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Ok…time to run another naming contest. Please submit a name for this image and I’ll pick the one I like the best. The winner will get a free print of his/her choice, but you must submit by posting to the blog (umm, that’s for you Mim). Lisa Tormondson, if you’re out there please limit your suggestions to 4 or 5…:)
A little technical background on this image. It was shot at 11am during very high tide and surf, the highest I had actually seen it in over a week. It was also very overcast, and is what drew me into the shot. This shot was SUPER heavily filtered and I knew ahead of time it was going to be a monochrome image. I started with a “Blue/Gold” filter which added some polarization to the image and cut the shutter speed by a stop. I put on top of that 4 stops of neutral density (gray) glass to bring the shutter speeds down to around .5 – 2 seconds. I then used another 2 stops of SPLIT neutral density to bring the sky way down, relative to the rest of the image.
Also, a word of caution about shooting in these conditions. As many of you know, ocean surf comes in “sets” of three typically. But, there exists this other kind of wave, I call it a ROGUE wave. Its not like the others, it catches you off guard, its bigger, and its going to get you and everything NEAR YOU (camera bag, filters, lenses) wet. Just keep this in mind. 
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10 Comments
I would call it the “Water Mesa”
Wes
Tsunami
Inspired by two cups of coffee, these names naturally come to mind:
1) Quattro wavemaggio
2) Pacific Cauldron
3) Ocean Fugue
4) Despair beach
Even though “Quattro Wavemaggio” sounds a bit cliche’ and derivative, it is my favorite of the four.
When do I get my free print?
Hi Alec,
The clouds and the wave seem to merge, for me, in this photograph. It’s as if the wave dropped out of the clouds. My suggestions are:
Wave of the Clouds
Wave from Above
Dropped from the Clouds
Heavenly Wave (last choice — circumstances don’t look very “heavenly”!)
Fun to look at others’ suggestions for titles!
I would call it “unsettled”.
I would call it “In the Beginning”; self explanatory but it does remind me of the day I was born.
The name ‘Acantha’ came to mind, for no particular reason. Turns out she is a Greek goddess, but there is also a pantheon of Oceanids to choose from, for this or future shots (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanid).
Because of the atmosphere of this photo and the fantastic legend associated with her (including separating the water from the sky), I would choose ‘Eurynome’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurynome_%28oceanid%29)
(posted earlier but didn’t seem to go through, here goes again..)
The name ‘Acantha’ popped into my head. Turns out she was a Greek goddess. Found there are many more specifically Ocean goddesses (Oceanids) to choose from, for this shot or others in the future (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanid)
Because of the primeval atmosphere of this photo, I suggest naming it for Eurynome, the grand Creatrix, who among other fabulous things, separated the sea from the sky, and rolled a snake (your rogue wave, perhaps) out of the ocean (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurynome_%28oceanid%29)
Title suggestions:
‘Eurynome the Creatrix rolls Ophion the Rogue into Being’
or perhaps more poetic (and easier to say)
‘Lahu Separating Sea from Sky’ (Lahu is the Sumerian’s name for this goddess)
or simply
‘Lahu’
Hi Alec – You know I’m having a wonderful day so I’m pretty sure my mood isn’t influencing my title choice but when I study the photo, one word comes to mind
“Doom”
A stretch, but I do sorta see 4 horse heads in the wave too…hopefully not a predictor of how my spring semester is going to go!
-John G-
AJ!
I am reviewing your photo while listening to a soothing hemi-sync rain track and I am transported to this spot. I am standing in the surf and the water is flowing around me. The waves washing away stress and anxiety and bringing forth release and expanded awareness. It is interesting to see how our visions of an image are affected by our personal circumstances. My name suggestion, “Waves of change”. Have a great day!
Kimberely