Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: long beach island

  • Biding my time

    A serene blue hour befalls a calm Barnegat Bay in this wide angle HDR photograph taken from the secluded shores of High Bar Harbor, Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
    Biding my time — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Shooting has been at a premium of late. More so it seems the few opportunities I’ve had to make photographs have been either clouded out or entirely uninteresting. Neither of which cultivate and atmosphere for good and/or interesting landscape photographs.

    Despite today’s near totally cloudless sky, my buddy Jon had the good notion to venture to Barnegat Light on Long Beach Island. He figured at the very least we could maybe make some golden hour frames of the fishing boats at Viking Village. No trespassing signs be damned, we couldn’t get anywhere that would produce a good shot with violating someone’s well-earned property rights. We made for the secluded High Bar Harbor as a timing killing Plan B.

    Upon reaching our destination the draw of pictures became little more than an afterthought. We killed the bulk of two hours talking through the world’s problems, making them worse, and watching the sun go down. Between the serpentine sand patterns sprinkled with a hint of cloudage that began marking the westward horizon, I figured I might as well grab my camera and tripod and make something out of nothing.

  • Lamentations Fall Before the Light

    A stunning HDR photograph glistening with pink pastels dancing off the icy stillness of Barnegat Bay as seen from Harvey Cedars Sunset Point.
    Lamentations Fall Before the Light — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    And to think that for even a second I considered not going out to shoot on account of ominous clouds rolling in from the southwest.

    I’d like to think I take some solid landscape photographs—with sunsets obviously being my thing. But for all my merit, I still don’t think I captured the righteousness of this evening’s sunset. Proof I still have much to learn before I ever think I’ve mastered this craft. The glow that set fire to the sky quickened my heart and delighted my senses. Leaving me wearing little more than a child’s uncontainable grin. If not the best, this easily finds a space comfortably in my personal top five. This is the kind of unspoken light that fuels the soul.

    There were plenty other revelers taking in Nature’s work at Harvey Cedars Sunset Park this evening. Though I fear many folks bounced too early, missing the awe that came before us. As I was running around the park, trying to find my desired angle, I could feel something special unfolding. A pink glow was creeping from the horizon and over the next several minutes the color drove eastward, igniting overhead. Viewfinder ablaze, I quickly texted my buddy—also shooting at the park—remarking just how lucky we were. In there interest of full disclosure there may or may not been a few enthusiastic expletives tossed in for good measure.

    All I know is that I am fired up. Thank you Mother Nature for being as unpredictable as you are great.

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  • A frozen bay belies the weather

    An HDR sunset photograph taken from Harvey Cedars Sunset Part of a fully frozen Barnegat Bay. Unique ice patterns and strewn jetty rock mark the picture's foreground.
    A frozen bay belies the weather — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    We’re wrapping up what’s easily been the coldest stretch of weather we’ve felt over the 2014–2015 Winter—and the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway has the frozen bays to prove it. Knowing the temperatures would be moderating as soon as tomorrow (can you believe it’s going to rain after this bitter cold week!?), I wanted to get over to Harvey Cedars Sunset Park to capture the not-so-common sight of an ice entombed Barnegat Bay. While the sunset color didn’t explode this afternoon, the sights I was treated to out on the point made enduring an hour of uninterrupted cold completely worth it. My mood soared immediately upon arrival; my body and mind both were in need of this photographic ice world therapy session.

    For much of my time at this ephemeral Fortress of Solitude I was transfixed by the undulating, serpentine patterns of ice locked motionless from the freeze. I’m amazed at the transformation ice can bring to a summertime haven of warmth and water that I know so well. It’s nature’s way of teaching the duality of life—as well as its impermanence. And yet all I can think of is Yogi Berra opining, “you can observe a lot by watching.”

    Enjoy the scene now as it will be gone tomorrow.

  • Get thee to the beach

    Get thee to the beach

    An HDR photograph taken on the beaches of Holgate, NJ just after a late winter sunset. Featuring a soft pastel sky with algae laden jetty rock marking the sandy foreground.
    Get thee to the beach — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Pardon the directive—this title is mostly intended as a self-serving reminder to get my butt to the beach more often. But if you can make it, well then you should too! Living mere miles away I’ll readily admit I don’t capitalize on the natural splendor looming just to the east nearly enough. It’s hard to pinpoint the hangup/excuse but with views like the one above I clearly need to get there more often. Camera in hand since I’m an embarrassment on a surfboard.

    This past Saturday I ventured all the way down to Long Beach Island’s southern-most point—Holgate, NJ. There I met up with friends and what seemed like 5 or 6 dozen other revelers to take in the wonderful weather, low tide, and stellar sunset that Mother Nature was promising. Initially concerned I’d have my shot impacted by the sizable winter crowd, I staked my claim to the jetty rocks you see above. I didn’t venture far from my spot for the next 50 minutes or so worried I’d lose it and my precious foreground. And other than a temporary scare of 2 exuberant young photographers running around trying to capture seagull shots, my viewfinder went unimpeded. Fist bump.

    Unrelated: it’s New Year’s Eve—I hope everyone has a great night and an even better 2015. Cheers and thanks for being a part of the first year of my website!

  • On matters of motion

    In this seascape photograph, Atlantic Ocean tidal waters ebb and flow as seawater races around jetty rock as gravity pulls the water back to the sea
    On matters of motion — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/13

    Sometimes you just have to press your shutter and hope. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. With wave action coming in fast I had to be quick on my feet and steady with my hands so as to avoid any kind of camera tragedy of the saltwater kind. All the while operating blind. Let me explain:

    With my lens hyperfocal distance set just left of infinity I knew any objects a hair over a foot away from the back of my camera ALL the way to the horizon would be tack sharp and in focus. What I didn’t know was my composition. Left to aim in a general direction of jetty rock and lapping ocean, I kept firing off exposures while retreating from the wave action. Wash, rinse, repeat for a good 15 minutes—I’m certain the fine family and surf fishermen nearby thought me nuts. Under ideal circumstances I would have laid in the sand and eyed up the shot in my viewfinder like any proper photographer would. But that position would have put my equipment in too much peril; I wouldn’t have been able to pop up and escape the waves quick enough. That was not a risk I was willing to take.

    So I was stuck hoping for the best. And while I do like this shot, the prior Next time?

    If this photo tickled your fancy check out my other one from Sunday—I timed the waves crashing on a piece of jetty rock just right.

  • Watch the spray

    A blue hour photograph featuring ocean spray bursting behind a lone foreground jetty rock sending water in all directions
    Watch the spray — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/50

    I made it up to the ocean tonight. I’m glad I did. Between the meh clouds and a tide chart noting a low tide coinciding with sunset the decision was pretty easy.

    I probably don’t photograph the ocean as often as I should—I imagine this has something to do with my not a morning person status. Sunrise is the time to go, I’m just too lazy.

    But tonight it did not matter. The light was great. The tide was out. The jetty exposed and the day glow stellar. The only thing that was going to impede my shooting tonight was the wave action under my tripod. For this reason I had to go handheld.

    There was a lone piece of jetty rock set about 6 feet away from the main jetty. Between waves I was running up to the rock, dangling my camera about 3 inches from the sand, and trying to time the shutter with water spray firing off said rock. Since I was shooting a mere 15 inches from the jetty rock, the big risk was getting myself and my camera out of there before the spray got to me. All went well, and I got a sweet shot.

  • Safe harbor

    An HDR photograph of Barnegat Lighthouse taken from the jetty rock at blue hour overlooking majestic pastel clouds over Barnegat Bay.
    Safe harbor — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    As I was taking the seven bracketed exposures for last night’s shot, I was looking back northeast over my right shoulder at the incredible scene happening to my rear. Old Barney awash in blue hour pastels, cast in a soft pink glow. There was too much great light and not enough cameras (in the interest of full disclosure I was firing off panoramas with my iPhone throughout the shoot). We’re talking first world problems of the highest order. In the span of a second my mind racked over the pros and cons of moving my tripod and repositioning my camera in the midst of the phenomenal sunset that was unfolding in real time. Normally I like to find my spot and stay there.

    After a brief pause of hesitation I decided to make the move. I did go to the lighthouse to shoot the lighthouse, after all. Knowing I had to move quickly, I dialed in with speed and took one set of seven brackets before hurrying back to my first location, facing sunset. That one set produced one hell of a final result. I haven’t taken many photographs of Long Beach Island’s most famous landmark but this one is surely best.

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  • Sit for a moment?

    A cross processed wide angle HDR landscape photograph of a park bench, beach sand, and Barnegat Bay just at sunset. Dramatic clouds dominate the sky and a cool blue tone brings a real calming influence to the image.
    Sit for a moment? — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    After an afternoon palling around with Jon and cousin Dan—a jaunt that included a surprise bridal shower drop-off, some tasty burgers, cigars and some bayside Weiβe bier Quelle style—we made our way to Sunset Park in Surf City, New Jersey, for sunset. The place was happening (always nice to see); young and old, Long Beach Island revelers were out in force to pay homage as we spin from the sun.

    Looking back it wasn’t the most spectacular of sunsets, however there was such a subtle late summer calm to the whole scene. Using the park bench in the foreground speaks the perfect narrative for a shore community and a landscape that has brought such great memories to so many. As we prepare to say goodbye to another summer we can’t forget to stop, breathe, take it all in and sit for a moment.

  • M.T. Burton Gallery Summer Art Opener: and First Times

    M.T. Burton Gallery Summer Art Opener: and First Times

    A sunset HDR photograph taken along Cedar Run Dock Road in Manahawkin, NJ, by local photographer Greg Molyneux
    The path before me — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures
    Storm clouds roll in over southern New Jersey marshland
    South-facing
    A late evening HDR photograph taken just after sunset from Sunset Park in Surf City, New Jersey. The exposure looks out over a very calm Barnegat Bay and features the unfinished wood of the dock at the edge of the park with a small stone in the foreground.
    Barnegat Bay dockside
    An HDR sunrise photograph overlooking the dunes, dune fence, ocean and sand of 13th Street in Ship Bottom, NJ.
    Your day breaks
    An HDR photograph of the marsh at sunset taken by photographer Greg Molyneux on Great Bay Boulevard in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey
    I’ll leave you when the summertime
    A photograph of late day sunlight pierces a snow covered wooded trail meandering through the thicket.
    And Suddenly you Find Yourself
    Macro photography of Echinacea—Purple Coneflower
    The Space Between
    A dark sepia HDR photograph of a frozen wetland of the Stafford Forge Wildlife Management Area taken just before sunset
    Out where we cannot be
    Low key black and white macro photography of a Small Blue butterfly resting on a hydrangea leaf
    Kicking Around on a Piece of Ground in your Home Town

    Update: gonna be one short for the show. The big guy, Winter has its ways will not be making an appearance. It’s all for the best, though.

    Strange things are afoot at the Circle K.

    Exciting things are happening this weekend. The M.T. Burton Gallery is hosting its first ever Summer Art Opener featuring eight local artists—including myself! Gulp.

    This is a pretty big first for me. I’ve never shown my work. Hell, aside from a framed print I donated for a charity auction last summer, I’ve never even had prints ordered up before. Until now I’ve stuck purely to digital images posted online only. That’s been my comfort zone.

    Now I’m out of it. I’m stepping into unchartered territory, and not without trepidation. I’ve got to be honest, were my friends Jeff Ruemeli (hand blown glass art) and Ben Wurst (reclaimed woodworking) not also participating there’s no way I’d have the courage to go through with this. Power in numbers and all that jazz.

    As for the event, it’s going down this weekend June 6th–8th at the M.T. Burton Gallery in Surf City, New Jersey. If you’re out and about on Long Beach Island this weekend looking for something different to do, stop by and say hello. There’s activities planned for both Friday and Saturday evening—featuring live music, a clam bake, juggling, and more!

    The gallery above represents the ten photographs I’ve selected for the show. Special and serious shout out to Ben Wurst who’s done all the custom reclaimed framing. The work looks spectacular and it wouldn’t be anywhere near as good without his splendid touch. Seriously man, thank you.