This museum grade fine art photograph is available in a fine art limited edition of 200, signed and numbered with a signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance.
Fountain of Youth - Sunset over McWay Falls and McWay Cove, Big Sur, California
McWay Falls, Big Sur, California
Sunset over McWay Falls, McWay Cove and the Pacific Ocean, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Big Sur, California
Turquoise water fills McWay Cove as the colors of sunset hang on long after the sun has dipped below the horizon, illuminating the skies over McWay Falls and the Pacific Ocean as dusk sets in.
To see more of my work of McWay Falls and McWay Cove, please see Paradise Dream
The Thin Place of Big Sur: McWay Falls and the Pacific Ocean at Sunset
There's something about the water here that's mesmerizing. If the Fountain of Youth really exists, it has to be the magical waters down in McWay Cove. That deep turquoise blue water which can form in the cove is always something else to see. McWay Falls is famous for being one of only a handful of waterfalls on the Pacific Coast to drop straight into the ocean, but it's that water in the cove which really leaves you breathless. The contrast between the rugged, rocky cliffs and the thin stream of water dropping straight into ocean filled with blue turquoise water below is stunning. It's a thin place, place where heaven and earth seem to blur. Time always slows down here, and with a place this beautiful it's hard not to just stare out and ponder. It's a wonderfully complex yet simple natural beauty all at the same time. I've always found sunsets over the ocean magical, and with a foreground of turquoise ocean water and a thin waterfall falling off the rugged cliffs directly into the ocean, this has to be one of the most beautiful and unique sunsets I've seen on the Pacific Coast. The colors hung on forever, which can happen in places like the coast where you have great line of sight to the horizon. This was certainly one I'll never forget.
Tidefalls of the Pacific Coast of the United States
Tidefalls are incredibly rare. They are waterfalls that drop straight into the ocean. Most sources claim there are only 3 to 4 tidefalls on the Pacific Coast, but as someone who has spent decades exploring the Pacific Coast I can confirm there are at least 5. Along with Alamere Falls (at Point Reyes National Seashore) and Strawberry Bay Falls (Third Beach Falls in Olympic National Park), McWay Falls is considered one of the three most notable tidefalls on the Pacific Coast of the continental United States. Additionally, there are three tidefalls in Hawaii: Waiulili Falls, Kaluahine Falls, and Honokohau Falls (though technically Honokohau Falls drops into a stream in a deep gorge which then runs directly into the ocean). The full count of Pacific Coast tidefalls remains an open question. There are likely more waiting to be properly documented along the remote stretches of the Oregon and Washington coasts.
McWay Falls: The Tidefall and the 1983 Landslide that Created Sandy McWay Cove
McWay Falls is a Tidefall, but it doesn't always drop straight into the Pacific Ocean anymore. Before 1983, it dropped straight into the ocean as a true tidefall all year long, with no sandy beach present. In 1983, a massive mudslide took out California Highway 1. Repairs to the highway took a year, and over time the wave action of the Pacific Ocean deposited the sediment south into McWay Cove, creating the sandy beach that McWay Cove is currently known for. At high tide, as seen in this photo, McWay Falls still drops straight into the ocean. At low tide, it drops onto the sandy beach in McWay Cove next to the ocean.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 30mm | f/11 | 20 Seconds | ISO 100
- Process: Single Exposure | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (The Mead Method)
Historical Note
This photograph was captured prior to the long-term closure of the McWay Falls Overlook Trail, which began in 2025 for retaining wall repairs and rehabilitation. The perspective shown here are currently inaccessible to the general public (with no re-opening date given), making this archive a rare documentation of McWay Cove and McWay Falls from the overlook trail as it drops straight into the Pacific Ocean.
Note on Provenance
Captured using the single exposure workflow of the "Mead Method," developed over 15 years of fine art landscape experience. This image preserves a genuine, single moment in time executed entirely in the field without the use of composites, sky swaps, or generative AI. Just a single moment in time, preserved.
Photo © copyright by James Mead.
Chromaluxe® Metal Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Vibrant. Modern. Impactful.
My Chromaluxe® Metal Fine Art Prints offer a sleek, modern presentation that’s both bold and beautiful. Using a high-heat dye sublimation process, each image is infused directly into a specially coated aluminum panel resulting in vibrant colors, ultra-sharp detail, and a striking glossy finish. The dye sublimation process infuses the image directly into the metal, creating a scratch resistant surface while helping provide permanent protection.
These prints feature:
• Vivid, color-rich surfaces ideal for modern spaces
• High contrast and incredible sharpness: perfect for clean compositions and bold landscapes
• Durable and lightweight aluminum construction
• Float mount backing for a frameless, floating display. Ready to hang out of the box
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
These metal prints are ideal for collectors seeking a contemporary look with museum-quality output. Resistant to scratch, moisture and UV fading, they work beautifully in both home and office settings.
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Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Gallery Float Ready to Hang
Museum-Grade Brilliance. Gallery-Worthy Depth.
Bring home the brilliance of nature with the industry’s finest print medium. My Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints are crafted using a state-of-the-art process that infuses archival pigments into a transparency layer, backed by a clear acrylic backer and mounted under crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic. This creates a luminous, almost 3D effect. Colors appear to glow from within.
These gallery-grade prints feature:
• Incredible depth and clarity, fine details leap off the wall
• Exceptional color fidelity with deep saturation and smooth tonal gradations
• Anti-reflective, scratch-resistant museum grade 1/8” TruLife® acrylic offering unmatched viewing clarity under all lighting
• UV Resistant: TruLife® acrylic blocks up to 99% of UV rays
• 1/8" clear acrylic backer mounted using an archival adhesive layer
• 1.25” Roma wooden rear float mount frame inset 2” from the edge for a clean, frameless display that is ready to hang
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 3-4 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether you're designing a luxury interior or curating a personal gallery, these prints are built to impress and designed to last a lifetime.
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Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints | Museum-Quality Ready to Hang
Timeless elegance. Unrivaled depth. A true centerpiece.
My Roma Framed Lumachrome TruLife® Acrylic HD Fine Art Prints represent the pinnacle of archival display. These statement pieces combine the award-winning brilliance of Lumachrome HD with the craftsmanship of custom Roma wood mouldings, transforming your chosen image into an heirloom-worthy work of art.
Each piece is handcrafted by master printmakers and framers in the USA using museum-grade materials. The print itself is infused with archival pigments into a transparency layer, mounted to an archival acrylic backer and face-mounted and sealed under a 1/8" layer of crystal-clear TruLife® acrylic: a premium optically-coated surface that eliminates reflections and enhances depth, vibrance, and clarity.
Surrounding this luminous presentation is your choice of genuine Roma Moulding, hand-built with a choice of 3.5" or 4" Italian made wooden Roma frame with a 3" black linen liner for a refined, framed, museum grade appearance. This adds approximately 13 to 14 inches to both the height and width of the final piece. This level of finish is rarely seen outside of luxury interiors and gallery exhibitions.
After placing your order, I’ll reach out personally to confirm your ideal frame and liner pairing from my curated Roma collection. If you’d prefer to finalize your framing choice in advance, feel free to reach out any time for a custom recommendation.
These museum grade works of art feature:
• Gallery-grade presentation with luminous depth and 3D effect
• TruLife® acrylic: anti-reflective, scratch-resistant, and blocks 99% of UV
• Archival quality construction with pH-neutral adhesive and backer
• Available in your choice of 3.5" or 4" Roma wood mouldings with a black linen liner for a framed, museum-grade appearance
• Museum-grade 3" black linen liner for added depth and visual separation
• Signed and Numbered Limited Editions of 200
• Signed Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided for additional provenance
• Hand Crafted in the USA by our master printmakers
• Ready to hang out of the box: no glass or framing required
Please contact me for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping rates. Please allow 4-5 weeks for production and delivery.
Whether displayed in a luxury residence, corporate lobby, or fine art collection, these framed prints command attention and offer a sense of permanence few art mediums can match.
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These are investment-grade art pieces designed to last generations. If you have any questions, need any mock-ups or if you need anything else before purchase, please reach out and I will be in contact shortly.