Be SEEN 2
Our last gathering went very nicely at the Santa Barbara MIssion. One comment I heard was, “Do all these have to take place at sunrise?” Sunrise is a very nice time to make photos. The light is great, and there are fewer people around. Sunset is also a wonderful time to shoot, there are just usually more people around.
However now with the time change, sunrise is even earlier. So, that answer is a no. The next SEEN will be a dusk to sunset time at Butterfly Beach in front of the Four Seasons Hotel. 1260 Channel Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93108.
Sunset on the 20th of November will be at 4:51pm. Shooting from about an hour before to about a half hour after is prime time usually. It is frequently called the golden hour. Weather is always a factor and sometimes, no make that usually, weather makes creativity stretch. This SEEN will go on rain or shine. Check the weather to be prepared. Plan to arrive around
3:30-4:00pm.
Personally, I have always liked Butterfly Beach for portraits. The setting sun, sky and ocean as a background help simplify the images. Also there are wonderful palm trees to add in to photos for a dramatic vertical line, not to mention the unique wall that is right there above the sand which also lends strong horizontal lines.
Since the sun will be going down to the right side of this scene I usually bring along some strobe lights to light up my subjects. I will have some of my lights but I recommend you bring yours too if you have any. Mine will be available to use with my instruction and help on a first come basis. This could be a great opportunity to make that family Christmas Card.
Besides portraits (my favorite) there are beach scenes, candid photo of people just out walking along the sidewalk (think blur or panning). Sometimes really cool cars can be parked strategically. Of course the Four Seasons is just behind you and over to the left is the Coral Casino with it’s lighthouse. Photo opportunities abound.
Look for the Airstream trailer parked there. We will be using it as our headquarters. At 6:30 pm we will be in Room CL4 at the Cota Street, 27 East Cota Street, Santa Barbara, CA campus of Brooks Institute to review the afternoon’s captures. Please remember, no food or drinks are allowed in the computer lab.
To see more of my work, visit www.eliotcrowley.com
