Ebb and flow, Bandon Beach, Oregon, 2006 by Phil Douglis

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11-JUN-2006

Ebb and flow, Bandon Beach, Oregon, 2006

The ebb and flow of the evening waves create a mysterious, glowing mist as they wash ashore on Bandon Beach. I have never made an image such as this before, so had to do some experimentation. I made it just after ten in the evening with almost no light. Using my lowest ISO to minimize noise, I wound up shooting this with a self-timer, a 15 second time exposure, and my smallest lens opening (f/8). Amazingly, it worked. The ocean shimmers and moves through both space and time.

Leica D-Lux 2
15s f/8.0 at 25.2mm iso80 hide exif

Full EXIF Info
Date/Time	11-Jun-2006 22:09:09
Make	Leica
Model	D-LUX2
Flash Used	No
Focal Length	25.2 mm
Exposure Time	15.00 sec
Aperture	f/8
ISO Equivalent	80
Exposure Bias
White Balance
Metering Mode	multi spot (3)
JPEG Quality	(6)
Exposure Program	manual (1)
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium large original auto

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Phil Douglis		19-Jan-2008 03:42
I always try to think unconventionally, Vera. In this case, the image was all about movement and color. It happened to be made after sunset, but I had no intention of making a picture of day's end.

Guest		19-Dec-2007 13:09
Again, thank you for sharing how you captured this image. I likely would have had my camera packed away by this point. It does seem surreal. I think it is the blue green color that evokes a sense of calmness. The effect of the water surely does as well, but the color stands out for me too. It is not the typical sunset picture that I would likely have taken. Vera

Phil Douglis		05-Sep-2006 17:48
And that is the whole point of the picture, Ellie. It is water but it does not look like water. It is moving water, churned into mist by a long time exposure. I did not, as you imply, "digitally compose" it.

Phil Douglis		24-Aug-2006 01:35
I wish I had the light at Bandon that you enjoyed on your visit there, Diana (http://www.pbase.com/dlundin/image/65395143 ) On this rainswept night, I was left with ebb and flow as a tool for expression. And yes, I do make "bad" photographs, but I like to think of them as experiments in learning. On this shot alone, I must have made at least ten different tries until I had what I wanted. I used to tell my students that "the only thing cheaper than film was a photographer who did not use enough of it." With digital, "e-film" is free for life. There are no more excuses.

Guest		24-Aug-2006 00:41
Everything in balance. You can't make a bad picture, can you, Phil? The colors are exquisite, dreamy. The rocks are solid, the water a dance at their feet. Beautiful.

Phil Douglis		10-Aug-2006 17:51
Interesting observation, Zandra. This image was truly made at twilight, a shimmering surge of velvety waters lapping on a distant beach and gathering around mystical rocky towers. There is no plot to this dream, Zandra-- it is simply a display of feelings.

Guest		03-Aug-2006 12:51
As if taken straight from the twilight zone. A world where dreams are born and nutriced. Reality is confined outside of the fence. All which is missing here are ghoast and faries floating over the waters, to guid you trhough the mist. This is a dream which you do not want to wake up from. But it is more an emotional dream rather then one with an actual plot. A vail of mystrey, as out soul is filled with mystery.

Phil Douglis		21-Jun-2006 22:15
I had not thought about the mystical "lost civilizations" idea, but now that you mention it, it is an apt interpretation of this image. Thanks, Lorraine, for suggesting it.

Guest		21-Jun-2006 22:05
Fantastic results, Phil. It looks as though the ocean is giving back long forgotton land and with this mystical approach, it makes me think of lost civilizations. L.

Phil Douglis		19-Jun-2006 18:53
I agree, Jenene. It is an ethereal image, created largely because of the incongruous juxtapositon of the shimmering, moving bright waters and the dark, brooding, stationary rocks in the water. Thanks for pointing out the mystical pull of nature -- it is the science of photography that brings it out here by extending time, yet also simultaneously freezing it.

JSWaters		19-Jun-2006 17:21
Quite a powerful image - classically beautiful at first look. With closer inspection, the abstraction and softening of the ocean creates an ethereal mood. The shimmering light on the water takes us back and forth until we reach the distant melding of water and sky on the horizon. For those who feel the mystical pull of nature, this is the spot to worship at it's altar.

Phil Douglis		18-Jun-2006 03:45
Thank you, Amelie. I learned a lot from making this image. I thought it a long time exposure might prove to be a gimmick, but in this case, it give us more than that. It takes us where our own eyes can not.

Guest		18-Jun-2006 03:38
Very dramatic feeling I get from this image.

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