First light at Gray Whale Cove. Sunlight just hits the tops of the waves.
Gray Whale Cove, Pacifica CA
Photography is not always easy. But it can be rewarding most of the time. For this shoot, I got on the road at 6AM to get to Gray Whale Cove by 7. Walking down the many stairs from the road above to the beach, the light was in the “Blue” phase of the dawn. A bit later, the sunlight was on the cliff tops inching down toward the water. It was a good 45 minute wait until the sunlight reached the bottom of the cliffs at the water line. Then just a few minutes more for the light to touch just the tops of the waves. The early start was the hardest part. Well, that and climbing back UP the stairs to the road! But the waiting in between was invigorating. The blue sky, the mist of the waves, the sound of the crashing surf, the clean smell of the Pacific Ocean, the solitude (there were just two other fishermen on the beach with me), all added up to a wonderful morning. I only got a couple of shots worth editing and showing, and sometimes that can be disappointing. But on this day, it was a gift.
