Daniel Binkard: May 2015

22 May 2015

Fishing on the Jetty at Ocean Shores, Washington, May 22, 2015

Fishermen at Point Brown, Ocean Shores, Washington, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

On clear day, the jetty at Point Brown, the south end of Ocean Shores, will have plenty of beachgoers combing the rocks, looking for rock things. On this dreary day, fishermen were out looking for fish things. I like the front most fisherman, standing at a jaunty angle on the rock, surrounded by water pounding the jetty around him. The monotone scene called for black and white; even in color it wouldn't show much.

Sandpipers at Ocean Shores, Washington, May 22, 2015

Sandpipers at Point Brown, Ocean Shores, Washington, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandpipers and fishermen at Point Brown, Ocean Shores, Washington, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Fishermen at Point Brown, Ocean Shores, Washington, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Sandpipers at Point Brown, Ocean Shores, Washington, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Double exposure of fishermen at Point Brown, Ocean Shores, Washington, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

21 May 2015

Cape Disappointment North Head Lighthouse, May 21, 2015

North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

There are two paths leading to the North Head Lighthouse, which is on the western face of the peninsula. The north path has a great sight line toward the lighthouse, and is framed by plenty of greenery. I played with various shots and focus distances, and then a person came up the trail and provided a third element for the composition. As always with moving people, it helps if you can time your exposure so their arms and legs look like they're walking, and not standing stiffly or about to fall over. I think this arrangement worked pretty well, and I like how the lighthouse frames her inside the frame of greenery.

20 May 2015

Evening at the Needles, Haystack Rock, May 20, 2015

The Needles at Haystack Rock Marine Garden, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

A long exposure at Haystack Rock, looking toward the Needles. I did some work to accentuate the monochromatic light and bring up the contrast between the rocks and the water. The water encircling the foreground rock further locks it as the primary element, and the background reflections connect front to back, giving an eyeline through the scene. I get a calm feeling from the blues and soft shapes of the water, but at the same time a sense of foreboding from the dark tones.

Perspectives at Arcadia Beach and Haystack Rock, Oregon, May 20, 2015

Barnacles at Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site in May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Mussels and anemones in a tidepool at Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site in May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Foggy morning at Arcadia Beach State Recreation Site in May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Birds fly over Haystack Rock Marine Garden, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

A crab at Haystack Rock Marine Garden, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Multitemporal view of waves crashing at Haystack Rock Marine Garden, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The Needles at Haystack Rock Marine Garden, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

19 May 2015

Sandy Hills at Cape Kiwanda, May 19, 2015

Beachgoers on the shoreline at Bob Straub State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Hikers on the sandy hill at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Trees and foliage on the sandy hill at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

View from the sandy hilltop at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

18 May 2015

Eagles Playing with their Food at Devils Punch Bowl, May 18, 2015

Two eagles and a kill at Devils Punch Bowl State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Three eagles and a kill at Devils Punch Bowl State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

An eagle flies over the water with a kill at Devils Punch Bowl State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Two eagles fly over the water at Devils Punch Bowl State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

An eagle flies over Devils Punch Bowl State Park, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

Surfers at Devils Punch Bowl, May 18, 2015

Surfers walk toward the water near Devils Punch Bowl State Natural Area, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

From the cliff overlooking Devils Punch Bowl and the accompanying shoreline, you can see patterns in the sand and water from a distance, along with beach goers. This minimalist composition explores negative space—but is the negative space the incoming water, or the water farther up the shore? I like the near surfer crossing the line from one space to the next, while the farther surfer creates his own line in the water. Timing is key for people on the move: The position of their legs should imply their forward motion, and I was able to catch strong V-shapes in both surfers to suggest that movement.

17 May 2015

Sunset at Nye Beach, May 17, 2015

Sunset over Nye Beach at Newport, Oregon, May 2015. (Photo by Daniel Binkard)

The sunset was full of gentle shapes and colors reflecting on the water over Newport, Oregon. This is a straightforward composition, dominated by the rippling shapes of the clouds and counterpointed by tiny human elements. And a bird element. While this would have been all right with just the far hillside and lighthouse in the distance, it would have been flat and not really worth showing. But the beachgoer and gull in the foreground create a fun punctuation for the scene. Looking at the scaled-down version of the photo, I thought the bird was a dog, until I zoomed in. Either way, it's fun.