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.
Winter Solstice in the Cove - Milky Way, Bioluminescence and Pacific Ocean at Monterey Bay
Point Pinos, Monterey Peninsula, California
Bioluminescence and Milky Way Spiral Arm over the Pacific Ocean and a Small Cove during Winter Solstice on the Monterey Peninsula in California
The Pacific Ocean here in Monterey Bay is part of the Asilomar State Marine Reserve just north of Asilomar State Beach along the Central California coast. This night offered a rare glimpse of the night sky from the rugged California Coast north of Big Sur at Point Pinos on Winter Solstice as bioluminescence appears in the waters of the cove and out in the ocean. The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, is visible just left of the Milky Way spiral arm and is the most distant object visible to the unaided naked eye at 2.5 million light-years away.
The light dome to the right of the spiral arm across Monterey Bay in the distance is the light dome from Santa Cruz and San Jose, California far across the Santa Cruz Mountains rising up across Monterey Bay. The Milky Way spiral arm shines bright in the night sky over the Pacific Ocean from here, offering a rare winter glimpse of the Winter Milky Way from a small cove at Point Pinos with bioluminescence illuminating the water. It's a stunning view, taken about a 1/4 mile away from where I took Pacific Winter Solstice. It fact, you can see bioluminescence in the distance lighting the waters of the ocean as they crash into rocks offshore near that spot. In the distance, the red light of NOAA Buoy 46092 is visible above Monterey Canyon, one of the deepest submarine canyons on the West Coast at over 11,800 feet deep. It's a stunning mix of beauty all coming together in one glorious moment on the rugged California Coast just off of California Highway 1 and the Pacific Coast Highway.
Winter Solstice and Bioluminescence at Monterey Bay and Point Pinos near Asilomar State Beach
Sometimes I know exactly what I want to shoot when I head out for the night. Sometimes I just go for it, guided by feel and intuition. This was the latter. I scouted this small cove at Point Pinos during the day with my son, and immediately noticed the layout. The way the waves of Monterey Bay and the Pacific Ocean crashed against the rocky cove here caught my eye, and my gut told me it would be quite the sight later when the Winter Spiral Arm of the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) rose above it in the night sky. The bioluminescence was an added treat. I've caught bioluminescence on the California Coast before in the winter but it's never a sure thing. However, the layout of the rocks at the cove and out in the ocean told me that if it was present, it would put on quite a show.
Once the time neared at night, I headed back out. It was December 21, Winter Solstice, so I was pretty excited that everything was coming together. It was very surreal, standing there alone and taking it all in as the waves crashed into the cove and the Milky Way rose above the Pacific Ocean. I quickly set up some LLL (Low Level Lighting), dialing it in a little stronger than normal to help balance the foreground against the light pollution of Santa Cruz across Monterey Bay, but keeping it low enough it wouldn't affect any bioluminescence. Winter bioluminescence made an appearance this night, which can happen in Big Sur and on the California Coast due to the warmer weather and warmer ocean water compared to up north on the Oregon Coast. Once the photo was done, I spent the moment enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur, bioluminescence and the Winter Milky Way all coming together for one glorious Winter Solstice.
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 expose 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 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
- Settings: 16mm | f/2.8 | 25 Seconds | ISO 6400
- Process: Single Exposure | Low Level Lighting (LLL) in Foreground | In-Camera Long Exposure (The Mead Method) | Bespoke Multi-Layer Noise Management (Manual Masking to preserve astronomical detail)
Technical Note - Low Level Lighting and Achieving Light Balance with Bioluminescence
Foreground illumination of the beach and cove achieved using precise LLL (Low Level Lighting), which achieves a balance between the Milky Way, the night sky and the light pollution from Santa Cruz allowing for a single-exposure workflow.
Note on Provenance - Bioluminescence and the Winter Milky Way over a Small Cove
This image is a certified Single Exposure. 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
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• 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
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• 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
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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
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• 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.
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