November 2019 Photo of the Month: SSB4

My November 2019 Photo of the Month is SSB4, photographed after sunset at the Tabletop Reef located at Seaside State Beach in Encinitas.

SSB4 -Tabletop Reef – Background

I felt ill for a good portion of this month and didn’t get out as much as I wanted.  There were a couple excursions where I did shoot one of the sea arches at Sunset Cliffs, and made a few images near home in Santee.  I finally got out with Alex Kunz to shoot Tabletop Reef at Seaside State Beach.  This is one of Alex’s go-to spots, and it was enjoyable with a low tide (see his many, many, impressive images from this location).

The sunset was fine, but it was looking to be a very nice “blue hour” as the light dimmed.  Of course, it also meant the beachgoers were leaving too.  Most of the compositions I set up were unobstructed.

Another treat was the crescent moon, which moved in and out of the clearing storm clouds.  Although there are clouds by the moon in this image, the crescent was nice and bright.

It’s also important to think through your images as you are shooting.  I noticed immediately that my Nikon D850 was using a very cold white-balance.  I even took an iPhone shot for comparison.  The image was several thousand kelvin too cold.  I don’t know how or why it chooses the white balance it does, but the image was much better once I adjusted at home to a better white balance.

I don’t shoot the coast of North County too much due to living further South, so coming up here is always nice.  Tabletop Reef is a very nice spot!

40 Is Not The New 30

This has been a tough year for my health.  I had some heart rate issues in August that were scary.  This month, I was knocked out by a very tough cold (somebody please knock out the rhinovirus).  The associated cough that wouldn’t go away turned into possible pneumonia, and I somehow managed to crack two ribs and have a severe muscle strain while coughing.  It’s a reminder that time marches on, even if you don’t want it to.  Your body simply isn’t going to operate the way it did a couple decades ago.  It’s important to take care of your body, because you won’t be the same person you once was.  So, for the people who have continued to tell me that 40 is the new 30, you are so wrong.

Further Viewing

Photos of the Month Portfolio Gallery

tmschultze

T.M. Schultze is a San Diego-based photographer, traveller, and writer. He writes, photographs, and draws things of the outdoors that have inspired humans for thousands of years. He co-authored the Photographer’s Guide to Joshua Tree Park which can be purchased here.