Black and White Sunset Photo of the California Coast

The sun was setting, the waves were crashing, and I didn’t have a tripod to capture the moment. On top of that, all I had with me was a black and white camera. Who shoots coastal sunsets in black and white? The answer: I do.

My wife and I were staying at a coastal resort in Elk, California. That’s along the northern California coast, just a couple dozen miles south of Mendocino. Sunset approached and we wanted to take a walk down to the beach. I brought my camera, but I didn’t feel like taking a tripod.

I have a confession. I hate tripods. Well, hate is too strong a word. I don’t actually hate them, but I prefer not to use them. They’re awkward to carry and it feels like it limits my freedom when I’m out shooting. I can hear what you’re saying, “Then I guess you shouldn’t be a landscape photographer then, huh, Bud?”

My answer is that I don’t like to follow photography “rules” or “expectations.” That’s the cornerstone of my photography philosophy. There are all types of landscape photographers, so get it over it, “Bud.”

Getting That Sunset Shot

As we approach the beach, the smell of the ocean hits our noses. There’s nothing quite like the smell of the ocean to make your mind relax and your mouth break out in a smile.

I could tell it was going to be a nice sunset. Not a perfect one, as there were not a lot of clouds in the sky, but the colors were starting to turn orange and red.

Since I only had a monochrome camera with me, I began shooting the shapes of the rocks against the bright sky. A tripod would allow me to get the same shots but with a longer exposure that would make the waves appear creamy.

However, I didn’t have a tripod, so I just had to capture the scene the best I could. As the sun neared the horizon, I set myself at the edge of the surf and knelt down to get a lower perspective.

The rocks in the distance on the right side of the frame acted as a sight line leading to the sun so I made sure to get them in the composition. I waited for a wave to roll and almost break and then I pressed the shutter button.

I knew it was a good composition, but it was a monochrome image. I didn’t expect much from it, to be honest. Still, it was one of those magical moments: standing next to the crashing waves while the sun set over the horizon. Even if I was able to, I would never be able to capture the pure beauty of being there in that moment.

Upon returning to our room, I browsed through the photos I had taken. I was still basking in the sunset as I flipped through the photos, but when I came across this photo, I paused and sat back. I felt proud of capturing such a scene in black and white and it felt unique.

While I will likely bring a tripod with me in a similar situation next time, I’m relieved to know that going without one doesn’t mean there is no possibility of capturing a wonderful photo.