California Photo Scout

Malakoff Diggins Water Cannon

The old water cannons used to rip through the landscape in a mad dash for gold are silent witnesses of the California gold rush, when many came here in pursuit of wealth, happiness and a better life. In a way, California’s largest hydraulic mine still symbolizes the California dream, shattered and rebuilt so many times.

Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park protects these silent witnesses and the devastation they inflicted on the landscape. In a way, the scarred and torn landscape is beautiful to photograph. The red rocks, somewhat reminiscent of the landscape of Southern Utah, area stark contrast to the deep blue California Sky.

I doubt that the poor miners had time to appreciate the landscape they helped to sculpt, but the park is now protected and free for us to explore and photograph.

How to get there

About 11 miles north of Nevada city, take the Tyler Foote Rd. exit from Highway 49 at GPS 39°19’43.40″N 121° 6’39.78″W and follow it into the park. Follow this route:

Route on Google Maps

GPS position

• 39°22’0.02″N 120°55’31.91″W

How to photograph Malakoff Diggins SHP

Use a wide angle or short normal lens and get close to the cannons while including enough of the surrounding area to create a sense of the place. Use the cannons to draw the viewer into the picture and have them point into the distance at an interesting subject.

Bring out the colors of the rocks and the trees with your polarizing filter and show the immense range of colors available here. Polarizing filters can be tricky. We tend to use them at their full strength, which often turns the skies black.

Use a narrow aperture (f/16) to increase your depth of field.

Try hyperfocal distance focusing vs. Object field focusing techniques, which will yield completely different results.

Find interesting buildings and other historic relics to photograph.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Any time of the year is good, although summers are often hot. I prefer to come here between fall and spring.

Time required

Plan about one hour to get here from Nevada City and at least 2 hours for photography.

Equipment

• Polarizing Filter
• Normal Lens
• Wide angle lens

Fees

Day use fee: $5/car and $4/seniors

Close Locations

• Empire Mine SHP
• Nevada City
• Bridgeport Covered Bridge
• Sacramento Old Town
• Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
• California State Capitol – Sacramento
• Daffodil Hill
• Lake Oroville

Useful Resources

• Malakoff Diggins SHP Official Page

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