What Would the Ocean Look Like in Slow Motion?

Las Vegas sits in the middle of the Mojave Desert, hundreds of miles from the nearest wave. It's an unlikely place for an underwater photographer to call home. My name is Jamie, and I create fine art photography of the wild places that put life back into perspective. These include oceans, forests, mountains, and deserts. The California Coast holds a special place in my heart, so when I had the chance to visit again, I didn’t hesitate. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, just south of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, was the destination that excited me the most. 

I knew finding the best time and location to capture the beauty of the area where no humans would be in the way wouldn't be easy. However, I knew if I was patient and waited until the perfect opportunity arose, I'd find the exact right place to compose my photograph.

Arriving at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve

It wasn’t long after my arrival at Point Lobos before I realized how serene the entire area was. I could hear the waves breaking on the shore and calls from sea lions off in the distance. I could also hear songs from the many species of birds… pelicans, cormorants, gulls, and egrets all around me. The taste of the salty ocean air grazed my lips and feel the cool ocean breeze on my cheeks. There was also a slight hint of wildflowers blooming, which made my nose tickle.

As I walked down a path toward the ocean, the views in every direction were simply stunning. I could see everything from the forests leading to the uneven cliffs to the crashing waves. The shallow ocean water near the shore held beautiful shades of blue and green. In some spots, I could even see straight through the water to the bottom.

Everywhere I looked, birds flew through the sky or rested on the cliffside, and seals swam in the ocean or sunned themselves on the beach. Even butterflies fluttered along the wildflowers. I'd never been anywhere so full of life before.

Overwhelmed by all the sights and sounds, I had to be careful as I approached the edges of the trail. I didn't want to accidentally wander too close to the cliff and fall. People all around me were walking with a purpose as if they had somewhere important to go. As I gathered myself, I started to think: what if the people who visited this amazing place could slow down and be truly present too? What would the landscape look like if you completely stopped long enough to let the whole world move around you?

Point Lobos was a place unlike anywhere I'd ever been, so I knew it deserved a special photograph unlike one I’d ever seen or captured before. I didn't want to capture it in a single instant. I wanted to find out what it would look like if we could see life in slow motion. What it might look like from our perspectives if people slowed way down and looked.

Trying Long Exposure Photography for the First Time

I'd only ever seen long exposure photographs in magazines. Having never tried one myself, I had no idea what the camera would actually show me. I took many different shots and from different angles. I tried different camera settings to capture the location's beauty and the peace it brought me. That's when I decided to have my camera mimic what I'd like humans to do. I slowed down my camera and took my picture using a slow shutter technique. I kept the shutter open far longer than usual so it could gather all of that movement into one frame.

I returned over several days, searching for the perfect spot and light to bring my plan to life. The park closed before sunset. I didn't have long each morning before the crowds arrived. And I was running out of vacation days to get my photograph.

The Overcast Morning That Made the Photograph

The last day of my trip was completely overcast. There was zero chance for a beautiful sunrise. I was disappointed that I wouldn’t get to see the sunshine that morning. Still, I took what nature gave me and tried to use the haze to my advantage.

I found a spot overlooking the rocks and the sea. I took out my camera, set up my tripod, and took my photograph using the special technique I tested earlier in the week.

The final image, Timeless, had a beautiful soft blue hue throughout that I'd never captured before. The long exposure softened the water, the waves, and the clouds. Only the crests of the waves breaking around the offshore rocks appeared white, with the rest of the water completely flat. The white water around the rocks gave the image a feeling of another world. The moss on the rocks created a pop of color next to the cormorants sitting on top of them. This was Point Lobos in slow motion.

Looking back, the gray sky that disappointed me so much turned out to be a gift. Without the sunshine, nothing competed for attention. There was only the sea, the rocks, and the cormorants keeping watch. It showed me how the world might look if we slowed down long enough to see it. It made me want to see the world the way all the time.

The waves at Point Lobos will keep breaking, and the birds will keep calling whether we rush past or stand still. The difference is whether we're present enough to notice.

Maybe you're reading this between meetings, with a dozen tabs open and a full inbox waiting. If so, I hope this photograph gives you a moment of that same stillness.

Timeless, a fine art ocean photograph, is now available as a limited-edition wall art print. A portion of every sale supports ocean conservation, so the coast that gave me this morning can keep giving it to others.