Visual Journey: New Year's Eve - Pfeiffer Beach Arch

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From early December to mid January, the setting sun shines through the arch at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur. If conditions are right, as the waves break through the arch, light reflects off the mist and water and the arch glows with golden light. Ideal conditions include a high tide and a clear sky. Fog will dampen the light to a dull grey. On the winter solstice (when the sun lines up exactly with the arch), the beach is lined with photographers trying to capture the magic. On this New Year's Eve, a dozen tripods (with photographers attached) showed up, plus another fifty or so people with camera phones who gathered around the tripods (but at a respectful distance).

I arrived early enough to be the first to plant my tripod (a lesson I learned from Don Smith). I knew I had chosen the best spot because the next photographer was obviously frustrated that he couldn't put his tripod right where mine was. He set up so close to me that our tripod legs crossed. (He's in the white cap.) The next man to arrive (in the red jacket) set up between and slightly behind us. I was penned in on three sides by tripod legs, but I didn't care, I wasn't going to move. We were all there to get one photo and I HAD THE PRIMO SPOT. I also give credit for this to Don Smith's ebook, The Photographer's Guide to the Big Sur Coast. I gingerly stepped away from the tripods to get this shot with my iPhone.

Conditions were not ideal. Sunset was only an hour after low tide, and although the high clouds added color and interest to the sky, ten minutes before sunset the light in the arch turned grey as the sun sank behind a low fog bank.

Not to say I didn't get some good shots. The show ended before reaching its crescendo, but the incoming waves were big enough to scatter the light. I was pleased.