Gonzales Solstice III
Today I show the first of a few photos taken at the 2013 winter solstice event in Gonzales Bay on Saturday night. This is the second time I have photographed this event. Last year was better, and made for better photography, because there was a largely clear sky with little cloud, and thus no rain, and we got there earlier when more of the candles were still illuminated. Click this link to see the 2012 photos.
Even so, it was beautiful and I took some pictures I am happy with – today’s is the one I like best from this year. Since I am still processing them, you will get just one tonight and more in the days to come. You might want to check out Hitty Tansy’s view of this event. She very nicely asked if I would photo her while I was at it, and those shots can be seen here, though by this time the lens could not be kept dry long enough to get through the long exposures.
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Canon 5D MkII, Nikkor-N 24mm/f2.8 lens, ISO500, f5.6, 15 seconds, 3 brackets +/- 1.0 E.V.
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burnt embers 
We are plagued with constant rain here too and it makes photography difficult. This is very nice, especially considering the circumstances.
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Hi Ken. The only snow around here today is the WP falling snow, turned on for the day. I think that the rain can make these kinds of shots – all the shiny surfaces, but they need interesting light reflecting from them.
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Isn’t your rain frozen these days?
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This is a gorgeous photo—love the sense of perspective as well as the colours.
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Thank you skadhu! I love this 24mm lens, it can make a shot like this really work for the perspective, with a great depth of field. The colour of the light is amazing when there are so many candles. The long exposures saturate it a bit too much and I have to tone it down just a bit. The street lights are illuminating quite a lot of this shot, casting the tree shadows on the water. The yellowish light in the sea wall along the left edge is from a fire on the beach that a lot of people were crowded around.
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Thanks so much for the Gonzales shots! They are like a visit to home.
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More to come Beth, but all of your old stomping grounds. I bet you are not missing the steady winter drizzle mixed with downpours, even if we don’t have to shovel it.
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Already thought “wow” when I saw the preview in the WP reader. The prettily glowing light bags make the wet sand look like liquid gold.
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Hi Kiki, and thanks! That is what I thought too, it has been raining for a few days so this rivulet from the land is much stronger than usual. I sank in over the top of my shoes while taking this picture and had a wet foot the rest of the evening. Worth it though.
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