Sentinel of the Atlantic – Roque de Santo Domingo

Photographer

Paul Maschak

Category

Special Category - Long Exposure Photography

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2025

Country / Region:

United States

At twilight along the volcanic coast of northern La Palma, I captured Roque de Santo Domingo, a solitary sea stack rising defiantly from the Atlantic. I used a Nikon Z8 with a Nikkor 24–120mm f/4 lens at 120mm, shooting at ISO 64, f/13, and a 15-second exposure to emphasize the contrast between the immovable rock and the soft, swirling sea. The long exposure rendered the ocean into a silky wash of motion, symbolizing time and impermanence, while the basalt stack — dark and enduring — anchors the scene. This balance of transience and resilience reflects my ongoing exploration of the tension between nature’s force and stillness.