So after a busy week of work in California, I managed to make it back up to the city and Baker beach as planned for a sunset shoot of the Golden Gate bridge.  I was hoping for fog, but the weather did not play ball.

NiallCWhelan_20150905_58-EditInstead I had to content myself with the view before me, and a large surf spraying onto my lens:-(  I invested in a Big Stopper and this seemed like a good time to give it a try.  I bought a Lee 10 Stop 100mm filter to fit my existing setup.  Much easier to use than a screw on.  Take a meter reading, then drop in the filter and dial 10 stops down, and click.

NiallCWhelan_20150905_30-EditThe other thing I did this week was have my sensor and lens cleaned for f22 clear photos.  Very impressed with the results from Keeble & Shuchat in Palo Alto.  Money well spent.

NiallCWhelan_20150905_136-EditThe actual sunset light from this evening was in the opposite direction.  A cloud front had just passed to the south as I was driving up to the city and the remnants of the system were lit by the setting sun.  Everyone on the beach with a camera had their back to the bridge at one point.  Unusual to see on this beach.

NiallCWhelan_20150905_110-EditThe biggest challenge I had was not having my trusty tripod with me.  A gorilla grip is impossible to use effectively on a soft sandy beach. I’m still glad I made the effort:-)