Sunset Through Beachgrass

A serene beach scene at sunset. Tall, slender grasses in the foreground frame the view. The sky is a blend of soft oranges, yellows, and grays, with the sun partially hidden near the horizon, casting a warm glow over the calm ocean. A few people are visible in the distance, enjoying the tranquil setting. The overall atmosphere is peaceful and picturesque.
Viewing the sunset through beachgrass on Upham Beach in St. Pete Beach, Florida. — J. Matthew Buchanan

I didn't intend to shoot the sunset on the evening I captured this photograph. We went to the beach to check out a small wedding that was taking place (from afar, not as crashers!). This put me in a new spot and forced me to look at a subject I have photographed probably hundreds of times before from an entirely new vantage point. And behind beachgrass of all things! The sunlight sort of ebbed and flowed as it wrapped around blades of grass during its descent, which was cool to see. Some captures worked, others didn't. I liked this one the best.

Technical Notes

I'm not sure why, but the EXIF data for this photo does not include the lens information. Weirdly, none of my photos from that beach outing include lens information. This is from my Sony days, so I know that much. I had a handful of lenses back then, covering wide to tele. Looking at the photo and remembering my habits, my best guess is that I used the FE 24-70 F2.8 GM for this shot, probably at the wide end. 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Metadata

Published
May 15, 2026
Camera Make
SONY
Camera
ILCE-7RM4
Lens
----
Shutter Speed
1/400s
ISO
ISO 500
Captured
December 28, 2019, 5:40 PM
Exposure Program
Manual
Metering Mode
Multi-segment
Flash
Off, Did not fire
White Balance
Auto
Creator
J. Matthew Buchanan
Sublocation
Upham Beach
City
St. Pete Beach
State
Florida
Country
United States
Copyright
Copyright 2026 J. Matt Buchanan; All rights reserved
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