This location is familiar to almost every photographer in Israel. Dor-Habonim Coast is about 5 km long and probably the most popular among photographers in Israel. Most of it is a nature reserve which combines a few beautiful sandy beaches with many rocky areas. You can find a few photos I took here in the Israel Coast gallery on this site. Yet, no matter how many times you go there, you always find something new. This beautiful shore has so many composition opportunities that you need years to really explore it. This abandoned fishing boat (or what's left of it) is one example. It was drifted here in 1970 after an engine breakdown and has not sailed anywhere since. Some people would say it is a nuisance and they might be right. Photographers (and kids) do like it. No wonder why.
However, there is one thing I did learn that day. At first I was quite pessimistic. The sky was clear, dull and even had some nasty haze. It really didn't look promising and I thought it is going to be a just another wasted summer evening. Yet, I am pretty satisfied with the result. In an unexpected way it is the absence of interesting clouds that made it special. I think I experienced a beautiful bad light. Now that was a lesson.
The photo was taken just after sunset so there was some nice color over the horizon. The brighter part in the center, where the sun had set, gave it a nice glow. I used a wide angle lens (Nikon 14-24) at 17mm with a 3 stops ND grad filter. It is a single exposure of 10 seconds at f/11 and ISO 100.
Ah, yes… there was even another lesson I learned that day (which probably everyone already knows). There is a way to get with your vehicle really close to this location. No more walking on the sandy beach all the way from the reserve car park (and back). What a productive day it was after all.