Still Standing, a photo from California, West

Photographer's Note

17 MILE DRIVE - PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA

I was here the first time about 20 or so year ago, there was no wall around the tree, and people can go over next to the tree. Now there a little wall around it and you can see a wire tying to the tree to help stablize it so it won't fall. Lone Cypress is such an iconic image of the area.

There are approximately 20 stops along the well marked route, each with a landmark of interest and paved parking for your vehicle. From the trademark Lone Cypress tree to the Restless Sea, Seal Rock to Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill, if the names of these places don't evoke emotion to the active imagination, the sights, sounds and smells should do the trick. Daylight hours are perfect guarantees to get the stunning photos--but don't miss one of the awesome sunsets. A blazing, golden sun falling into the ocean behind the Lone Cypress (trademark) tree is one of California's most romantic pleasures to be experienced.

They are not kidding when they tell you it is trademarked. You cannot use the tree and photos you take of it in promotional materials for anything. If you ask how anybody can own images of nature, the answer is that you are a guest visiting private property owned by the Pebble Beach Company.

Suppiluliuma, Kofman, Kofman, dip, Bluejeans, macondo, cebe, abmdsudi, holmertz, Cricri, delpeoples, siolaw, adores, npecanhuk, paololg, Angshu, Didi, macjake, maloutim, Robert1969 has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

smarcell (19875) 2011-09-08 0:26

A famous tree, under a warm golden light.
A nice postproduction work too
Regards
Stefano

Suppiluliuma (3843) 2011-09-08 0:41

A beautiful sunset indeed, with a charming composition. I personally found the brown to be a little too saturated, and the rock slice on the left-middle catches the attention a bit.

Cheers,

Erdem

Guenther (10893) 2011-09-08 0:45

Hi Way,

what a great view! A wonderful light and splendit details... thanks for sharing!

Kind regards,
Günther

dta (51480) 2011-09-08 1:45

Hello Way ,
A marvelous composition in this square format . The subject is splendid -the rock and te isolated cypress tree- but the wonderful evening light enhances the beauty of the place .
Regards

dip (21921) 2011-09-08 2:29

Hello Way,
a wonderful composition with amazing colors and lighting,excellent captured and framed,
thanks for sharing,
Dimitris.

Bluejeans (64239) 2011-09-08 4:11

Ola Way ,
Lindo este rochedo com esta árvore no topo , lindas as cores em tons dourados , bom enquadramento da foto , parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

macondo (17949) 2011-09-08 5:32

Hello Way!
Great capture of the warm light in this one, making the details of the rock really stark and sharp. I love the contrast between this and the hazy horizon and distant headlands. I think the square crop, providing a view of the foliage in the foreground, is very successful. Perhaps there is a slight red or pink hue in the colour balance, but on the other hand it accentuates the light from the falling sun.
Great note, very interesting!
Regards,
Andrew

Sergiom (39298) 2011-09-08 5:34

Bonjour Way,

Une photo impressionnante. Le point de vue est magnifique pour faire ressortir les beautés de cet endroit. L'arbre est résistant entouré de pierres et la mer est très belle.

Amicalement

Serge

francio64 (38188) 2011-09-08 5:42

Hi Way,
una bella immagine con una luce molto calda che esalta il colore della roccia, facendola contrastare cromaticamente con il mare.
L'immagine è ben composta e a primo impatto sembra di vedere un bel quadro.

TFS!
Francesco

cebe (1139) 2011-09-08 5:50

Hi Way,

Nice shot of this famous tree. Pretty light on the rocks. The square format works well. Was there about 25 years ago; I had more or less forgotten about it. So nice to be remembered of that nice day.

Cheers,
Claude

prasun984 (5590) 2011-09-08 7:52

Hi Lim...
very nice landscape shot with nice composition by the lonely tree on the rocky stone at the bank of the blue sea...like the textures of the rocky stone with nice play of light on it...

Very nice DOF controlled with nice clarity & sharpness...

Very good shot with nice information...

Prasun

abmdsudi (26295) 2011-09-08 8:22

Sabaidee Waylim
Wonderful shot and interesting notes of this famous beach. Well composed and detailed with the rocks helping the eye through the frame to the distance Pacific Ocean. The bonsai-looked tree seems to be out of place but the setting in a cliff right by the sea is lovely and standout strikingly. The late afternoon warm light hitting the rock is simply awesome. What an extravaganza of textures, razor sharp, wonderful colors and stunning contrast, and the water action is very well frozen, plus point. Great stuff, Congrats
Best regards

mkamionka (24559) 2011-09-08 9:29

Hi Way,
I had the pleasure to visit this place many years ago and I wanted to see it again this year. Unfortunately the day when we arrived in Monterey and then Carmel had pretty bad weather with a dense fog and white sky. It was also rather cold. We decided to skip this place. Next day we started with the Point Lobos and drove south so there was no time to get back.
Anyway it is a pleasure to see this amazing tree at least in your beautiful photo. I like the attractive side light. Very well saturated colors especially the sea having a nice intense tone.
Excellent view.
M

cornejo (18116) 2011-09-08 10:29

Hello Way, a good photo of these trees to resist the ravages of weather and located in a beautiful place, a great shot well composed, with very good quality and a wonderful light, good and beautiful work well done, congratulations for that. Good afternoon and happy weekend.

Warm regards.

Angel.

bema (25936) 2011-09-08 10:32

Hello Way,

this is really a very beautiful motive, and you captured it in a real special light with a maximun at sharpness and depth..!

thanks for sharing, see you around, Bernd

holmertz (26980) 2011-09-08 11:56

Hello Way,
A well known tree, also on TE, but the colours, light and sharpness of this photo still makes it a stunning view. You have also provided a very interesting and well written note, which I appreciated.
Kind regards,
Gert

jemaflor (69011) 2011-09-08 13:06

Hi way,
Well seen good pov on this rock and this tree, very nice light, good contrast, well done.

Cricri (86501) 2011-09-08 23:15

Hi Way
Magnifique lumière sur le rocher, spectaculaire avec l'arbre, une vue et une composition imprenable
Belle journée
cricri

emka (58194) 2011-09-08 23:40

Hi Way,

Wonderful place, specially in this evening light. beautiful saturate colours of the golden rock and deep blue ocean. Interesting how this lone iconic tree is protected with wall and lines. Romantic view.

WArm regards
Malgorzata

delpeoples (45006) 2011-09-08 23:43

Hi dear Way

It's quite extraordinary that this solitary tree would still be standing in what looks to be a very unprotected, inhospitable place. But here he is, tall and proud. The light is magical and I thank you for bringing us such an untouched and wild place.

Have a lovely weekend
Lisa

siolaw (37568) 2011-09-09 3:06

Soksabai Way
The landscape, or seascape, looks fantastic under this warm lateral light along with fine colour tones. Good balance between FG and BG too.
Greetings
Laurent

zanzi (12608) 2011-09-09 12:58

Bonsoir Way
Lone Cypress is such a landmark that it is recognizable from the thumbnail picture.
Great note: although the road is beautiful, I was always wondering how they could charge for the entrance. I did not know that it was a private place.
I like the low light hitting the rocks at the base of the tree.
A great picture, as usual.
Bravo
Chris

patdeph (35738) 2011-09-10 3:26

hello Way
a superb place with the lonely tree on the rock, in a fantastic warm light.This is splendid!
Regards
Pascale

adores (28236) 2011-09-10 17:55

Hi Way!
It is really a very unique place and the light here is fantastic!A very good shot, with good colours and textures.It must be great to be there at this moment of the day. And it even seems you didn't have many people around, which is great!Good work!

DjoleEric (0) 2011-09-11 2:58

Hello Way.
Beautiful photos.
Excellent work jna this peaceful place.
Beautiful photo.
A good display of colors and Ostrna.
Have a nice day.
Djole.

paololg (31442) 2011-09-11 7:54

Ciao dear Way,
beautiful image, a photo without time that is always actual. The warm light of the sunset is simply marvelous, as the blue of this deep sea. I understand your emotions in reviewing this cypress, after 20 years. Amazing work, congratulations!
Ciao, have a nice week!
Paolo

janusz2054 (306) 2011-09-12 10:34

Hi Way,

A peaceful and beautiful scene.
Very lively colors, saturated well, fine contrasts.
Perfect composition.
Best regards
Janusz

Angshu (51174) 2011-09-14 4:49

Sabaidie Way
I read with amazement your note...2 aspects fascinated me...how they have used wire to keep the tree straight up & about the trademark!
The light is delightful, falling on the rocks on which this iconic tree rests. What I also like is how the foliage in the FG is illuminated. Rock colour contrasts well with the blue sea. A picture with fine depth & exquisity!
Best regards
Angshu

bebbetto (12) 2011-09-24 13:57

Hello Way. I know this tree ! The lonely pine. I think is a pine ...
I have been there in 1992.
Gorgeous picture. Stunning colors
Interesting note
Have good sunday

sacavem (18576) 2011-10-03 8:59

Olá Way,

I think that was one of the best moment in a year to take this pic.
That this magic light of sunset warming the colors.
This autumn add from a wonderful point of view. The result is truly fantastic!

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

Didi (48934) 2011-10-26 10:53

Hi Way
Great lights comming from the right. Making an interesting 3D effect.
Best regards

ChrisJ (86902) 2011-11-17 0:55

Hi Way

Yet another gem in your impressive landscape gallery! Wonderful sharpness & color saturation & well composed as always. The Monterrey Pine makes a good focal point. Superb warm cold color contrasts between the blue sea & reddish tinged rocks. Tfs!

macjake (39235) 2011-12-06 17:55

Hi Way
I must take a drive down this hwy...its almost sad that i live close by in southern Canada, beside the US border and i havn't driven this stretch of road yet.
with views such as this, it must be taken!
Words cannot truly describe this view, it must be experienced in person to obtain the full benefit!
lovely scenery, mother nature at her best.
excellent photo from top to bottom.
cheers
craig

maloutim (8616) 2011-12-12 16:55

Hi Way,
What an interesting post of this lone cypress tree standing on an eroding cape on the Pacific coast. I wonder if it will soon be on a little island ? However, I notice it hasn't grown very tall in 20 years. Soil and conditions must be hard for it !
Your picture is beautiful as usual, with such a good management of the golden colour, the texture of the sea and of the hills in the background !
Kindest regards.
Marie-Louise.

Robert1969 (6238) 2012-02-20 22:12

Hello Way,

This square format works very good.
This picture is taken with a beautiful and warm
sunlight, has a beautiful composition and light
management. Also nice is the little story you
told about this tree.

Friendly regards,
Robert

Noel_Byrne (7426) 2012-02-26 6:13 [Comment]