How to photograph the Hotel del Coronado

2010/03/11 – 16:33
Pool of the Hotel del Coronado

Pool of the Hotel del Coronado

The Hotel del Coronado, a wooden Victorian beach resort, is a national historic landmark. The luxury resort spreads over 28 acres, featuring everything the spoiled guests expect. The large, wooden hotel played host to 14 US Presidents, Hollywood celebrities, significant foreign personalities, and allegedly even ghosts. Touted as a romantic getaway, I wonder if the prices, which can easily exceed $600 for a weekend night in summer, are any indication of the expected romantic pleasure a guest will derive from a stay. Apparently, that is the case, considering the full parking lots and hotel availability statistics.

For those of us working for a living, a brief visit to “The Del” is nonetheless rewarding. The beachside location, grandiose architecture and rich history should put the hotel on your list of places to see if you happen to visit Coronado Island.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, San Diego, Southern California, beach, landmark | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The Santa Fe Depot in San Diego

2010/03/09 – 04:36
Santa Fe Depot

Santa Fe Depot

Located between the glitzy glass-facades of Downtown’s high-rise buildings, the elegant Mission-Revival style Santa Fe Depot grants San Diego’s business district the grandeur of an era long gone. The Depot witnessed the rapid development and yet resisted change and persists to delight the traveler with its chic.

The Santa Fe Railroad constructed the original terminal during the great western railroad expansion of the second half of the 19th century. The current Depot is the second incarnation, capable of handling the increased traffic volume of the first decades of the 20th century. Today, the Santa Fe Depot still serves as the largest transportation hub of San Diego.

Obviously, such an iconic and history laden building invites photography. Visit this remarkable station at the heart of Downtown San Diego.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in San Diego, Southern California, Transportation, landmark, night | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment

The San Diego Maritime Museum

2010/03/02 – 05:28
Star of India steering wheel and engraving

Star of India steering wheel and engraving

The San Diego Maritime Museum captivates mariners, photographers, and casual visitors alike. The impressive collection of historic vessels, the fabulous exhibits, and the premier downtown location make the museum a fantastic lifetime experience.

The museum preserves the ships in a seaworthy state and even offers the occasional cruise. You can book a harbor cruise or explore the moored ships with your camera. The excellent weather and the fantastic shooting opportunities make a trip to the museum a guaranteed success for your next shooting adventure.

Step aboard the old ships and replicas and discover the age of sail, the age of steam, and the silent submarine service era of the Cold War!
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, Marine, Museum, San Diego, Southern California, landmark | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

California Photo Scout on Amazon Kindle

2010/02/26 – 06:08

California Photo Scout Kindle EditionRead this blog on your Kindle or Kindle DX and stay updated on the road.

Amazon’s Kindle currently dominates the e-book reader market. With superior battery life, free wireless content delivery, and the electronic ink display, it clearly defines the standard of simple reading joy. Last Christmas, I sprang for a Kindle and cannot put it out of my hands anymore. That is when I decided to add this blog to the illustrious list of blogs for Kindle.

Now you can subscribe to this blog on your Kindle via its Amazon website:

California Photo Scout on Amazon

The monthly fee includes free wireless delivery to your Kindle. You get a 14-day free trial, so there is absolutely no harm in trying it out to see how you like it.

Some of you have already discovered this blog on Amazon. I appreciate your commitment and I promise to put as much and even more effort into building this database.

Learn more about the Kindle and its larger brother, the Kindle DX, on these Amazon pages:

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle DX

The kind folks at Amazon will share a tiny portion of their profits with me, should you buy anything using these links. This will in turn help me pay for the coffee I consume during the long nights when I write for you. The price for you won’t change, but I appreciate the coffee. Thanks!

By myphotoscout | Posted in Announcements | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

How to photograph the USS Midway

2010/02/23 – 05:35
USS Midway Flight Control Deck

USS Midway Flight Control Deck

In active duty for nearly 50 years, the aircraft carrier USS Midway sailed to conflicts and participated in countless maneuvers around the world. Construction started in 1943. Upon completion in 1945, the USS Midway was the most advanced aircraft carrier in the fleet. She served until her decommissioning in 1992 and became a public museum in 2004. The USS Midway now anchors at the Navy Pier in San Diego, where you can visit and photograph the imposing ship.

With the superstructure towering nearly 70m above the port, and a crew of 4500, the USS Midway is a fully self-sufficient city at sea. She is the largest naval aviation museum, dominating the Navy Pier in Downtown San Diego.

Discovering and photographing this historic ship is a thrill. Step on board this giant and discover the amazing life at sea and the countless options to photograph the warship.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, Marine, San Diego, Southern California, Transportation, landmark, night | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

Point Reyes Coastal Trail

2010/02/16 – 16:47
Millers Point, Pt Reyes

Millers Point, Pt Reyes

The rugged, windswept peninsula of Pt. Reyes protrudes into the Pacific Ocean just north of San Francisco. The elements have shaped the unprotected cape into a delightfully beautiful landscape. Rocky and sandy beaches, grasslands and a fantastic seascape make this a favorite getaway for Bay Area residents. Most of the weekenders concentrate on the beaches close to the main parking lots. Trail traffic can be quite low, considering the amount of visitors who enjoy this wonderful place.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, National Seashore, Northern California, Point Reyes, Wildlife, hike | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

How to photograph Calico Ghost Town

2010/02/09 – 16:59
Calico Bottle House

Calico Bottle House

History turned amusement park at Calico, where a circus of actors reenact gunfights for the amusement of tourists and where shopping, gold panning and train riding have displaced the ghosts who probably desperately try to cross over to escape the charade.

I am sure most visitors to Calico will leave with a happy smile on their faces, having had a wonderful time filled with activity. I have no doubt about that, but the Calico Regional Park is clearly mislabeled as ghost town. It is a Wild West Show on the grounds of a former mining town.  You need a vivid imagination to see anything authentic behind the glitter, the decorations and the air-conditions on the roofs of the buildings.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Ghost Town, Southern California, desert, mine, park, state park | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4)

Hole in the Wall to Mid Hills scenic detour – Mojave Desert

2010/02/05 – 05:22
Cholla Tree, Mojave National Preserve

Cholla Tree, Mojave National Preserve

One of the least visited parks in California, the Mojave National Preserve offers great value for photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. The desert landscape is especially interesting for purists who love to explore shapes, light and color free from distractions.

Desert landscapes look barren only at first glance. Upon closer inspection, they reveal an immense beauty. Drive through this landscape with open eyes and you will want to pull over constantly to jump out of your car.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Mojave, National Preserve, Seasonal, desert, scenic drive | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

How to photograph Aguereberry Point

2010/02/02 – 17:35
View from Aguereberry Point

View from Aguereberry Point

Aguereberry Point is located high above Death Valley in the Panamint Mountains. It is the western cousin of Dante’s view, which is located in the Black Mountains on the opposite side of Death Valley. Agueberry Point thus is the best place to photograph the valley in the late afternoon with the sun in your back. Despite its unrivaled views of Death Valley to the east, Aguereberry Point does not see much tourist traffic.

On a visit in early January 2010, we were completely alone and could enjoy the peacefulness this remote location offers. The only sound came from my camera shutter, as I captured the fleeting light.
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Death Valley, Panamint Mountains, Southern California, desert, national park | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

How to photograph Ballarat Ghost Town

2010/01/26 – 16:15
Ballarat through the window of Charles Manson's family car

Ballarat through the window of Charles Manson's family car

Located at the foot of the beautiful Panamint Mountains, Ballarat Ghost Town consists of the remains of a former supply station for the nearby mines. As the gold rush ended, Ballarat quickly declined. Residents left everything behind in pursuit of new dreams. The old fossils in the wonderful setting of Panamint Valley create uniquely photogenic ruins that many people miss in their rush from or to Death Valley National Park.

Ballarat is a small gem that nicely completes a portfolio of Death Valley, don’t miss it!
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By myphotoscout | Posted in Death Valley, Ghost Town, Panamint Mountains, Southern California, desert, landmark, scenic drive | Tagged , , | Comments (4)