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.
Glowworm - Nautical Sunset over Bixby Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur, California
Bixby Bridge, Big Sur, California
Nautical Sunset over Bixby Bridge and the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur, California
Nautical Sunset sets in over Bixby Bridge and the Pacific Ocean as the last light of sunset fades away on the horizon. The stars begin to make their appearance in the sky as it slowly transitions from sunset to night as the blue hour takes hold.
To see more of my work of Bixby Bridge, please see Bixby's Goodbye and Bixby by Moonlight
What is the difference between Nautical Sunset and Nautical Twilight?
The difference between nautical sunset and nautical twilight is simple. nautical twilight is the period of time where the sun is between -6 degrees and -12 degrees below the horizon. Nautical sunset (also known as nautical dusk) marks the end of nautical twilight. The sun has reached -12 degrees below the horizon, marking the point after sunset where the colors fade out enough it becomes hard to see the horizon, so sailors must navigate with the stars and other celestial bodies. Many people interchangeably use the terms nautical sunset and nautical twilight to refer to any time when the sun is between -6 degrees and -12 degrees below the horizon, though this is technically incorrect as nautical twilight is a period of time and nautical sunset (nautical dusk) is an exact moment. Another common term you'll hear for nautical twilight is blue hour (though technically, the blue hour starts during the back half of civil twilight). By any definition, nautical twilight is the second phase of twilight (civil twilight is the first phase, nautical twilight is the second phase, and astronomical twilight is the third phase. True night follows astronomical dusk, which is the moment the sun reaches -18.0 degrees below the horizon).
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 24mm | f/3.5 | 15 Seconds | ISO 800 (2 exposures, Base Exposure Value)
- Settings: 24mm | f/3.5 | 25 Seconds | ISO 3200 (3 exposures, +2 Exposure Value)
- Process: Manual 5-Image Median Stack for Noise Reduction and Exposure Value balancing | Manual Exposure Bracketing | Successive Back-to-Back Exposures | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management
Technical Note and Note on Provenance
This photo uses 5 manually bracketed images to overcome the extreme dynamic range between the shadows in the foreground and the highlights in the sky. It is natural to the scene as it was taken. Exposures were taken back to back, one immediately after the other. As always, no generative AI is ever used in my work.
Bixby Bridge Historical Note
The Bixby Bridge (also known as the Bixby Creek Bridge) is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge that spans 714 feet in total length. It rises to a height of 280 feet above Bixby Creek, and it was the highest single-span arch bridge in the world when it opened in 1932. It was completed on time despite it being the height of the Great Depression, and came in under budget for $199,861 in 1932 dollars, equivalent to approximately $4.8 million in 2026 dollars (a remarkable feat of Depression-era engineering and fiscal discipline). Before the Bixby Bridge opened, Big Sur residents were virtually cut off during winter due to the impassable Old Coast Road that added 11 miles inland to any journey. It underwent a $20 million seismic retrofit beginning in May 1998. Parking near Bixby Bridge is now heavily restricted compared to 2023 and earlier, due to rule changes after the 2024 CA-1 highway repairs south of here.
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.