Evening Campfire

Editor’s Note: Richard’s photo is the first in what I hope will be a long series of images shared by local photographers that highlight our area’s natural beauty. If you would like to have your photo published on the Indy’s Outdoor site, send us the photo along with a 4-5 paragraph (or more if you are so inclined) description of the photo, your experience that day and anything else you’d like to share.

Evening Campfire. I live in Carpinteria near the refinery and Tar Pit Park. On the afternoon that I took that image, I was sitting in my apartment and decided to take a walk. I took my camera with me plus an extra lens and a monopod.

The hiking path runs north, and south from the parking lot at the pier workers head out and return to from the oil platforms in the channel. I took the north leg which runs past Tar Pit Park along the bluff above the beach. Others were there enjoying the sunset with their mates or friends and I took shots of them and the scenery as I progressed north towards the campgrounds at Carpinteria State Beach.

The park is hugely popular with campers from near, and far. I spoke with one group that was from Canyon country and another group that had brought a Meyers Manx dune buggy along and I spoke to them about the vehicle – a classic design. As the sun began to set I headed over to the mouth of Carpinteria Creek.

This image was taken at the mouth, on the north bank. The sun had set completely by that time (5:51pm) and the lights from the oil platforms were glowing brightly, with the Islands in the background and the sky still glowing warmly from the sun. There were campfires burning on the bluff overlooking the creek and the sky and clouds were reflecting off the water when I took the picture.

I particularly like the blue and green highlights above the campfire though I don’t know what caused them. I like this image a lot. It is not cropped or digitally manipulated in any way.