Bill Leyden's Photog Blog

When Prana asked to be photographed, I gently approached the idea of a location. I was hoping he would say, “I like the water,” which he did.

So we went down to the Santa Monica Pier at about dusk.

I thought of Monte’s rule, “when you’re outdoors, run for cover! [to find directional light].”

So I led him and my assistant under the pier, where the light at dusk metered at about F4.0 at ASA 1000, 1/60 sec.

I placed a radio-controlled bare-bulb flash to his right and a remote kicker behind him and took the shot.

Now that’s fun!

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“Hey, Bill? Will you take a picture of me and a couple friends?” asked a craniosacral student who was saying her goodbyes after a four-day training intensive.

I am sure glad that I said “yes.”

I quickly scouted the building in Berkeley, CA and noticed that the cement wall just outside the exit door was a beautiful teal color with soft directional light coming from the street at sunset time.

One of the girls said, “Why don’t you just go out into the middle of the street where the light is better and brighter?”

I thought to myself, “Because I paid attention to the master, Monte Zucker!” But I said, “Don’t worry, it will be just fine right here!”

Using this beautiful directional natural light and a silver Monte reflector by Wescott, which was held by my friend, Mana, I was able to catch this singular image, which still is one of my all-time favorites.

(Image take 25 March 2006, originally shown on my official website.)

The Goddesses

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There are no signs marking the turnoff on the Cabrillo Hwy for this unique location,  just a non-descript stand of mailboxes and a “T” in the road about a mile north of the Big Sur Post Office.  If you do manage to negotiate the turn,  you will proceed two miles down a one lane road to the small parking lot that is under a canopy of eucalyptus.  Be mindful of speeding locals and poison oak lining the road.

But once you arrive,  a short walk under the canopy and you arrive at this:

Is it worth it?  You be the judge.

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