Sentinel of the Atlantic

Off the rugged northern coast of La Palma, the volcanic sea stack known as Roque de Santo Domingo stands like a lone sentinel against the endless Atlantic. This image was captured during the soft glow of twilight, when the ocean’s restless energy transforms into a painterly veil of mist. Using a Nikon Z8 paired with a Nikkor 24–120mm f/4 lens at 120mm, I set the camera to ISO 64 and f/13 for a 13-second exposure. The long exposure allowed the surf to blur and swirl around the jagged volcanic shoreline, softening the sea’s fury and emphasizing the rock’s enduring strength. The challenge was balancing composition and timing. With each crashing wave, the scene shifted dramatically. I worked to align the volcanic outcrop with the rhythm of the ocean, using the foreground coastline as a dark anchor against the glowing sea. The fading light accentuated the rock’s rich textures, its eroded cliffs echoing the island’s volcanic origins. For me, Roque de Santo Domingo represents the raw beauty of the Canary Islands — remote, sculpted by time, and unyielding to the elements. The contrast between the immovable rock and the ephemeral motion of water evokes a sense of timelessness, a reminder of nature’s constant dance between permanence and change.