Stormlight on the Brink – A Sunset Reckoning with the Sea

This is probably my favorite place in the world. I had seen it in photographs countless times, but nothing — truly nothing — prepared me for the overwhelming scale of this sea stack when I stood before it. The way it commands the coastline, rooted in crashing surf and glowing skies, left me breathless.

The Challenge of Timing

Photographing this scene was never about just showing up. It took several attempts, each one testing my patience and resolve. The perfect image required a delicate mix of variables:

• A recent storm to stir the ocean into motion

• High tide at sunset to expose the foreground

• And clouds just sparse enough to let the sun ignite the sky

The Descent

Getting there is an adventure in itself. I made my way down a steep, unmarked trail carved into the cliffs. With the Pacific Ocean thundering on my left, I navigated narrow ledges and crumbling soil until I reached a twisted, gnarled tree — its roots exposed by erosion, clutching the earth like veins.

It was here that I passed into the coastal wild. The trail narrowed further. One misstep, and the drop was unforgiving. I carefully stepped across the exposed roots, wind battering me from the ocean’s recent tantrum, the salt spray stinging my face.

The Moment

Finally, I found my footing, set up my tripod, and waited. The clouds began to glow, catching fire with the setting sun. Waves slammed against the base of the monolith with tremendous force. It was violent, chaotic — and somehow, deeply serene.

The Challenge Behind the Shot

Capturing this image wasn’t just about being in the right place at the right time — it demanded a full arsenal of technical precision and patience. The scene before me was vast and layered: a towering sea stack, wind-swept foregrounds, and a sky ablaze with light — each element requiring its own plane of focus.

To do the moment justice, I built the final frame from a multi-row panorama, carefully stitched from several images across horizontal and vertical axes. I used focus stacking to ensure sharp detail from the windswept foreground grasses to the distant sea stack’s jagged outline. And with the sun piercing low through marine haze, I bracketed exposures to preserve the full dynamic range — from the golden glint on the crashing surf to the darkened sky roiling with storm energy.

This wasn’t just a photograph — it was a construction of time, motion, and stillness. A meditation in chaos.

In that golden hour, the cliffs burned, the sky bled light, and the Pacific roared with fury. It was everything I had imagined — and so much more.

Location & Gear

**📍 Location:** Southern Oregon Coast

**🧭 Trail & Access:** Unmarked spur trail (~0.5 miles, steep and loose — not recommended when wet)

**🎒 Gear Used:**

- Canon R5

- 15–35mm f/2.8

- Neutral Density Filter

- Really Right Stuff tripod with spiked feet for rocky terrain