These are gorgeous, Jackie. I was biking along the Great Highway (Ocean Beach, SF) yesterday and was surprised to see two jet skis out in the huge surf. Then I realized they were doing tow-in surfing. The waves didn't look all that big until the surfer was on the wave looking like a tiny speck.
Thank you for all your photos. I look forward to each one. Today’s photos of the swells have brought me a much needed diversion from what else is going on in this country. It’s a reminder that there are still beautiful enduring things to enjoy.
Thanks! One of the hardest things about wave photos (for me) is a sense of scale. I've taken photos of enormous waves that look insignificant in a photo, and photos of tiny waves that look much bigger than they are. It often helps to have a bird in the photo, although I was just saying to Eric that sometimes I'm just trying to photograph the wave and I'd rather not have a bird in the frame, and other times I think the birds are interesting and helpful and fun. In some conditions I find that wave heights can be hard to judge (when looking at them from shore), so if I'm headed out to work in the intertidal zone, I always check the buoy readings to get a feel for how big the waves are. And I also check the buoy if I'm curious about whether my estimate of wave heights was correct:
The conditions were deceiving on 7 January -- a flat ocean, generally light wind, and a large long-period swell. I think those conditions make it tough -- you look out there and think about how calm the ocean looks and then these enormous waves rise up and break. Good for surfing, but an important time for beachgoers to be cautious.
Thank you! I agree with you about the diversion! In fact, I had been caught up in this week's turmoil and then I had to run out to the coast for a couple of errands. I had been paying too little attention to even the weather that when I approached the ocean I was surprised to see such beautiful waves. It's hard when things are stressful, but no matter what's going on I find that it's always worth stepping outside and paying attention to the natural world. I really liked your use of the word enduring...grounding came to mind, too. :)
These are gorgeous, Jackie. I was biking along the Great Highway (Ocean Beach, SF) yesterday and was surprised to see two jet skis out in the huge surf. Then I realized they were doing tow-in surfing. The waves didn't look all that big until the surfer was on the wave looking like a tiny speck.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your photos. I look forward to each one. Today’s photos of the swells have brought me a much needed diversion from what else is going on in this country. It’s a reminder that there are still beautiful enduring things to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHi, John!
ReplyDeleteThanks! One of the hardest things about wave photos (for me) is a sense of scale. I've taken photos of enormous waves that look insignificant in a photo, and photos of tiny waves that look much bigger than they are. It often helps to have a bird in the photo, although I was just saying to Eric that sometimes I'm just trying to photograph the wave and I'd rather not have a bird in the frame, and other times I think the birds are interesting and helpful and fun. In some conditions I find that wave heights can be hard to judge (when looking at them from shore), so if I'm headed out to work in the intertidal zone, I always check the buoy readings to get a feel for how big the waves are. And I also check the buoy if I'm curious about whether my estimate of wave heights was correct:
https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46013
The conditions were deceiving on 7 January -- a flat ocean, generally light wind, and a large long-period swell. I think those conditions make it tough -- you look out there and think about how calm the ocean looks and then these enormous waves rise up and break. Good for surfing, but an important time for beachgoers to be cautious.
:) Jackie
Hi, Jean!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I agree with you about the diversion! In fact, I had been caught up in this week's turmoil and then I had to run out to the coast for a couple of errands. I had been paying too little attention to even the weather that when I approached the ocean I was surprised to see such beautiful waves. It's hard when things are stressful, but no matter what's going on I find that it's always worth stepping outside and paying attention to the natural world. I really liked your use of the word enduring...grounding came to mind, too. :)
:) Jackie