BACKSTORY - Beach Cross Sunrise

I often go to beach near Pensacola’s famous Beach Cross because I like the gradual way the beach floor goes out into the Gulf. But, as it often occurs, what I photograph turns out much different from what I go out to photograph.

This morning the skies were troubled at sunrise, which often leads to photographic opportunity.

Looking around I realized my picture was not out in the Gulf or even up or down the beach but rather behind me in the direction of the cross. This became even more apparent when the rays of the sun started to illuminate the cross and I was able to get what was to me a unique (and gorgeous) image of this often photographed icon.

About BACKSTORIES

Did you ever wonder about the story behind the picture? That’s BACKSTORIES. It’s where I talk about how a particular image came to be or maybe more detail about the picture’s subject or history.

BACKSTORY - Sunset at the Pier

Stretching out across the emerald waters beyond two sand bars the almost 1,500 foot long Pensacola Beach Pier is a great place for fishing or sunset watching.

I made this sunset image in mid-January with my camera on a tripod and using a neutral density filter to achieve a 10 second exposure which gives that smooth, silky look to those gorgeous turquoise evening waters that are reflecting what I would consider a stunner of a sunset.

BACKSTORY - 12th Avenue Welcome

Many people say this is their favorite street in Pensacola. Some like to refer to is as the “Tree Tunnel.” 

The road was originally the entrance to the Baars family’s vast estate, including their Bayou Texar home, Cordova Towers. The trees were planted in anticipation of Mary Ellison Baars’ plan to develop the area with vacation homes for wealthy northerners, but that project fell through when economic conditions soured in the early 20th century. 

BACKSTORY - Blood Supermoon

It was a bone chilling, 40 degree, 20 mile per hour wind coming straight in our face as my wife, Liz, and I walked to the end of the Pensacola Pier this January evening. Gamely hanging until she could bear it no longer, Liz returned to the car to wait it out. I picked up my pace. Work efficiently, work quickly, try not to screw up, I thought to myself.

But the cold brought advantages as well. Unlike many moon rises at the beach, where Gulf Coast humidity obscures the horizon and full moons often fizzle photographically, this evening had promise.

I saw the bright edge of the moon the moment it broke the horizon. As the sky darkened I rushed to move my tripod a dozen so feet, keeping the moon centered between the towers of Portofino. I cranked up my camera’s sensitivity to keep my shutter speed within reason. By now, the only color left in the sky was blue, except the moon, the blood-red-moon. It was gorgeous. Tonight might be the night.

I locked my tripod head, checked the focus of my 600-mm lens, and started firing my Nikon, using my body to shield the camera from the wind. Unconsciously, I held my breath.