Splash 惊涛拍岸 by Simon W Xu

Splash 惊涛拍岸 by Simon W Xu

This was the first time I visited the beautiful Oregon coast. I was not really familiar with the surrounding at all but praying for a nice sunset. It was a sunny afternoon but I could use a few more clouds in the sky. I finally settled on a pointed piece rock at the edge of the ocean to set up my camera but there was very little room to maneuver my feet next to the tripod. The tide was rising as the sun is setting but not for at least another hour or so. I do not want to leave the tripod as the wave may swept it away. So I ended up standing there forever as the waves after waves pounded the rocks relentlessly and getting myself all wet and cold. After standing long enough and submerged in the knee-high water with no place to move, my legs became so stiff that I could hardly bend them. But in the end just as the sun was about to set into the horizon, some lacelike fine clouds showed up in the warm orange/pink colors. The seagulls were happy. I got the shot I envisioned as a magnificent wave hitting the rock head-on illuminated by the setting sun on the other end, making a big splash. I am happy but so tired in the end that I felt lucky not slip, fall and being swept way. “I shall return to see the dawn of another day, I shall do battle again and again …”

Simon W Xu: Photos