Sunset, Long Beach Island

By Colin Seitz (Star Patcher)

The photograph reminds me of leaving the beach at the end of the day from when I was a kid and spent a week each summer at a small beach house at the southern end of LBI. It brings back memories of relaxed evenings, with the most complicated thought being what I was going to do the next day for fun.

When I made this photograph, I had been down around LBI for the day, exploring and making some photographs when the clouds that had been building all afternoon, revealed this scene to me. I had spent the majority of the time looking east, out over the ocean, and looking to build a composition with the sand dunes, water and sky. I always try to remember to turn around when out exploring, and this photograph is a great example of why. While the light was creating nice shadows across the dunes looking east, this image far exceeds anything my mind’s eye saw.

The play of the light with the clouds and sun, as well as the walkway and sand immediately caught my eye. I set up the camera and focused the Zeiss lens carefully to ensure there was sharp focus from the grains of sand up close all the way through the frame to the distant clouds. Selecting my aperture, and film speed, I composed the photograph and made the exposure. I almost always use a tripod and a remote shutter release. Also, I will usually set the shutter to require two triggers, the first raising the mirror, and the second actuating the shutter. This allows for the minute vibration that occurs when you raise the mirror to die out prior to exposing the frame, helping to maintain tack sharp focus and image quality.

More of my work can be enjoyed on my website, www.colinseitzphotography.com, to include canvas prints and notecards. For locals, you can go to the Hotel Tides in Asbury Park NJ where the 1st Jersey Artist Registry show is currently underway, with two of my prints hanging in it along with a wide variety of work from many talented local artists.