ACROSS SUNSET SHORELINES
Chloe Neilson
From the diverse landscape of The Pacific Northwest to the volcanic island of Madeira, no two sunsets are alike. From hiking rocky mountains to sitting by the calming ocean, photographing these special moments enables the beauty of nature I adore, to be enjoyed by others. With mountains and rainforest lining the coastal beaches in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA, there are some phenomenal coastlines. Ruby beach is one of the most visited beaches in the state with iconic sea stacks formed by hundreds of years of erosion emerging from the shoreline and ocean. Their formation created great silhouettes during a glowing sunset showering the landscape with yellows and pinks. Gnarled driftwood washed up by the lapping waves can be difficult to navigate through when setting foot on this coastal beauty spot, however the scenery is breathtaking and worth the scramble.
The atmosphere here is forever changing and during my trip, as the light dissipated, thick fog rolled in from the ocean and visibility was extremely reduced. It was rather exciting yet a little unnerving once the darkness sets in. Similarly, off Madeira's rugged landscape are sea stacks known as IIlheus da Ribeira da Janela, formed where the longest river crosses the Madeiran mountains before streaming into the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can really sense the power off the ocean waves as they crash inwards. I embarked here for sunset and wanted a long exposure shot due to the ferocity of the waves. I knew it would show the milky tones of the ocean. I was lucky enough for the moon to be visible while the sky was still made up of beautiful pastel tones.
This article first appeared in PRISMA, Issue 20.