Keyhole Arch
Big SuR, CA
KEYHOLE ARCH
A BRIEF SUMMARY OF KEYHOLE ARCH
Each year, for a few weeks in January, this natural phenomena occurs for a several minutes before sunset at Pfeiffer Beach near Big Sur, CA. With a clear sky to the west and a low tide - the angle of the sun provides this amazing glow through what is called Keyhole Arch.
Getting close to the Keyhole Arch allows rocks and sand in your foreground.
Images and location summary by Rob Strain.
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DATA POINTS INCLUDED WITH KEYHOLE ARCH SUMMARY
I would rate the difficulty of the trail as a 1 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being most difficult). From the parking lot, is an easy downhill walk to the beach. Coming back up is a bit more work.
Depending on your fondness for water foregrounds, you might want to check out tide levels. Low tide means getting quite close to the keyhole or having lots of rocks and sand in your foreground. With a higher tide you might want to get into the water and catch the light hitting sprays that come up off the foreground rocks. If you decide to shoot with a wide angle, including the sky in the background, your dynamic range will be very wide, so bracketing is advised.
Shoot and expose for the foreground you like and replace the blown out sky with one that is not overexposed. If there are thin clouds or fog on the horizon, you may be able to shoot straight into the sun through the arch. Again, bracketing will help a lot. Try to catch the sunlit water reflecting off foreground pools for a more compelling image. My preference is for …
To photography this location, you would be best to bring a wide-angle 15-20 mm. To shoot the closeup (to isolated view of keyhole) you will need a telephoto 85-150 mm.
Sea Level Ft. Elevation
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KMZ Trail File
Directions
Best Time of Day to Shoot
Best Time of Year to Shoot
Equipment Needed
Permits Required
Direction of Shot
Google Maps Birds-Eye-View
Number of Photographers to Expect
Cell Service
Overnight Lodging/Camping
Nearby Restaurants
Area Guides and Workshops
Other Resources
LOCATION SUMMARIES WRITTEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
