How to photograph Filoli

2010/09/01 – 05:24

Filoli - Carrington Mansion

The owner of California’s richest Gold Mine and water trader William Bowers built a lavish estate south of San Francisco, naming it Filoli. It is one of the few remaining estates of that period and the only one open to the public in the San Francisco Bay Area. Even Hollywood recognized the potential of this location. They famously featured the mansion in the 1980ies hit TV show “Dynasty” and several feature films, making it one of the best-known secrets in the Bay Area.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation manages the estate with an iron fist. Volunteer enforcers stand by with a head full of facts and policies. They enjoy surrendering countless details and chastising you for accidentally stepping on the lawn or for other small offenses. Manage to avoid the drill sergeants and a Georgian mansion set in a huge 16-acre garden on a 654-acre property is all yours to explore. At least the parts you can see from the official walkways.

The official parts afford you a spectacular insight into the estate of Bowers who lived in a style incomprehensible to most of us. Along the way, you have the opportunity to photograph the mansion and the gardens from the composition restricting confines of well-established paths.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Bay Area, Museum, Northern California, San Francisco, flowers, landmark, park | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

How to photograph Santa Ines Mission

2010/08/26 – 04:17

Santa Ines Mission

Santa Ines Mission is located between Santa Barbara Mission and Mission La Purisima Concepcion. The Mission was built as an afterthought to relieve overcrowding at these two nearby missions and to “serve” (exploit) the friendly Chumash Indians that lived in the fertile Santa Ynez valley.

Although the Mission does not stand out next to its two famous neighbors, you will still find many unique compositions and wonderful subjects that are worth the time and effort. The pleasant city of Solvang and their delicious sweet Danish treats can always help you justify the side trip.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in California Missions, Central Coast, Faith, Southern California, landmark, santa barbara county | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

How to photograph Mono Lake

2010/08/18 – 04:50
Mono Lake Nautilus

Mono Lake Nautilus

Mono Lake is one of California’s most prominent photographic icons. Countless photographers travel to this remote area to photograph the alien landscape, courtesy of Los Angeles’ unquenchable thirst for California’s precious water resources. Avoiding the dry death of Owens Lake, Mono Lake levels are rising again, thanks to the tireless efforts of conservationists.

Tufa, the dramatic rock spires protruding from the seabed, stand testament to the value of the water resource and the ecologic systems depending on it. Yet, in its unnatural state, the lake is most beautiful. Photographers appreciate the unusual formations, reflections, and colors.

Easily accessible, Mono Lake is a treasure that everyone can own. Showing up is all it takes to take good photographs. If you are willing to stay after dark and bring your own light source, you can create bizarre yet gorgeous masterpieces.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Northern California, Sierra Nevada, hike, lake, mono county, state park | Tagged , , , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Carmel by the Sea

2010/08/11 – 06:08
Carmel River State Beach

Carmel River State Beach

The attractive community of Carmel by the Sea retained its small town charm in spite of a booming real estate bubble. It encompasses two of the finest beaches in Northern California and the most expensive housing market outside Malibu, turning Carmel into a playground for the rich and very rich.

Upscale Carmel also attracts affluent tourists, who pamper themselves in the expensive cottages and spend their days shopping in boutique stores.

Despite the public show of status and prosperity, Carmel still offers a lot of value for photography, even if it is mostly recreational. Carmel hosts many famous artists. Local photographers clearly have the advantage of being able to time their shots for perfect weather conditions and they have the advantage of possessing the location knowledge.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Central Coast, Coast, Montery Peninsula, Northern California, beach, flowers, hike, park, state park | Tagged , | Comments (1)

How to photograph Capitola

2010/08/04 – 04:54

Capitola Wharf

Charming beach communities like Capitola are rare in Northern California. The city is famous for its laid-back atmosphere, surfers, and hip downtown bars at the water’s edge. Capitola is the perfect escape for busy Bay Area residents who slip out of their business suits for the weekend, partially envious of the aging surfing hippies that never sold out.

Fun in the sun, a beer at the beach on Zelda’s patio, the best slice of pizza you can get with sandy, naked feet, or a late night flirty Margarita at the Margaritaville, these are some of the simple pleasures Capitola has to offer. You will not have any trouble convincing your family members to join you for this trip.

Do not forget to pack your camera! Between family entertainment and surfers, there are plenty of good pictures waiting.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Bay Area, Central Coast, Coast, Montery Peninsula, Northern California, Street Photography, beach, night, santa cruz county | Tagged , | Comments (3)

How to photograph Belmont Shore

2010/07/28 – 05:27

Belmont Shore

Belmont Shore offers the relaxed Southern California Beach atmosphere you expect when you visit this neck of the world. CSI Miami fans may feel a strange déjà vu here.

Fear not, you neither are in the Matrix nor have you teleported to Florida, you simply stumbled on the secret filming locations for the show. Looking through my sunset pictures, I realized David Caruso’s hair is not to blame for CSI Miami’s characteristic orange tint, but rather the Southern California sun.

You will find palm lined promenades, spectacular sunsets, and a photogenic pier. A perfect picture, if the trash, stray dogs, and dirt would not spoil it otherwise. You can avoid most of those imperfections in your pictures, but you can find better places to hang out for the day.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, Los Angeles, Skyline, South Coast, Southern California, beach | Tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

How to photograph Fort Tejon SHP

2010/07/21 – 05:54

Fort Tejon is conveniently located along Interstate 5, the main travel artery connecting Los Angeles to Northern California and the Central Valley. Its location is too convenient for its own good. I have flown past the Fort countless times, on my way to and from destinations in the south, always noting that the location would make it a perfect candidate to visit some other time.

On a recent trip south, I decided that it was time to follow in the footsteps of the Indians and scout out the Fort the white men built to suppress them and to protect settlers and fortune seekers.

I discovered a snake infested, arid highland paradise that suffers greatly from the reduction in State Park funding, but can still provide a pleasant diversion from hours of traveling along dull I-5. If you find yourself in one of the notorious traffic jams, or if you are about to hit Santa Clarita arriving from the north, you could easily spend a little time at the Fort, waiting for traffic to die down.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Kern County, Los Angeles, Southern California, central valley, lake, pass, state park | Tagged , , , , | Comments (3)

How to photograph the RMS Queen Mary

2010/07/14 – 05:45

Bow of the Queen Mary

Only the advent of affordable transatlantic flights put an end to the dominance of the great ocean liners. The Queen Mary, larger and more powerful than the Titanic, crossed the Atlantic Ocean 1,001 times. During one of these crossings during World War II, she carried American Troops establishing a record of the most people ever carried on a vessel that still stands today.

Impressive size, stateliness, and scenery still characterize this impressive ship, even after its conversion into a Long Beach hotel. You can tour the ship and discover the magic of the great ocean liners, of an area where the wealthy traveled in style.

Allegedly haunted, the ship also offers a variety of ghostly encounters and tours that will let your blood freeze in your veins should you believe in such mumbo jumbo. For the rest of us, the ghostly tours are still first rate entertainment and bugbears.

Ship Ahoy skippers! Step aboard one of the last grandiose ocean liners and preserve the memory in your photographs.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, Los Angeles, Marine, Museum, Skyline, South Coast, Southern California, beach, landmark | Tagged , | Comments (5)

How to photograph Randsburg

2010/07/07 – 06:30


Randsburg preserves the flair of an old western town while catering to a growing crowd of tourists. The self proclaimed “Living Ghost Town” is not very ghostly but a superb spot for photographers wanting to discover the west.

Randsburg is an unexpected surprise that will spice up a long day of travel in the desert region. You can find food, ice cream, and shade and most importantly, you can take good photographs while giving your fellow troopers the rest they crave.

Randsburg is hot and dusty like every other western town in this region. The nearby mine and the old but maintained buildings give this city the authenticity that other overhyped places lack so desperately.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Ghost Town, Kern County, Sierra Nevada, Southern California, desert | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

How to photograph Silver City Ghost Town

2010/06/30 – 05:38

Silver City

When a slightly eccentric couple started collecting historic buildings from several counties and put them together into an artificial city within a city, they had no idea that their work would become Bodfish’s number one attraction.

Bodfish?

Bodfish is a small unassuming city near Lake Isabella, at the southern corner of the Sierra Nevada.

Silver City is an arbitrary compilation of buildings from old mining cities, lovingly put together to a new city. Main Street is full of attractive details, antiques, and capably arranged displays of relics, gathered from numerous locations. Some displays, like the inside of the saloon, are excessive but if you pay attention to what you frame, you can create compelling photographs.

The owners claim that the town is haunted. As proof, they offer a collection of photographs, showing orbs, which are actually common artifacts of small camera flash photography in dusty rooms. Visitors can find many spooky looking items and metal objects hung to jingle at the slightest breeze.

A definite fact is that I enjoyed the visit and had a wonderful time photographing this location with its countless antique items.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Ghost Town, Kern County, Museum, Sierra Nevada, Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)