruby beach in November.. I wanna try t get to this spot too!

That's from Seattle (about 4.5 hours each way). The reason it's so long is you have to drive around the Olympic Mountains, there's no road that goes through them. I went counter-clockwise (ferry from Edmonds to Kingston, drove from Kingston through Port Angeles to Forks, and the returned through Aberdeen, Olympia, Tacoma, etc.).