Narragansett Bay Seascape Photography

Seascape Photography on a Hot Summer Night Along Narragansett Bay 

Narragansett Bay is the visual heart of Rhode Island, stretching over 256 miles of coastline. From sandy beaches to rugged rocky shores, the bay offers endless locations for fine art seascape photography and long exposure seascape shots.

Finding Hidden Gems in Your Archives

Often, a single photography session produces dozens or even hundreds of images. We experiment with different compositions, hoping to capture that one photograph that truly tells the story. Yet, after a quick upload and minimal processing, many images remain untouched.

One of my favorite pastimes is revisiting old photos. Sometimes I discover a hidden gem I originally overlooked or a shot perfect for a new editing technique.

A Hot Summer Afternoon on Conanicut Island

Recently, while reviewing my archives, I came across a set of seascape photographs that inspired me to try a new processing approach. These shots took me back to a hot August afternoon on Conanicut Island in the middle of Narragansett Bay. My original goal was twofold: enjoy a cool ocean breeze and photograph the lighthouse at Beavertail State Park.

Upon arrival, I found the rocks crowded with people enjoying the sunset. Hopes of photographing the lighthouse vanished. I shifted focus to seascape photography of the sunset over Narragansett Bay. Flexibility is essential in photography—adapting to the scene often produces better results than trying to force your original plan.

Blending Exposures for Richer Colors

For this scene, I originally captured five RAW images for HDR processing: one at normal exposure, two overexposed, and two underexposed. Instead of merging all five in HDR software, I blended two images. The normal exposure captured the water and rocks, while the one-stop underexposed shot preserved the sky. This method prevented the sunset from appearing washed out and enhanced the pinks, reds, and magentas naturally.

A bit of dodging and burning on the rocks and whitecaps completed the composition, creating the overall mood I wanted: vibrant yet serene, capturing the essence of a summer evening along Narragansett Bay.

I would love to hear your thoughts!