This was taken under the San Clemente, CA pier near blue hour. The amber color of the high pressure sodium lights had already kicked in. I had my D7100 and a 20mm Nikkor G lens set up on a tripod for about a 20 second exposure with an incoming tide. Suddenly, as can be the case, a larger wave came in and I panicked because I didn't want the wave to take out my gear so a few seconds before the exposure was completed I grabbed the tripod and ran for higher and dryer sand. The light is from the reflected amber colored lights on the pier reflecting off the water between the pilons. I took others with the usual smooth long-exposure look that same evening but this one still stands out to me as more superior, especially for this contest. Good luck duplicating this effect.