Yesterday I wrote a bit about how the piers shape each of the costal beach communities of Southern California. Like I said, each one is different and worth exploring. Today’s image is almost a tale of two piers. Not because of the pier itself, although the Manhattan pier (pictured here) is much different than the Hermosa Pier (yesterday’s image), but because of the conditions I photographed them in. On this day, a winter swell had rolled in form the north and the seas were angry. This was also the day I decided to go out and paddle board. I was planning on photographing the Manhattan pier from underneath. I had visions of a long classic and powerful exposure. However, because of the wether that day, I felt that incorporating the sea told a more complete story. To achieve the vision I had in my head I shot with a very long focal length (400mm in this case) and timed the waves at their height. I wanted the face of the wave to be visible and still balance well with the pier in the distance. Let’s just say I shot a lot of images until I got this one. For me, this was a photographic blessing from nature. I could stand and stare at waves all day. Tomorrow we will continue our story of ‘The Strand’ by taking a look at the people and activity that makes this place what it is!
