Week 22 - Into the Night

Into the Night

This moment felt like a fitting end to a three-week stay in the United States. A final night before a flight back to Portugal the next day. The scene is the bay-side of the ocean barrier town of Ortley Beach, New Jersey.

With the ocean to the east and the bay to the west - sunset occurs over the quiet bay. I was staying with my nephew, who referred to it as 'swanset' as most nights, the swans (or geese) are returning to roost.

In color, the image has a pleasing blend of warm blue sky and golden sunlight—one of the reasons that sunsets are such a popular photographic subject. But the mood and moment were more about a journey's end—both for our feathered friend and me.

Black and white processing can sometimes allow a broader manipulation of tone and contrast. In particular, when the story is about the approaching darkness and not the beauty of the sunset itself.

We lingered here for a bit, enjoying the moment. This a reminder that one of photography's greatest gifts happens when we turn off the camera.

f11 1/1000 sec ISO 200 June 5, 2022