Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: ship bottom

  • All I wanna be is by your side

    An HDR photograph taken at sunset from along the jetty at Sunset Point in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. The in water perspective hugs the darkened jetty rock and frames the colored sky and water.
    I’ll I wanna be is by your side — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Yesterday I had helping hands (thanks, Jennifer Carr!). I was able to take some chances.

    While heading over to Sunset Point for The Daily Sundown™ my hope was that the tide would be low enough to expose the bay sand on the lagoon side of the jetty rock (the right of the jetty in the shot above). #nope. The tide was already working its way back in. Temps were mild so I rolled up my jeans, hopped over the jetty rock, and made my way into the water where I had hoped said sand would be. The bay water was notably warm; summer’s coming, you guys.

    At first I was shooting handheld since I was water bound and there was no place for my tripod. Handheld is all well and good except it does not afford the tack sharp stability of a tripod. Nor does it allow me to bracket exposures as I most always do when shooting landscapes. Time to turn that on its head.

    About ten minutes in I turned to Jen, handed over my camera for safe keeping while she passed over the tripod in return. I took the device, splayed its legs wide, and began to sink it in the sand under about three inches of water. Once I was able to get a stable, level hold I reclaimed my camera from Jen and locked it into place. I let the sun get fully below the horizon and that’s when I went to town on my bracketing.

    In post processing I went with a darkened silhouette of the jetty instead of its much more illuminated brother. I’m all about mood and this version just seemed to have it. The tradeoff: the bright green moss is far less prominent in this rendition—only some faint hints of green brush the outer rocks. To its credit, this darker treatment really brings out the color festooned upon the calm waters.

  • Slow it down

    A low key long exposure black and white photograph taken over Barnegat Bay from Sunset Point in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. This photograph is marked by dark tones and strong contrast across the horizon.
    Slow it down — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 361 sec

    Tonight was a tease. All signs pointed toward a top notch sunset: rolling storm clouds, a clearing westward cloud deck, and even some small rainbows dancing about the horizon. The ground and houses were awash in a fierce golden light and the anticipation was on.

    Heh. So much for that.

    A last minute wall of clouds crept over the western sky consuming the sun some twelve minutes earlier than scheduled. This stout blockade all but assured the sky wouldn’t do its fickle light dance this night. But you know what? It worked out. My buddy Vin happened to stop by for pictures as well. Instead of seriously shooting the sunset we thought we were getting, we passed some time talking shop. In doing so I captured one 360 second long exposure photograph—the picture you see above.

    For the final processed imaged I wanted to convey movement and minimalism. Black and white naturally lends itself to this aim, but I furthered the drama with a low key approach—reducing the exposure and reigning in the viewer’s eye toward the action above and below the horizon; leaving ample negative space gives the image room to breathe, naturally working the eye through the moving clouds toward the center.

    If you’ve got some time be sure to check out Vin’s work!

  • Getting my feet wet

    A ground level perspective wide angle photograph of an ocean break during blue hour in Ship Bottom, NJ, on Long Beach Island. Foreground bubbles are left behind the retreating waves.
    Getting my feet wet — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/50

    This all wound up better than expected.

    First I was hemming and hawing about whether to get out there and shoot; the setup was meh worthy at best, its lone saving grace a distinct color cast from scheduled controlled burns in the area. I packed my car. I looked up one last time. I unpacked my car. In the end it was packed again.

    Unsure where to go I wound up on 13th street in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. With a quick glance south I saw there was a small batch of exposed jetty rock about five blocks down. I dashed back to my car, strapped on my gear and began my walk against fading light.

    I began photographing. Making what I would minutes later find out to be a hack-job move of not making sure my focus was dialed in. Shots wasted. Light wasted.

    Annoyed I ditched the tripod and decided I would race in against the receding waves in an attempt to get low angle close ups of the jetty rock. In my desire to get a well composed, properly metered photograph I hung too long and took water up to my shins. Cold water. Most importantly, all equipment was safe.

    At this point I’m just thinking this isn’t my day. To rub salt in the wounds, I look west over the berms and ocean front homes to notice their silhouette emblazoned by a fiery sunset. Opportunity lost. But at least I got wet, right?

    As really nothing more than a I’m gonna hunch over and dangle my camera an inch off the sand while approaching surf comes and goes around me and hope for the best shot, I got my picture above. And honestly, I’m damn pleased I struggled out there today.

  • Low tide allowance

    A seven frame black and white composite exposure of a wooden bulkhead and mounded jetty rock define the portrait orientation scene with Barnegat Bay expanding off to the right.
    Low tide allowance — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Today’s photo excursion began in Harvey Cedars, moved to Surf City, and ended in Ship Bottom. Harvey Cedars and Surf City were total busts as it seems Long Beach Island is now near void of exposed jetty rock. This is for the best environmentally as the beaches have been built up and reinforced by a substantial rolling berm. Storm protection and preservation comes first.

    With the oceanside long exposure jetty shot out of the question we turned to the sure thing of the bay. Returning to Sunset Point I meandered about looking for a workable solution. The sky was overcast, the water calm, and obvious shots were not exactly jumping out and boasting, here! Looking over the bulkhead I noticed an exposed tract of land with about 2 feet of exposed sand fighting off the bay water. I hopped down camera in hand and had my buddy pass down my tripod. I set up my gear, made my exposures, and climbed back out of the encroaching bay.

    Considering the general overcast I had an inkling this would lend itself to a high contrast, low key result. I’m satisfied with the end product.

  • On point

    An HDR photograph taken just before sunset from the north end of the bay beach in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. The protruding jetty rock creates a natural leading line toward the drama off on the horizon.
    On point — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Here’s a holdover from last night’s shoot at Ship Bottom’s cloistered sunset park aptly named, Sunset Point. I made this shot from seven bracketed exposures; I took them just before I loaded up my ND filter and made yesterday’s long exposure.

    I’m using the jetty rock as a natural leading line, pointing out the action across the bay along the horizon. The smooth blue tones washing over the scene evoke a calming mood, reinforced by the soft ripples undulating across the top water. This spot just screams (whispers?) stay awhile and listen. Listen to your thoughts. Listen to the water. Listen to the birds and to the breeze. There is wisdom in nature.

    With Spring just over the horizon the place makes me smile, imagining the warmth to come.

  • Passing time

    A long exposure photograph taken during blue hour overlooking Barnegat Bay from a sunset park in Ship Bottom, New Jersey. A stretch of jetty rock serves as the foreground.
    Passing time — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 50 | EXP 241 sec

    I did a bit of impromptu exploring today. Initially I went east to Sunset Park in Surf City but as soon as I arrived I just wasn’t feeling it. The tide was up and I couldn’t make a good angle. I got back in my car and moved on. In doing so I was daydreaming, you know, thinking up a spot. In daydreaming I nearly ran a red light. Nearly.

    After that shock to my system I decided I head to a familiar place from long ago: the Ship Bottom bay beach. A place where I used to paint the restrooms, dump the trash, and sweep the walks. A memory from my time with Public Works. Once the 10 second nostalgia wore off and I arrived, I immediately noticed the little sunset park tucked away to the north end of the bay beach, hiding in plain sight. Smiling, I knew I had a new spot and couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before.

    A quick walkthrough revealed many possibilities for tonight and for future nights. It even has its own little beach with a little run of jetty rock, and a gazebo too. So much potential.

    Tonight I wanted to address a few early misses with my ND filter. I wanted to play around with the white balance to see if I could counteract the blue color cast that is the byproduct of my filter, and I’m pleased with the result. Also, I wanted to capture some good clouds for once. With ample cloud cover cruising in from the west I was able to capture some real movement with this 240 second exposure. During that window, the sky really lit up orange and red and cast a pleasing glow on the final exposure.

    Enjoy.

  • Your day breaks

    Your day breaks

    An HDR sunrise photograph overlooking the dunes, dune fence, ocean and sand of 13th Street in Ship Bottom, NJ.
    Your day breaks — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    I’m not exactly a morning person so it’s not everyday I buck-up, pop the cot and go shoot a sunrise. But with a fellow photo buddy in town it’s a little easier to find the motivation.

    Conditions were pretty excellent this morning, comfortable temperatures with a cool early day glow left me thinking I’m real excited to be here. I spent my initial shooting going for the obligatory up against the shoreline shot. This was decidedly meh. The jetty rock I thought would be there had not so amusingly vanished, and there was nothing passable for an interesting foreground. When my buddy Jon walked over and showed me some shots he was making on his viewfinder, I saw he was making good use of the dune fence as foreground and I decided then I was going to follow his lead.

    Enter the shot before you.

    The swooping cloud formation, for me, creates a most interesting effect. It has the look of a crescent moon that’s dominating the daybreak sky, pressing its weight and looming ominously. Counterbalanced by the movement and lines of the foreground dune fence it makes for a well balanced scene. Getting up early was worth it.

    Related: I spent three great summers (2003–2005) manning the tools of ignorance for Ship Bottom, NJ Public Works. Three great summers of stretching dune fence. Every season we’d be replacing broken fence and even running whole sections of the stuff for blocks. Nothing like spending your days with your buddies, a couple pairs of post hole diggers, and some dune fence. It was simple labor but it always paid off going home each day having made real tangible results toward keeping our beaches clean and beautiful. Plus we got to see the sunrise each day. I miss that job.

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