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.
Titan - Bioluminescence, Milky Way and Perseid Meteors over the Pacific Ocean, Oregon Coast, Oregon
Fort Stevens State Park, Warrenton, Oregon Coast, Oregon
Bioluminescence, the Milky Way, Jupiter and Saturn over the Pacific Ocean and the Oregon Coast, Warrenton, Oregon
The Milky Way, Jupiter and Saturn shine overhead as they reflect off shallow water in the Pacific Ocean as they rise high into the sky above. Bioluminescence illuminates the waves of the ocean blue as they roll towards the shore along the Oregon Coast, as a pair of Perseid meteors streak across the night sky.
Bioluminescence and the Milky Way on the Oregon Coast: A Moment Frozen in Time
This is another photo that was taken during my 2 month, 6,000 mile journey all across the Pacific Northwest during the summer of 2020 while chasing NEOWISE followed by bioluminescence on the Oregon Coast. It was low tide, so grabbed my gear and walked out towards the ocean tide line. I got close enough to be just in the shallow tide to capture the reflections on the wet sand, while far enough away to avoid the waves. It was a little nerve racking, being that far out that close to the waves in the dark. The vivid bioluminescence made it easier to keep an eye on the tide line: look for the white in the waves and the white caps. If you're wondering why I was looking for the white caps and the white in the waves, it's simple: the rods in our eyes are what are mostly responsible for our night vision, and rods don't see in color. They are mostly monochromatic and primarily see in black and white. So, what you end up seeing is white with where the bioluminescence is, though if it's strong enough you will see a hint of blue hue to it.
I kept a careful eye on the water, never turning my back to the ocean. The Pacific Ocean is always a beautiful sight, but when you combine it with the Milky way, bioluminescence, a streaking meteor from the Perseid meteor shower and beautiful reflections in the wet sand it's one of those wonderful moments where time seems to stand still, and stand still it did. This moment was frozen in time. I still remember exactly what it felt like to be out there, and if I close my eyes I can take myself back to that exact moment. Perhaps that right there is my favorite thing about photography: its ability to freeze a moment in time, providing you the ability to share your moments of serenity and beauty with everyone for all of eternity.
What is Bioluminescence?
Bioluminescence is caused by dinoflagellates, microscopic marine organisms (which are mostly marine plankton) that emit light when physically disturbed by wave action, producing the stunning blue glow visible here. Your eyes won't physically see the deep blue glow of bioluminescence in photographs unless it's near total darkness, you've given your eyes time to adjust, and it's an exceptionally intense display. This is because our rods are how we see at night, and they don't perceive color well (essentially leaving us color blind in the dark). Bioluminescence often appears as white caps on and in the waves to the naked eye, but it's still very noticeable and amazing to see. The longer you let your eyes adjust, and the more experience you have with spotting bioluminescence, the more soft hints of hues and color you will be able to recognize. Bioluminescence often occurs following plankton blooms.
As mentioned, our eyes cannot see color well in the darkness due to the biological constraints of our eyes. Our cones are activated by color, and as such they cannot see in the dark. Our rods see in the dark but cannot see color. Camera sensors do not have this problem, they are able to see the color that is truly there as long as you exposure the image for long enough. As a result, cameras are able to capture the vivid displays of bioluminescence and color our eyes cannot see, as they are not limited by the same biological constraints as our eyes in the dark. Interestingly enough our eyes see better than cameras in the daytime, with the human eye possessing approximately 20-21 stops of dynamic range compared to 14.5-15 stops for most camera sensors, with only the best professional sensors reaching 16 stops. However, camera sensors can 'see in the dark' by collecting accumulated light over long exposures when our eyes cannot.
Technical Specifications
- Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
- Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 24mm | f/2.8 | 25 Seconds | ISO 6400
- Process: 5-Image Panoramic | Successive Back-to-Back Exposures using a Nodal Rail to Prevent Parallax Error | All Panoramic Images at Same Settings | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve details and raw data integrity)
Historical Note - Fort Stevens State Park Access at Night
This photograph was captured in 2020, prior to the current 10:00 PM parking closures at Fort Stevens State Park. It serves as a rare document of the Clatsop Spit at night, a perspective that is increasingly restricted due to modern park management and conservation regulations
Historical Note - The 2020 Great Conjunction Alignment
The position of Jupiter and Saturn right near Sagittarius and the Milky Way core was something that hadn't occurred since 1226 and 1285, and it's something that won't even remotely occur again until 2080 (they will be further away from the Milky Way and Sagittarius and to the left of both by then). After that, they won't be as close to the Milky Way core as they were during the Great Conjunction of 2020 until well after 2400 (some calculations suggest after 2600). Seeing and photographing Jupiter and Saturn near the Milky Way and Sagittarius, heading into conjunction was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
While Great Conjunctions occur every 20 years, it takes approximately 800 years for Jupiter and Saturn to return to this specific longitudinal neighborhood in the night sky. The 2020 Great Conjunction event and the lead up to it was the grand finale of a centuries-long visit to the Sagittarius neighborhood in the night sky. Future conjunctions that are close together, such as the one in 2417, will occur in the opposite part of the sky near Cancer (the Crab) constellation, far from the beautiful glow of the Milky Way galactic core. At 119.6 degrees ecliptic longitude, the 2417 conjunction will occur near Cancer, approximately 146 degrees away from the Milky Way galactic core, essentially the opposite side of the night sky from the 2020 event. Documenting the progression through photography heading into the final conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Note on Provenance
This image is a certified Panoramic of Single Exposures. Captured using the "Mead Method" developed over 15 years of nightscape experience. No trackers, no sky-swaps, and no 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
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• 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
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• 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.