At last - "Pierhenge!"

I had hoped to get a memorable photo. Little did I know how well I would succeed, and I would be in position for a once in a lifetime moment!

As I focused on capturing the serene beauty of the sunset beneath the pier, another photographer approached me from behind. His footsteps were soft on the sand, and he broke the quietude with a friendly inquiry, "Okay if I set up next to you?"

"Sure," I replied. "Plenty of room." Although I knew I was occupying the absolute perfect centered spot, I didn't want to discourage a fellow photographer from pursuing their passion. As he adjusted his camera and tripod, he struck up a conversation. "Isn't today great?" he asked, his enthusiasm palpable.

I nodded in agreement, my gaze still locked on the horizon. "Yes," I replied, "the sky is really great tonight."

He said excitedly, "No, today is the one day of the year that the sun perfectly aligns with the center of the pier."

My eyes widened, and I turned to him with a sense of wonder. "Wow. What a special treat."

As the final moments of daylight waned, the atmosphere grew charged with anticipation. The words of my fellow photographer echoed in my mind—the one day of the year when the sun would perfectly align with the center of the pier. It was a rare and remarkable event, and I was fortunate to be there, camera set up on my tripod, ready to capture the magic.And yet, there were many other beachgoers around. I feared they would walk right in front of us, ruining the shot forever.

And then it happened. A hushed silence fell over the beach as the sun descended, casting its golden rays across the ocean's surface. The light burst through the heart of the pier, creating a mesmerizing spectacle of illumination and shadow.

My camera was ready, my fingers steady on the shutter. I clicked, and the moment was immortalized—a burst of radiant light, the sun's brilliance framed perfectly within the pier's pillars. It was a sight that transcended words, a visual symphony of nature and architecture.

The beachgoers who had lingered, unaware of the rare alignment unfolding before them, began to gasp and cheer as they realized the beauty of the moment. The fellow photographer and I exchanged a knowing glance, our lenses capturing the awe on their faces.

With each click of the shutter, I felt the weight of the moment—a convergence of celestial forces and human presence. The sun lingered for a few precious seconds before continuing its descent, leaving behind a trail of golden memories etched into the pixels of my camera.

As the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, a collective sigh of appreciation washed over us all. I had captured it all—the perfect alignment, the burst of light, and the shared wonder of those who had witnessed this extraordinary event.

As I reviewed the photos on my camera's screen, I couldn't help but smile. The image told a story of a fleeting and extraordinary moment, a convergence of nature's beauty and human connection. It was a reminder that in the pursuit of the perfect photograph, sometimes, the universe aligns to offer something truly magical—a gift of light and wonder beneath the iconic pier on the southern California coast - I call it "pierhenge," a nod to the sun's alignment at Stonehedge, or that once in a year moment when the sun aligns between buildings in Manhattan, or atop Machu Picchu in Peru. But here it is, and I was lucky enough to memorialize "pierhenge" in Pismo Beach CA!

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