the heel press

This shot is from the cliffs of Cape Kiwanda.  The funny thing about the extreme wide angle nature of this camera is that I was about as close to the edge of the cliff as I cared to get without a rope, yet it looks like I am safely several feet away from falling in the ocean.  By the way, this was NOT a day you wanted to fall in the ocean, as it was frothy and turbulent and soaked camera gear would be the least of your worries.  There is so much power to the ocean on days like this that I am, on some levels, surprised so few people visit in weather like this.  Standing on a cliff like this being buffeted by the wind on one side and the thunderous roar and pounding of the ocean on the other, it really is an amazing experience.  Contrasted against days like this, those calm blue days during the summer are about as close to boring as the Pacific Ocean can get.

Anyway, I thought about cropping this image down, there are some uneven areas, either from the age of the film, or the developing of it, not to mention the vignetted look caused by fall off of the light as it travels to the edges of the frame, but I kind of like the imperfections.  Afterall if I wanted a "perfect" image I would be shooting the latest digital slr with IS or VR lenses, B+W filters, all mounted to my carbon fiber tripod.  Oh and don't forget the tackle vest....   I am jesting a bit, and not taking away from those who produce incredible images in this manner (except for the tackle vest thing).  At the same time, it is nice to stand in the middle of a storm and just have to pull out a little wooden box and not several thousand dollars in gear.  Plus the imperfections give it character.  ;-)

Enjoy, that is afterall, what it should be all about.