47.1

May 5th 2012 hosted a Super Moon which lit up the coast just as the sun was rising to the east. A Super Moon occurs when the moon makes its closest approach to the Earth and appears slightly larger and much brighter in the sky than usual. As the moonset on the morning of May 6th it illuminated the coastline at California's most famous Lighthouse at Pigeon Point. The early morning hour created deep blues and the low full moon cast a glowing light upon the surf in front of the lighthouse as viewed from the bluffs just south of the Lighthouse. The sun rising in the east helped to illuminate the normally silhouetted lighthouse and coastline.

I had spent the previous night photographing the Bay Bridge and got equally stunning shots of the suspension bridge, along with about a zillion other photographers. However few could bring themselves to rise before dawn after staying up late to film other locations. Other than a few other photographers I pretty much has the bluffs to myself. Though a number of people stopped along the highway to shoot the scene with their smart phones.

The moon eventually drifted behind the lighthouse's windows and could be seen thought the top of the lighthouse and those shots came out equally well making it a hard decision as to which to post first.

I have to also thank my wife for letting me wake her on her birthday at 3AM, then rush her out of the house so we could make it to the lighthouse in time to see the setting moon after having gone to bed at midnight the previous night. If all goes well, after a nap to make up for lost sleep, we will try and catch dinner and a movie tonight. And the really cool thing, she'll probably let me take her to see The Avengers! :-)

© Darvin Atkeson
LiquidMoonlight.com