'Through the Mist' by Chris Williams

"Through the Mist" - Haceta Head Lighthouse Beach, Oregon Coast, USA ~ © Chris Williams

Chris Williams took our Photo of the Day at the Haceta Head Lighthouse Beach on the Oregon Coast. This rugged beach has a number of tide pools and amazing rock formations that can be accessed at low tide. The image is comprised of two exposures taken some hours apart. The landscape portion of the image was shot utilizing a 10-stop cold ND filter and was shot in the early evening while stubborn fog prevailed along the coast.  The stars were captured several hours later when the weather finally broke a bit along the coast.

Landscape Portion EXIF data: Canon EOS 5D Mark II • Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 lens @ 16mm • 8 secs • f/16 • ISO 100 • using a FotodioX Wonderpana 10 stop cold ND filter over the lens.
Star Portion EXIF data: Canon EOS 5D Mark II • Tokina 16-28mm f/2.8 lens @ 16mm • 30 secs • f/2.8 • ISO 3200

Chris hand blended the two RAW exposures in Photoshop CS6, with final touches added in Lightroom 4.  The blue hues that are present are mostly due to the "cold" nature of the ND filter that he utilized for the landscape exposure.  "I decided to work with this as opposed to going against it in post processing."

Challenges: Shooting on the coast can be extremely problematic due to the fickle nature of the weather. This often leads to more hours of frustration and waiting than actual shooting time.  Chris has fond memories of this rocky coastline and the surrounding tide pools as a child. "It’s funny how that whole concept changes when you’re carrying all of that expensive camera gear around. Those rocks were slick! The tide was also on its way back in so I also got to play dodge the waves," says Chris!

Satisfaction: "This entire area really holds a special place in my heart as I’ve been coming here since I was a little boy.  Being able to come back here as a photographer for the first time was very inspiring, and I’m looking forward to returning in the coming years," says Chris.

Chris Williams is a 27 year-old biologist and Seattle, WA area based landscape photographer with a serious passion for the outdoors. Whether it’s climbing, hiking or snowboarding, one can always find him in the mountains or on the water. He always loves to share his experiences and stories with others, but sometimes words fail to describe some of the breathtaking scenery he's had the privilege to see here in Washington and abroad. That’s where the photographs come in. "Landscape photography has allowed me to share some amazing experiences and stunning landscapes with others and gives me a sort of satisfaction that is second to none," says Chris.

You can see more of Chris' images on his Facebook page, and his Exploration Photography website.

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