when to go
This morning was not a planned event. I showed up at Coral Cove over the weekend and didn’t even go down the stairs to the sand. The sky was gray and bleak. The sun wasn’t visible – nothing to see! However, today I looked out the window and knew it would be good. So I put a move on and got there just before sunrise.
15 minutes before sunrise until 20 minutes after
The best pictures were taken between 7-7:30 am. Don’t forget to check the tides. Today was an outgoing tide at .5′ above sea level. The water level was great because the rocks were exposed, but the waves were moving around the rocks.
Planning Apps
TPE to check the cloud cover, this is a paid service, and sometimes looking out the window is just fine
Tides to see how wet your feet will get
what to bring
my gear
Camera: Nikon Z7 which is amazing for landscapes, even though I have just updated to the Nikon Z9, this will stay my landscape camera. It’s nice to have two setups ready to go.
Lens: Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 12-24mm f/2.8 ED with an FTZ mount adapter. I love this lens and the effect of the rounded lens which puts you in the scene.
Tripod: Peak Design Travel Tripod with a Really Right Stuff L plate, a very lightweight set-up that is not ideal for windy conditions, but perfect for most situations.
settings
When I arrived in the dark I set up the camera on the tripod, set the shutter release to a 2 second delay. You can also use a shutter release cord.
The camera was in manual mode at f/8 and I slower the shutter speed until I got the ISO to about 100. As the sun rose higher, the shutter speed got faster, and eventually I was able to take the camera off the tripod.
checklist
- Start with a clean memory card and charged batteries
- Bring a flashlight, headlamp, or something to see in the dark
- Comfort Items! You need warm clothes (sometimes), bug spray (often), and a snack
photo locations
Sunrise at Coral Cove
It is super-convenient to have a sunrise location close to home. This is a popular place to watch the sun come up with lots of opportunities to create compositions with the rock formations.
Surf’s Up at the Pier
Juno Beach surfers were riding the waves while I tested my new camera and auto-focus tracking, a view from the pier.
Moonset Over the River
How to get the perfect moonrise? Try moonset! There’s a lot of planning that goes into this, and it doesn’t always work out.
Under the Pier
Including a pier in a photo is an excellent way to add leading lines to your composition. On this day I also had Sahara Dust as a diffuser.
Shooting from the Bridge
This is not an activity for the faint of heart… nor for those who are afraid of heights or falling. It is still a desirable angle for photographing the lighthouse.
