Coastal chiaroscuro

I like to experiment with different techniques to try to give my pictures a unique look. The use of creative lighting, specialty lenses, or various processing methods can be useful at times in evoking a mood. I recently obtained a lens that enables me to shift the plane of focus in my compositions; I can pinpoint one area and create a blurring effect in much of the rest of the frame. The first few days I had the lens I was traveling in Oregon along the fabulous Pacific coast. I played with the new lens, exploring its range. I captured this gull on Cannon Beach. I liked the results and have continued to use the lens, even incorporating it into some of my news photography.