This photo is 1,270% higher resolution than a typical photo.
Scroll to learn more.
SHOP
This
288 MEGAPIXEL
VAST photo is
PERFECTLY SHARP
even at very large print sizes.
Select a product:
Select a frame:
Select a file size:
with frame:
Select a size:
LIMITED EDITION* OF
STANDARD LICENSE:
Royalty-free usage*
Unlimited projects & formats*
Worldwide, perpetual usage*
No use in merchandise for sale
Non-exclusive
For a premium license, contact us
Add to cart:
FREE SHIPPING FOR LIMITED TIME
30-day return policy
Add to wishlist
This photo is
1,270% higher resolution
than a typical photo.
Scroll to learn more.
Crépuscule sur l'Étang de Thau IV
288 MEGAPIXEL VAST PHOTO
Étang de Thau, Balaruc-les-Bains, l'Hérault, France
The Étang de Thau is an estuarial lagoon bordering the northern edge of the Mediterranean Sea in the Hérault department of France. It is home to the largest shellfish farming area on the Mediterranean Sea and produces 12,000 metric tonnes (13,227 US tons) of oysters per year. With an average depth of only 5 meters (16 feet), it is fed by inland streams and rivers, an underground water source, and the tides of the Mediterranean Sea that enter the lagoon through canals at the seaside towns of Marseillan and Sète. While the shellfish farmers’ docks are located all along the shores, there is a concentration of them in Bouzigues, lit up on the right of this image.
The racks near the horizon line in this image are where some of the shellfish destined for restaurants and dinner tables are raised. However, their quality is highly dependent on the actions of the people who visit and live in the surrounding areas. The runoff from towns, farms, and vineyards upstream in addition to the activities on the lagoon have a significant impact on the copious organic matter and nutrients present in the lagoon, at times decreasing the levels of oxygen in the water and making the shellfish toxic to consume. Because of this, the water quality is constantly monitored leading to times when the harvesting is halted, due to high toxicity, until the balance has been restored. Having frequently eaten the succulent mussels and oysters from the Étang de Thau, I hold the place near and dear to my heart. It’s a precious place with an ample amount of real “joie de vivre.”
Being here, it is easy to forget that the Pyrenees are not far away. The silhouette of the mountain in the left third of the frame is the Canigou. At an elevation of 2,784.66 meters (9,136 feet), it was once thought to be the highest peak in the Pyrenees, but subsequent measurements have disproved that. Weather patterns like the one in this image, where it’s clear at the lower altitudes all the way to Spain but cloudy at just the right altitude to give a spectacular sunset, are relatively rare and only happen, at most, a handful of times a year.
After capturing the images for “Crépuscule sur l’Étang de Thau III,” I could see the shadow of the Earth moving across the sky as dusk faded and night set in across the region. I quickly decided to capture a wider panorama to show the edge of day and night traversing the Étang de Thau. This 118-degree horizontal field of view VAST image was created by combining tilt and shift optical movements on a medium format technical camera with panorama stitching.
| Date & Time | January 4, 2019: 6:04pm |
| Location | Étang de Thau, Balaruc-les-Bains, l'Hérault, France |
| Coordinates | 43.442872, 3.673403 |
| Focal Length | 70mm |
| Aperture | f/11 |
| Shutter | 5 sec |
| ISO | 50 |
| Num of Exposures | 4 |
VAST photos are the highest resolution photos ever made.
Learn more
This is not an ordinary photograph.
Its resolution is 1,270% greater than a typical photo. Click on the boxes below to zoom in.
Follow us for the latest beautiful VAST photos:
Canvas print
Our ready-to-hang canvas prints are created using a specialty printer that carefully lays pigment inks down onto archival-quality fine art canvas material. The canvas is then stretched around a 1.5-inch-deep wood support structure to provide depth and elegance. Our canvas material has a delightfully matte finish that looks spectacular in any lighting conditions while retaining maximum vibrancy and contrast. Click here to learn more.
Produced using a specialty, large-format fine art printer operating at 300ppi resolution—the gold standard for sharpness
Printed onto heavyweight, 100% acid-free fine art canvas to preserve color-accuracy and longevity
Created using materials and methods that exceed the rigorous technical standards required to achieve the prized "giclée" industry rating
Designed to meet the most demanding standards for color-permanence set by leading museums
Handmade by award-winning master printmakers with over 4 decades of experience
Optionally accompanied by your choice of elegant floater frame available in a variety of trims
VAST Print™
A VAST Print™ represents the pinnacle of the photographic medium. Each print is a true photograph created specifically for you using light-sensitive paper exposed in a darkroom with the industry's highest precision exposure technique. Your print is then sealed with a shine-enhancing protective glossy coating*, adhered to a sturdy aluminum composite backing, and finished in one of two ready-to-hang formats:
- Frameless floating display: A hidden mounting brace on the rear gracefully "floats" the print off the wall for a sleek, modern look.
- Framed display: The print is mounted inside one of our handcrafted 100% wood frames with a decorative separation between the print and the frame so that the print appears to be floating within the frame, providing depth and elegance to the finished photo.
*Note: a non-glossy, satin matte coating is alternatively available on request.
Certificate of authenticity
with artist signature
affixed to the back
with artist signature
affixed to the back
Mounting brace floats the display
off the wall by 3/4 inch
Metal back
Paper print
Shine-enhancing
protective coating
protective coating
Laser-exposed at a truly unprecedented 610ppi resolution
Created using fine art paper with a specialty emulsion enabling unsurpassed micro-contrast, ultra-bright whites, and deep blacks
Printed with a chromogenic process that produces "continuous tones" of silky smooth color (other printers use noticeable dots of ink)
Sealed between an extra-thick, shine-enhancing protective coating and a sturdy aluminum composite backing for a sleek look
Award-winning product quality recognized industry-wide
Designed to meet the most demanding standards for color-permanence set by leading museums
Handmade by certified master printmakers with over 4 decades of experience
Hand-signed by the artist and accompanied by our digitally-enhanced, holographic certificate of authenticity
Optionally accompanied by your choice of elegant floater frame available in a variety of trims
Digital file
Due to their record-setting resolutions, VAST photos are the most versatile images ever created, with the quality necessary to look great at any size and in any project. Purchasing one of our standard royalty-free licenses provides you with the digital file at your choice of resolution and a permit to use it for most types of projects. Click here to learn more.
Usage in most media formats*
Unlimited number of projects*
Worldwide, perpetual usage*
Not for use in merchandise for sale
Non-exclusive (i.e. we may license the photo to others)
For a premium license that gives exclusivity, glass-related use in North America, or use in merchandise for sale, contact us.
| Width | 31,991 px |
| Height | 8,998 px |
| Aspect Ratio | 3.56 : 1 |
| Date & Time | January 4, 2019: 6:04pm |
| Location | Étang de Thau, Balaruc-les-Bains, l'Hérault, France |
| Coordinates | 43.442872, 3.673403 |
| Focal Length | 70mm |
| Aperture | f/11 |
| Shutter | 5 sec |
| ISO | 50 |
| Num of Exposures | 4 |
How much resolution do I need?
Here are some rough guidelines for this specific photo:
SIMILAR VAST PHOTOS
×
![]()
Join The VAST Insider newsletter for exclusive discounts, access to unreleased VAST photos, invites to private viewings, and more. Subscribe today and receive a 10% discount code!
Photo id: 10847