Greg Molyneux Photography

Tag: sunset

Sunset photography

  • The path before me

    The path before me

    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

    The Winter of the Great Sunset™ continues. Snow and cold be damned, the sky has been putting on a show this season. Seriously, though? Who am I kidding? I love the snow. Anyway…

    I returned to my tried and true Dock Road location to take advantage of the sun’s angle in the southwestern sky. While I’ve made shots from this location scores of times before, I wanted to find a slightly different take composing the scene—and by slightly different take I mean more visually pleasing; an arrangement that naturally fosters eye movement throughout the image.

    To achieve this end I kicked the legs out wide—getting nice and low—and pulled my tripod back a few feet. This brought the small rock and sand that now marks the foreground into the frame, creating a nice starting point to guide your attention throughout the photograph.

    I’m pleased I found this shooting position. I’ll certainly be revisiting in the future.

    I hope you enjoy.

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  • I’ll leave you when the summertime

    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 — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    Since I was already down in Little Egg Harbor visiting with friends today, Great Bay Boulevard always hung in the back of my mind as the likely landing spot for tonight’s obligatory sunset chasing. I say obligatory if only because a) it’s a Saturday in winter—rending me home from work—and b) the setup looked favorable all day.

    We found our general area and I began investigating as to where I’d eventually plant myself and my tripod. While meandering about the shoreline excellent light was holding sway out over the marsh and my mood was good. This is always a favorite part of the experience for me—framing the shot and appreciating the waning light of day. Always take a moment to step back from the viewfinder to take it all in.

    I positioned myself precariously on some loose fitting jetty rock, or some facsimile of a lesser jetty rock. Regardless, it felt like a twisted ankle waiting to happen but served up the best view angle as far as I was concerned. Potential falls be damned, I set up the camera and tripod and began making the above photograph. It’s a composite of seven exposures later merged for processing in Photomatix Pro and Lightroom. I hope you enjoy.

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  • Who watches The Watcher?

    A portrait orientation HDR photograph of the Barnegat Lighthouse at sunset in snow.
    Who watches the watcher? — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/13

    We had a brief outbreak of light snow today and I wanted to get out to photograph it. With my friends up and their truck accessible, we took a cruise down to Barnegat Light figuring the snow pack and potential salt water ice flows would have something to offer as far as interesting pictures go.

    It worked out just so that as the snow was pulling off over the ocean to the east, the sky cast a solemn beige-purple hue to the south west. It was this sky that I wanted to feature with my shot of the lighthouse.

    Of note, this is one of my first times photographing Old Barney. I’ve got to get back soon and add this to my list of regular locations.

  • Winter has its ways

    Winter has its ways

    A wide angle HDR photograph of frozen bays and a magnificent sunset at Antoinetta's Restaurant on Cedar Run Dock Road.
    Winter has its ways — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 3 Bracketed Exposures

    I’ve been privy to a spate of spectacular sunsets of late. While winter typically brings the goods, over the past seven weeks I’ve had this, this, and this happen; each better than the next. You could say the first rule to making good pictures is being there, and nothing has proven more true.

    Get out there and freeze your butt off. It’s worth it.

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  • and the heavens created the earth

    Jaw-dropping HDR wide angle photograph of a sunset over the south-side of Cedar Run Dock Road.
    and the heavens created the earth — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    The stars aligned today. It’s hard to say waking up with a sore throat, beat down from the weekend can be a good thing, but on this day it is so. You see, my misfortunate allowed me to work from home and thereby be local and camera ready for sunset.

    It paid off.

    This was the best sunset I’ve yet to photograph. In fact, it’s one of the best sunsets I’ve ever seen unfold. All day long I was poking my head out the window, looking toward the sky assessing the cloud situation. By 3:30 PM it was clear a solid sunset at minimum was in play. While my buddy and I were getting setup and noting the ideal cloud features and creative sun angles, the excitement of the infringing pinks marching down from the north was palpable. We knew this was going to be special. I mean the night before a ripping northeast snowfall, how couldn’t it be?

  • Fury at the Hellforge

    A landscape photograph of a fierce sunset to the south of Great Bay Boulevard in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey
    Fury at the Hellforge — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/10

    I’ve already mentioned the perilous battery life occurring during this shoot; flashing red lights, double rainbows, and with this included, what amounted to two great shots. It was an embarrassment of riches this day that would have left me angry with myself had my battery expired.

  • Somewhere

    Photograph of a double rainbow that formed opposite the setting sun on Great Bay Boulevard in Little Egg Harbor Township
    Somewhere — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | EXP 1/3

    Seldom have a rolled the dice with a minimally charged battery. As a photographer with a habit of shooting sans CF card, I figure the least I can do to bolster my workflow is ensure my battery is charged. Just not on this day.

    The skies were filled with some ominous clouds this day and sunset shooting seemed a must. Instead of my go-to Dock Road spot, I took a bit of a longer drive to Great Bay Boulevard. The extra gas paid off. As I was shooting an incredible sunset casting deep blues and fierce purples my battery indicator began flashing. Red. Pause. Red. Pause. Breathe. Pause. Red. Pause.

    It was then that I turned around. And yeah, this happened. With my battery on its last and my heart pounding, I spun my camera’s tripod mount, framed my shot, and exposed. I was able to rifle off the shots I need and come up with this picture. Other than a touch of sharpening, this color is straight out of camera—I’ve yet to see the natural light so pink. What an awesome day.

  • Beyond the Gray Sky

    An HDR sunset of Antoinetta's Restaurant on Cedar Run Dock Road in Manahawkin, NJ. While grays and blues set the tone of this seascape, the fire lit sunset in the distance elevates the drama with strong reds and pinks.
    Beyond the Gray Sky — 14mm | f/8 | ISO 100 | 7 Bracketed Exposures

    A cool November sky is set ablaze behind Antoinetta’s Restaurant on Cedar Run Dock Road in Manahawkin, NJ. Long has Dock Road been a treaded stomping grounds—long before the days I ever had designs on photography. Now I get to explore this wonderful vista in exciting new ways behind the lens.