The quaint coastal town of Santa Barbara with its palm lined beaches and mountain vistas is also known as the American Riviera. Stearns Wharf, California’s oldest working wharf,  is a favorite tourist destination. Strolling over the water and feeling the wharf shudder under the power of the waves crashing against its pillars, taking a breath of fresh sea air while gawking at the busy fishing boats and surfers or hunting down a souvenir and and a tasty snack are among the many things you can do here to kill time.

To photographers the wharf is a superb platform and subject. From the pier you have sweeping views of Santa Barbara, you can see seals and albatross compete for fish, you can observe the surfers, and on good days even witness a whale blow in the distance. The wooden colorful stores, tourist crowds, and pillars of the pier are also worthwhile subjects.

How to get there

From Highway 101 southbound, take the Castillo Street Exit. After four blocks, turn left onto W Cabrillo Boulevard, at a T-intersection. The wharf entrance will be on your right after 0.4 miles.

From Highway 101 northbound, take the Garden Street Exit (98B). Turn left on Garden Street and follow it to the T-intersection with Cabrillo Boulevard. Turn right onto Cabrillo Boulevard. The wharf entrance will be on your left after 0.2 miles.

GPS position

• 34°24’36.19″N 119°41’8.89″W

How to photograph Stearns Wharf

Santa Barbara from Wharf

Stearns Wharf provides a unique view of Santa Barbara, combining the mountains, city, and palm lined beach into a single frame. This is the view people know from the media. It is what tourists expect to see when they come to Stanta Barbara and it often shapes the mental picture many people have of the Central to Southern California Coast.

Photographing from a distance with a long focal length draws the mountains and the beach close together, almost squeezing the city out of existence. This view makes Santa Barbara appear like a small Mediterranean Village

Pelicans

The wharf itself is also very photogenic. For this article I have chosen two unusual photographs of the wharf to demonstrate the diversity of images you can take here. The picture above shows a flock of pelicans resting on the rooftop of a shop, waiting for another fishing boat to throw their leftovers overboard. You can find the skull of the picture below on the top of yet another store roof toward the south of the pier. The seagull and the dark clouds in the background created a wonderful eerie atmosphere that I could use to my advantage.

I used a telephoto lens to frame the bird and the skull tightly, eliminating distracting background elements. The wharf is busy and it is too easy to end up with cluttered images.

SB Pier Skull

Most of the subjects on the wharf are of a brighter nature. Colorful candy stores and themed restaurants are the common suspects you can find on most tourists wharfs.

Thungsten lights bathe the wharf in a warm yellow glow at night, creating a colorful contrast against the cold blue sky and distant sea.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The light is perfect during late afternoons and sunset. The clouds are more interesting in winter, but the weather is less predictable. Summers are mild and pleasant on the wharf.

Night offers a different experience that is worth another trip to the wharf if your schedule permits it.

Time required

I recommend taking things slow and appreciating a perfect day on the wharf. Get into the mood with a stroll first before you start taking pictures later.

For an unrushed experience, I suggest about two hours. One hour is sufficient to take some quality pictures, but you will feel rushed.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens
• Normal Lens
• CP and UV filters
• Tripod (panoramas and night shots)

Fees

You can park directly on the wharf for $2.50 per hour. The first 90 minutes are free with validation from any of the wharf merchants. There is a 15-minute grace period to turn around and leave. Unless you have other shopping plans or plan to eat on the wharf, I recommend to pick up some of the excellent saltwater taffy and validate your parking in the candy store.

Disabled parking is $1 per hour.

Close Locations

• Santa Barbara Courthouse
• Santa Barbara Mission
• Santa Barbara Presidio
• Solvang
• Santa Ines Mission
• La Purisima Mission
• Nojoqui Falls Park
• Guadalupe Dunes
• Mission San Luis Obispo
• Shell Beach
• Mission San Buenaventura
• Ronald Reagan Library

Useful Resources

• Official Website
• Virtual Tour
• Santa Barbara Prints

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Legendary California sunsets, spectacular nature, and a diverse beach community define Pismo Beach, a family friendly community located on the Central Coast of California. Once known as the Clam Capital of the World, Pismo Beach preserves the spirit of the golden days, when daydreamers and thrill seekers met to surf the impressive waves and relax at the beach or in their hippie vans.

You can still encounter this rare breed of aging super hippies who stubbornly refuse to grow up. While observing them pass through life with a remarkable ease, I sometimes wish I could peel off my hard working skin and join them in their endless summer.

I enjoy sitting on the pier and romanticizing the bum lifestyle, but when the sun sets, it is time for me to wake up and work my camera to capture the beauty of Pismo Beach.

How to get there

Heading north on US-101 in Pismo Beach, take Price Street exit and follow Price Street to the intersection of Pomeroy Avenue. Turn left on Pomeroy Avenue and find a parking spot.

Take the CA-1 exit if you head south on US-101 and drive straight-ahead onto Dolliver Street. Continue until you get to the intersection with Pomeroy Avenue and turn right.

GPS position

Pier:

• 35° 8’19.84″N 120°38’34.18″W

Monarch Butterfly Grove:

• 35° 7’46.91″N 120°37’55.44″W

How to photograph Pismo State Beach

Pismo SB Pier Sunset

Capturing the beauty of a beach on camera is no easy task. Fortunately, Pismo Beach has a fantastically photogenic pier that can serve as a foreground to your sunset photos or as a platform to photograph the city, the beach below, the spectacular coast, the surfers, and the albatrosses.

Walk to the end of the pier and turn around for a superb view of the town’s houses hugging the hilly landscape (image below) and to watch the surfers below and the beachgoers dig for clams.

Pismo Beach

For my sunset photographs, I prefer to use the pier in the foreground. The wide-angle lens that I used in the picture of the introduction and the picture above makes the sun appear small and star like. It also lets me capture the shadows and light below the pier that seem to radiate from the sun itself. This draws the viewer deeper into the center of the picture. In the introduction picture, I used the golden mean to place my horizon, the sun, and the end of the pier off center. This creates a dynamic composition. The pier leads directly from the top left of the frame, where westerners usually start “reading” a picture, directly to the sun, the main focal point of the image.

Golden Glow

I used a telephoto lens to capture the image above. The golden light of the sunset reflects on the wet sand after the water retreats. Using a telephoto lens lets me pull the pier closer. It also changes the appearance of the highlights that dominate a much larger area of the frame, creating strong contrast.

CHiP

Pismo Beach is also the winter home of tens of thousands of monarch butterflies. A special generation is born that makes the 2000-mile journey south from Canada. The countless individuals that cluster together to preserve heat are a remarkable sight and offer a unique chance to photograph one of nature’s miracles.

Monarchs

The bright sky in the picture above distracts too much from the butterflies. Try to find a cluster that you can photograph against a darker tree crown. Making your main foreground subject brighter than the background usually works better, since our minds instinctively focus on brighter areas.

Photographing with a long lens against a dark background may require that you boost your ISO sensitivity, even on bright days.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The Monarch Grove is staffed from 10am to 4pm from November to February. There are no butterflies here during the rest of the year.

I prefer the atmosphere of a winter sunset, but the weather in Pismo Beach is usually good throughout the entire year.

Time required

You do not need long to discover Pismo Beach, but you can spend an entire weekend here. The choice is yours. Conveniently located along Highway 101, you can just take the exit, see the sunset, and continue your trip. A short walk on the pier takes no more than 30 minutes.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Telephoto lens
• Tripod
• Binoculars
• Quarters to feed the meters

Fees

Entrance to the Monarch Grove is free of charge. Parking directly at the pier is metered, but the beach parking lot about 0.2miles south (between Park Avenue and Addie Street) was still free during my last visit.

Close Locations

• Shell Beach
• Avila Beach
• Guadalupe Dunes Park
• Point Sal State Park
• Santa Maria
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• Mission San Miguel Arcangel
• Montana de Oro State Beach
• Morro Bay
• Santa Ines Mission
• La Purisima Mission
• San Simeon Otters and Seals

Useful Resources

• Tides in Pismo Beach
• Pismo SB

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Motor yachts, sailboats, and villas define the public face of Newport Beach, North America’s richest city. Wealth is all that matters here. The servants, slipping through the backdoors, must have abandoned their American Dream a long time ago. Bronze tanned beach boys, conceited women with salon styled dogs, and aging playboys on large yachts compete for each other’s admiration. The exuberant display of wealth has gotten out of control in Newport Beach.

Newport beach is located around a natural harbor, shielded by a peninsula. The geography makes it the ideal location for the largest yacht harbor in North America. Islands within the bay are all residential neighborhoods. Balboa Island, the largest and most hospitable island, is pleasant to discover on foot. Accommodations and food choices are less appealing to casual travelers on a budget though.

Offering a greater diversity of food, an excellent beach with white sand and clear water, and several other attractions, Balboa Peninsula is more fun and less formal. Children’s entertainment, bay cruises, and the ferry to Avalon are also located here.

Newport Beach is unique with its idiosyncratic residents who wish to be seen while shielding themselves from sight. Beneath its surface, Newport Beach offers a unique beauty that is difficult to find elsewhere.

How to get there

Newport Beach is located in Orange County, along the Pacific Coast. Costa Mesa Freeway (55) leads all the way to Newport Beach. The Freeway intersects Interstate 5 and 405 that carry most of L.A.’s North/South traffic.

Costa Mesa Freeway (55) becomes Newport Boulevard, crosses the Pacific Coast Highway 1 (PCH) and intersects with W. Balboa Boulevard after about 0.8 miles. Follow W. Balboa Boulevard for 1.7 miles and turn right onto Palm Street to reach the metered Balboa Pier parking lot.

To reach Balboa Island, take the Pacific Coast Highway south from the Newport Boulevard intersection. Turn right onto Jamboree Road after 2 miles. Jamboree Road becomes Marine Avenue, which leads onto Balboa Island via a bridge.

Alternatively, you can also take the Balboa Ferry that leaves just a couple of blocks north of the Pier Parking lot.

GPS position

Newport Pier

• 33°36’29.35″N 117°55’43.84″W

Balboa Pier

• 33°36’1.85″N 117°54’0.48″W

Balboa Island

• 33°36’25.02″N 117°53’23.26″W

How to photograph Newport Beach

Three Palms

It is difficult to take this place seriously. I cannot help but smile at the ill-fated attempts of people to play to the gallery. Life happens on the front porch, not in the backyard. With that in mind, I would not hesitate to photograph people here, but I prefer to keep the peacocks out of my pictures. The white yachts, blue skies, and blue waters have a certain clear identity that is difficult to capture. From some angles, it looks as if the boats are standing on the surface of a giant mirror.

Photographing the harbor is challenging. There are too many boats that turn any attempt into cluttered pictures. No matter how you try to frame your shots, you will end up with some of that. Isolating features is difficult.

Boats

I therefore chose a wide-angle lens. Since I could not eliminate clutter, I might as well use it to my advantage.

Photographing yachts with a wide-angle lens is difficult for another reason. You will find it hard to fill the foreground, middle ground and background. In the two pictures above, I used elements of the quasi beach, a narrow strip of sand surrounding Balboa Island.

Newport Beach from Pier

Balboa Peninsula on the other hand offers a wider variety of photographic opportunities.

From the pier, you will have a superb view of the beach and the distant hills. Walk to the end of the pier and use a telephoto lens to bring the mountains closer.

The piers are also good spots for sunset photography. Add an interesting subject, such as the silhouettes of anglers or a bird sitting on the pier, in the foreground, to add interest to your sunset shots. I would not recommend using a tripod. Instead, it pays off to stay mobile to keep with your subjects. If a tripod does not slow you down, you also should have sufficient time to photograph the sunset from the pier and from the beach, using the pier as your foreground element.

Newport Beach Water

You should not come to Newport Beach in pursuit of photo subjects, but rather to relax and enjoy yourself. With that mindset, you will have a wonderful time on one of California’s best beaches. Newport Beach is a place to relax and hang loose. Pack your SLR into the backpack and use a Point and Shoot or iPhone to capture your memory shots.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Like all Southern California Beach towns, Newport Beach is a good place to photograph year round. The climate is pleasant except for a few winter storms that also bring dramatic clouds.

Afternoon is best to photograph from the pier and to photograph Balboa Island from the Lido Isle Peninsula.

Time required

A full afternoon is all you need to explore Newport Beach, including Balboa Island.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Telephoto Lens
• CP Filter
• Point and Shoot Camera

Fees

Balbo Island Ferry Rates:

(As of April 2011)

-Car and Driver: $2.00

-Motorcycles: $1.50

-Adults with bicycles: $1.25

-Children with bicycles: $0.75

-Adults: $1

-Children 5-11: $0.50, 0-5: free

Parking:

(As of April 2011)

Balboa Pier Lot:

Cars: $1.50/h, Motorcycles: $0.75/h

Memorial Day, July 4^th & Labor Day: $25 flat

Corona Del Mar Beach Parking:

Cars: $15, Motorcycles: $7.50

Memorial Day, July 4^th & Labor Day: $25

Other:

Metered street parking is available on many streets of Newport Beach while most streets on Balboa Island remain unmetered. Plans to install meters are under way.

Close Locations

• Laguna Beach
• Crystal Cove State Park
• Crystal Cathedral
• Dana Point
• San Juan Capistrano
• Huntington Beach Pier
• Belmont Shore
• Queen Mary
• Shoreline Village, Long Beach

Useful Resources

• Visitor Information
• Balboa Island
• Harbor Guide

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One of California’s most iconic and most photographed locations is McWay Falls, part of the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. Less than ten years ago, I was alone on the overlook trail. Today, tourists step on each other’s toes.

It is no surprise. The serene beauty of this place will blow you away. A secret cove, a waterfall that plunges into the ocean, and turquoise waters seem to stem from the imagination of a painter, yet the unspoiled nature of this park is real. The solitude is all but gone these days, but you can still capture the essence of this place, thanks to the non-existent access to the beach below.

Understandably, most people come to see McWay Cove and leave in a rush to see even more of Big Sur’s beautiful coastline. However, if you have time, you should consider the canyon hike opposite to the overlook trail that leads you through a coastal forest to yet another waterfall. Not nearly as spectacular, the refreshing hike offers a pleasant diversion from the day’s driving and from the crowds.

Do not miss California’s most spectacular beach cove!

How to get there

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is located about 39 miles south of Carmel, 11 miles south of Big Sur and about 52 miles north of San Simeon. A sign will announce the park, the entrance of which leads east of the road, into a small canyon. The falls are opposite the entrance. You can catch a glimpse of them about 200m north of the entrance from the road.

Highway 1 often is washed away during the raining season, which can last until May. Check the road conditions on the park website and on the California Department of Transportation website (links in the resource section below) to find out if you can reach the park from your end.

GPS position

• 36° 9’32.05″N 121°40’13.81″W

How to photograph Julia Pfeiffer Burns Park

McWay Falls

McWay Cove with McWay Falls is spectacular. The overlook trail (see image in the introduction) is the best option to photograph this natural wonder. From the road above the overlook, you can find a slightly different view. The small pullout is located about 200m or 0.13 miles north of the entrance to the park. I took both images of the falls from the trail and I recommend taking the trail, since it offers you the most variety of compositions.

The cove should be on your list of places along Highway 1, even though it is difficult to create a picture that is uniquely yours in a location photographed as much as this.

The image in the introduction is a high dynamic range panoramic photograph. I combined three vertical pictures times three exposures each (9 pictures) into a very wide-angle composition. Purposely including the trail to create something different, I took advantage of the late time and the long exposure to show an empty trail, which is a deception. I shot the photograph about 20 minutes after sunset. The color in the clouds had already begun to fade and everyone but one couple had left. The long exposure helped me to make the moving people invisible in this shot.

The vertical composition above shows the waterfall much larger. As the late afternoon sun hit the fern in the foreground, it was shimmering golden, begging to be included in this composition. The longer focal length emphasizes the waterfall even more. You have to look for it in the image from the introduction, due to the small size. However, the image has a very high resolution and when it is blown up, the waterfall looks gorgeous.

Canyon Falls (image by Eric Chan)

The canyon trail is a nice diversion. I hiked it a long time ago, but during my most recent visits, the park service had closed it, lacking the funds to repair damaged bridges. Eventually the trail should open again. Do not forget to bring your tripod. The dense forest canopy is perfect for long exposures that make the waterfall look like a veil of silk.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Sunset is by far the best time to visit the park. Most people will have left by the time the sun sets, except for a few latecomers. After your visit, you will have to drive along the most scenic route in California in complete darkness, which is why not everyone will have the luxury to come here for sunset. The afternoon light is also superb and in this case, you will still be able to enjoy Highway 1 afterwards.

The angle of the sun for afternoon light is best in summer, when it lights the entire waterfall. In winter, the bottom part of the falls may be in the shade (see picture in the previous section). However, the winter clouds make the sunsets more spectacular and the location of the sun lets you include it in your composition.

Therefore, winter is best for sunset photos whereas summer is best for afternoon photos.

Time required

It takes less than 30 minutes to see the waterfalls. The overlook trail takes no more than 5 minutes each way. If you plan to hike the Canyon, you need to add two more hours. Check the park website. During my previous visits, the canyon trail was closed.

Equipment

• Normal Zoom Lens
• CP filter
• ND Filter to slow down exposure
• Wide-angle lens
• Tripod
• Cable release

Fees

The park used to be free, but today there is a $10 parking fee. Several people choose to park on the street, but most of Highway 1 is a no parking zone, except for some nearby pullouts. Even though it is possible to park and quickly hike to the falls and back, it is not worth risking a ticket or bodily injury.

Close Locations

• Pico Blanco Lighthouse
• Garrapata State Park
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Old Coast Road
• Big Sur Wildflowers
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• San Simeon Otters and Seals
• Hearst Castle
• Point Lobos State Reserve

Useful Resources

• Official Website
• California Road Conditions

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The upscale town of Cambria and its small tranquil fishing village neighbor, Cayucos, have retained most of their small town charm. Remaining independent from the influence of retail chains, restaurants, and the real estate development boom, these idyllic towns are perfect summer gateways. Located along the Pacific Coast, far enough from the bustling Southern California cities, Cambria is a perfect vacation destination, if you can afford the lodging.

Even if lodging is too expensive for your budget, a visit to both cities, a stroll along main street, a photography session in one of the many parks, and a short stop at the pier does not cost anything, leaving enough to sample the fine food in Cambria. The romantic old town area, hiking and wildlife viewing choices, and numerous quiet places make Cambria such a desirable place to visit and to photograph.

How to get there

Cayucos is located only 7 miles (10 minutes) north of Morro Bay, Cambria is located 14 miles further (20 minutes).

Take Cayucos Drive exit (285) from Highway 1. Turn west (toward the Pacific Ocean) and follow the road to the end. Turn right onto the small parking lot or look for a spot on Ocean Front Avenue. The Cayucos Pier is located at the end of Cayucos Drive exit.

You can reach all Cambria destinations from the Intersection of Highway 1 and Windsor Boulevard (the first traffic light from the north). If you approach from the north, turn left to reach Old Cambria.

Turn right onto Windsor Boulevard from Highway 1 and immediately turn right again onto Moonstone Beach Drive, to get to Moonstone Beach.

Turn right onto Windsor Boulevard from Highway 1 and follow the bend (at Shamel Park) to the end of Windsor Boulevard to get to the northern trail parking for Fiscalini Ranch. To get to the South Parking lot, take the Burton Drive exit 1.7 miles south of the Windsor Boulevard intersection. Turn right onto Ardath Drive after 0.4 miles and then right again onto Drake Street after another 0.6 miles. Follow Drake Street for 0.4 miles and turn right onto S. Windsor Boulevard. Follow it to the end to the south parking lot.

GPS position

Fiscalini Ranch Parking South

• 35°32’51.90″N 121° 5’49.94″W

Moonstone Beach

• 35°34’8.29″N 121° 6’37.32″W

Cayucos

• 35°26’56.95″N 120°54’21.64″W

How to photograph Cambria and Cayucos

Bluff Trail - Fiscalini Ranch

I took the picture in the introduction, the picture above, and the picture below from the Fiscalini Ranch trail. From the trail, you can view the local birds hunt and the seals play in the nearby beaches. The meadows should give a nice bloom in spring. I used the wooden boardwalk to lead the viewer into the picture, toward the group of people in the distance. I stood slightly to the side to create a more dynamic flow of the boardwalk.

As we walked down the boardwalk, I looked up and saw a hawk diving past us toward something it spotted in the grass. I painfully realized that I violated one of my rules for nature walks, to walk with the longest lens attached, in case I spot wildlife. You usually have more time to set up for a wider angle shot, so it makes sense to prepare for those encounters with your telephoto lens. I did not spot any seals or otters, but I will return to this area to look for them. The area is perfect for otters and I love to photograph these funny creatures.

Cambria

From the trail, you have a good view of Cambria’s oceanfront properties. The seaside view is unusual and yields pleasing photographs. Using a telephoto lens, I clustered the buildings together and compressed the distance to the mountains.

Head into the old town center of Cambria where you will find a rich detail of old and new mixed to a blend of vibrant colors. Park your car and take a stroll on Main Street.

Come out and play

Main Street has the most interesting stores and old buildings to photograph. Although storeowners are used to tourists taking photographs, their businesses rely on selling. Never photograph paintings and photographs! Shop around and spend some money if you can and do not bring the heavy guns. I often use a small lens and do not try to make a big fuzz of my photography. You could use a Point and Shoot Camera for your work as well. You rarely need a large print of the details you can capture here, but the Point and Shoot Camera gives you the flexibility to capture details you cannot photograph with your SLR.

Ninja Frog

Main Street is usually full of cars, making it harder to take anything but detail photographs. You have to stand on the side of the buildings you want to photograph and use a perspective similar to the perspective I used in the image above.

Go for a walk along Moonstone Beach and you will discover tide pools, sea lions, and a variety of birds sharing this beautiful beach. The beach, rocks, and water offer many compelling foregrounds to a beautiful Southern California sunset, making Moonstone Beach a premier choice for your sunset photography.

Moon Stone Beach Park

Another good place to enjoy the late afternoon and sunset hours is Cayucos, just a few miles south of Cambria. There are no tourist crowds here, despite the location of this beautiful city. Cayucos has a pier from which you can photograph the surfers and the city. During the late afternoon, you can often see rainbows on the water, as the sunlight hits the spray on top of the wave ridge. You need to stand roughly between the sun and the wave to observe this rainbow. This is also the best time of the day to photograph the city. The late afternoon sunlight bathes the city in warm light and the reflections from the cities many windows add a sparkle. Use a normal lens or a lens at the beginning of the telephoto range. A wide-angle lens would make the city disappear in the distance.

Cayucos Rainbow Wave

The sunset itself is better from Cayucos beach, with the pier in the foreground. For sunsets, I usually prefer wide-angle lenses. This lets me add foreground and wide focal lengths turn the sun into a sparkling star.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

I like to come here in winter and spring. Winter has dramatic weather with gorgeous sunsets whereas spring offers blooming fields and green hills that create a friendlier, healthier atmosphere. Winter is also the breeding season of the Elephant seals and the time when whales migrate.

Time required

Spend the day in Cambria and the evening in Cayucos or spend two afternoons in each city respectively to get a good overview.

Equipment

• Zoom lens
• Wide-angle lens

Close Locations

• Otters and Seals of San Simeon
• Hearst Castle
• Morro Bay
• Montana de Oro State Park
• Avila Beach
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• San Miguel Mission
• Shell Beach
• Pismo State Beach
• Limekiln State Park
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• Old Coast Highway

Useful Resources

• Cambria Chamber of Commerce
• Cayucos by the Sea

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The hilly peninsula of Point Loma defines the western limit of San Diego Bay, the cities natural harbor. It is the perfect place to soak in the sun. Surrounded by ocean, it never gets too hot or too cold here and the air is always fresh.

On the surface, Point Loma seems to be a good place to hang out, but photographically it does not appear as interesting as other, more publicized areas. However, if you dare to look deeper, you will find this to be one of the best places to capture the essence of Southern California, a mixture of laid-back beach atmosphere and glitzy high tech.

Rugged cliffs, unique views of downtown San Diego, a yacht harbor, a sandy beach, and typical California surfers are among the sights you can expect on Point Loma. Cabrillo National Monument, the peninsula’s most famous landmark, is the subject of a separate article (see below).

How to get there

Pont Loma is a peninsula west of the San Diego downtown core. You can reach it via I-5 and I-8, Rosecrans Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. This article describes several locations on the peninsula. Use the GPS coordinates in the next section to plan your trip accordingly. You will need a car to reach all the destinations within a day.

GPS position

Shelter Island:

• 32°43’0.16″N 117°13’19.71″W

Skyline Photograph:

• 32°43’5.69″N 117°14’12.25″W

Sunset Cliffs:

• 32°43’56.06″N 117°15’22.87″W

Ocean Beach Pier:

• 32°44’48.97″N 117°15’11.77″W

How to photograph Point Loma Peninsula

Shelter Island

Yokohama Friendship Bell

Man made Shelter Island is home to several yacht clubs, fine hotels, and public artworks, such as the Yokohama Friendship Bell (picture above) and the Tunaman’s Memorial. From the northwestern corner of the island, you will also find a clear view of the San Diego Skyline (image in the introduction).

The Port of San Diego controls Shelter Island as well as Harbor Island. They drastically limit development on these islands, keeping the bay sides completely open and providing large free parking areas. This makes the island an ideal place for skyline photography. Taking a time-out from a hectic day in San Diego and going for a stroll in the Shoreline Park on Shelter Island will recharge you for more action.

Skyline with Yachts

San Diego Skyline with Yachts

I had to hunt down the location for this photograph. Finding a spot where you can peek through the private residences on Point Loma to gain a glimpse of the skyline with the yacht harbor in the foreground is at best difficult. I drove many side streets in this neighborhood until I found an opening.

Unfortunately, I got here on a hazy day, which means I need to go back for a better photograph one day. Fortunately, I kept the GPS location for future reference. I included the coordinates in the GPS section. Please do not disturb the residents in any way!

Sunset Cliffs

Sunset Cliffs

Sunset Cliffs is a good place to view the sunset, but not necessarily your best option to photograph it. The light is best during the afternoon hours, and if the conditions are right, you can always observe surfers taking on the waves. Sunset Cliffs is one of San Diego’s premier surfing destinations.

Use a telephoto lens and set your camera for action. A fast shutter, possibly combined with a higher ISO sensitivity, focus tracking, and focus point selection are necessary to keep your subjects sharp and to freeze motion. For the perfect exposure control, you could also consider spot metering. With these settings, you should keep your subject centered in the frame. Leaving enough space on each side, allows you to crop the picture into a more dynamic composition (see below).

The rugged cliffs, palms, and white mansions are photogenic, even when no surfers are present.

Sunset Cliffs Surfer

Ocean Beach

Ocean Beach Pier

I would not be caught at night in the hippie community of Ocean Beach, but you should visit the pier if you are in the neighborhood. The uniquely T-shaped pier can also make a good foreground for a spectacular SoCal sunset. Ocean Beach Pier is also a good place to photograph surfers.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

All places described in this article are best during the afternoon or evening hours. If a multiple day visit is not possible, I recommend starting at Ocean Beach in the morning, continuing to Cabrillo National Monument, next taking the skyline with boats shot, and finally, arriving for the late afternoon at Sunset Cliffs. You can then see Shelter Island after dark for some good skyline photos.

The weather here is pleasant all year.

Time required

Between the locations listed in this article and Cabrillo National Monument (see close locations), you can spend an entire day, just one afternoon or plan multiple visits.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens
• Wide-Angle lens
• Use a small bag to stay mobile
• Leave your heavy gear behind

Close Locations

• Cabrillo National Monument
• Mission Bay
• SeaWorld
• Crystal Pier
• Santa Fe Depot
• San Diego Night Tour
• Aircraft Carrier USS Midway
• San Diego Maritime Museum
• Seaport Village
• Coronado Island
• Old Town
• San Diego Mission
• La Jolla

Useful Resources

• Wikipedia entry
• Point Loma travel article
• Ocean Beach

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Treasure Island Beach ranks among the most iconic of Southern California’s world famous beaches. Located in Laguna Beach, it competes with other classy white sand beaches and is much less crowded than you would expect, considering its turquoise blue water, clean, sand and easy access. This makes it a prime target for beach photography and a favorite for wedding and portrait photographers.

Treasure Island Park, which sits on the cliffs above the beach, is a beautifully landscaped park with benches and overlooks, courtesy of the Montage, a five star resort. The public access park has spectacular views and easy access to the beach below. This would be a perfect location to spend the day and relax, but the sun will wear you out eventually.

Stay active instead and explore the tidepools, the beach, and the cliffs. Treasure Island Park and Treasure Island Beach are exciting to photograph. I am sure your fellow travelers will not mind the stop either.

How to get there

The park is located along the Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. Turn west on Wesley Drive into the underground garage. The garage is small and if you cannot find a spot, you can also park on PCH northbound, across PCH or south on PCH at the larger Aliso Beach parking lot.

GPS position

• 33°30’47.78″N 117°45’19.41″W

How to photograph Treasure Island Park

Montage Cove

The old saying, f/8 and be there, is probably the only advise you need here. It means you cannot go wrong. Just show up, use a generic setting on your camera (f/8), and you will be successful. Use a polarizing filter to enhance the blue water and the green cliffs and keep moving. Explore the beach below and the tidepools. It is worth the effort.

There is a large hole or arch in the rocks below. Use it to frame a beach scene or incorporate it in a wide-angle shot. Find a couple on a bench, overlooking the cove below, for a romantic shot or children playing in the sand below. There are many ways you can maximize your photography experience here, even if you do not wish to incorporate strangers in your photos.

PCH & beach

Pay attention when you climb on the cliffs, they can be slippery. Stash your camera away to keep your hands free and pull it from your bag when you arrive at your destination.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Orange County is busy. I prefer to come here during the off-season. The best time is during winter, when the sunsets are more dramatic and early spring, when the vegetation comes to live.

Mornings are far less crowded than afternoons and sunset time. Morning is best for daylight shots.

Time required

You should plan at least one hour, preferably two.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Zoom lens
• Tripod
• CP filter
• Water
• Shade (hat)
• Sunglasses
• Sun cream
• Quarters for the parking machines
• Picnic cooler

Fees

Parking in the garage, on PCH, and Aliso Beach is $0.25/10min. There is a large grocery store (Albertsons) across PCH, but I advise against parking there, since the parking lot is only for shoppers.

Close Locations

• Victoria Beach
• Newport Beach
• Crystal Cove State Park
• Huntington Beach
• Crystal Cathedral
• Dana Point
• San Juan Capistrano
• Belmont Shore
• Queen Mary
• Shoreline Village, Long Beach

Useful Resources

• A Treasure Island Park Blog Post
• What Yelpers say

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Labeling San Pedro as Long Beach’s ugly neighbor would be unfair to the busy port city that offers more than a few good photo spots. However, San Pedro is not the first choice of tourists, unless they are heading for one of the cruise ship terminals.

I felt the atmosphere change in the car after we crossed over the Vincent Thomas Bridge from Long Beach into San Pedro. Dani unintentionally became tenser when we drove through some of the economically depressed areas in search for good photo spots. She knows I take my scouting seriously, but I could tell she was wondering why I decided to stop here. Her doubts mounted when I dropped the car in a shady side street, with our belongings in the trunk, to investigate the cruise ship terminals and look for a good place to photograph the bridge. Eventually, we discovered some places that are worth the tour through San Pedro.

Point Fermin, a charming coastal bluffs park, seems to struggle with decay, trash, and overuse in this depressed neighborhood. The Korean Friendship Bell overlooks the city from atop a hill with gorgeous views. These and a view other sights make the trip worthwhile, but the apparent lack of tempting restaurants and hotels inform you clearly to leave before sunset.

How to get there

You can take the I-710 and I-110 freeways to San Pedro.

Take I-710 south to Seaside Freeway and Vincent Thomas Bridge. Cross the bridge and take exit 1A to Gaffey Street, toward San Pedro. Follow N. Gaffey Street for about 2.6 miles until you see the Korean Friendship Bell on your right.

Take I-110 south until it turns into N. Gaffey Street. Follow it about 2.6 miles to the Korean Friendship Bell.

GPS position

• 33°42’38.44″N 118°17’36.82″W

How to photograph San Pedro

Vincent Thomas Bridge

You cannot miss the cruise ship terminal as soon as you get off the bridge. A water fountain at the intersection of S. Harbor Boulevard and N. Front Street and the shining cruise ship behind it immediately drew my attention. While I was preoccupied with the possibilities, I did not consider the area much until I returned. Instead, I dropped the car at the commuter parking lot on N. Beacon Street and headed to the fountain.

The fountain shoots water into the sky in short intervals. Lacking an appealing background (cruise ships do not count), I took a few photographs but I was not very delighted with the result. Then I walked past the cruise ship on N. Front Street for a better view of the Vincent Thomas Bridge (above) and a closer view of the containers (in the introduction). If you continue on this path, you will get to the SS Lane Victory, a WWII transport ship now serving as a museum.

Point Fermin Lighthouse

I chose not to wander on deck and into the bowels of an ancient bucket and decided to see what Point Fermin had to offer. The park itself is a bit scruffy, but the lighthouse looked interesting and the views from the cliffs are good. Unfortunately, you cannot photograph inside the lighthouse, a deal breaker for me. The lighthouse that could be at home in an upscale New England beach community looks good from the outside too. I used a wide-angle lens for this shot and corrected the perspective distortion in Photoshop.

You have good views of communities to the north and with a telephoto lens, you can photograph the Los Angeles Harbor (Angel’s Gate) Lighthouse from up here.

Korean Friendship Bell

The views from the Angels Gate Park are also good. The main attraction of this park is the Korean Bell of Friendship. The massive bronze bell is housed in a shrine with typical Asian architecture, pretty but difficult to photograph. After a wind gust caught me, I lost balance and nearly fell of the stairs and flat on my nose. I tried to compose a picture with the ocean in the background, but the light was not good, so I settled on a composition that included the San Pedro Hills in the background, taking advantage of the small opening in the dull sky.

Harbor View

Just one block north of the Bell on S. Gaffey Street is a viewpoint for the Los Angeles Harbor. The size of this transport hub is hard to comprehend and show in pictures. This is the best spot to get an overview of the harbor, but it is dull to photograph this place. From here, I spotted the Cabrillo Beach Park that connects to the Angels Gate Lighthouse (below).

Angels Gate Lighthouse

I entered the park and discovered California’s most depressing beach, facing the Los Angeles Harbor, and an ugly concrete pier that had a decent view of the lighthouse. The grey weather did not afford me a good photograph and sent me off with the same gloomy impression we had when we got here. I am sure there are more things to explore in San Pedro, but California has too many beautiful places to warrant a return visit to San Pedro.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Any day is equally good to see what I saw. I recommend not staying past sunset. I would leave even sooner so that I could see the sunset in Belmont Shore or any other more appealing place.

Time required

Two hours are probably more than you can stand unless you are a hardcore industrial photographer.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens
• Wide-angle lens
• Haze Filter
• Warming Filter
• CP filter

Fees

Visiting the Korean Bell and Bell Pavilion is free. The lighthouse asks for a small donation. Parking at Cabrillo Beach Park is free for the first 20 minutes; then $1/hour with a maximum of $9/day.

Close Locations

• Shoreline Village
• Queen Mary
• Russian Foxtrot Submarine
• Belmont Shore
• Point Vicente
• Naples Island
• Huntington Beach
• Newport Beach
• Santa Catalina Island
• Crystal Cathedral
• Disneyland
• Downtown Los Angles
• Huntington Library

Useful Resources

• San Pedro attractions (map)

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Shoreline Village is a testament to America’s favorite pastime activities – shopping, snacking, and sailing. The colorful amusement park style shops offer everything you do not need and will buy regardless, things you should not eat but definitely will, and overpriced restaurants that are full no matter the cost. Spending money is easy in the tourist trap that the locals love so much.

The candy colored buildings, seabirds, and views of the natural harbor with the ocean liner Queen Mary make this place a good photo opportunity, as long as you do not leave your loved ones alone with the vacation fund. Look beyond the kitschy façade and you will discover that Shoreline Village has more to offer than ways to spend money. It is a pleasant oasis near a busy harbor. If it were not for the ticking parking meters, I could spend an entire day here relaxing in the warm Southern California sun.

How to get there

Shoreline Village Map

Take I-710 south to Long Beach, then take exit 1C toward the Aquarium. Merge onto W. Shoreline Drive. After 1.8 miles, turn right on Shoreline Village Drive.

GPS position

• 33°45’36.94″N 118°11’21.69″W

How to photograph Shoreline Village

shoreline aquatic park

Start your tour at the Shoreline Aquatic Park on the west side. The main focal point is the Lion’s Lighthouse for Sight, built in 2000. It stands atop a small mound, from which you have good views of Shoreline Village and Parkers Lighthouse (image below) across the water and the skyline and paddlewheel steamer behind the lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is difficult to photograph from the park. It towers too high when you are on the small hill. I took the picture above from the path west (outlined on the map). Other good places to photograph the lighthouse are on the Pier off Pine Avenue (see map) and on the small visitors dock next to Parkers Lighthouse (image below).

I prefer the photograph above, since it incorporates the walkway, leading to the lighthouse, inviting the viewer deeper into the picture. As it gently slopes ahead, it leads us straight to the lighthouse.

Parkers Lighthouse

I incorporated a seagull in the foreground of the Parkers Lighthouse image that I took from the small hill. It conveys a sense of the marine landscape and fits well into the composition.

The required depth of field between the distant building and the close bird is difficult to master. I also used a long focal length to draw the background and foreground closer together, which further complicated the depth of field. Keeping the foreground and the background in focus would result in an extremely small aperture, which would cause diffraction problems. I therefore chose to trade foreground sharpness for a sharper background. That is acceptable, due to the larger relative sizes of foreground subjects and the way our brain perceives images as sharp, even if not all parts are equally sharp.

Different rules apply to the egret that I discovered on the dock near Parkers Lighthouse. Obviously, the bird needs to be sharp and the surrounding environment should not distract too much from the main subject, the bird. I purposely placed it on the right side of the picture, to have it look into the picture rather than out. It is paramount to leave sufficient space in the line of sight of animals or people from the edge of the frame. I focused on the bird itself and kept a medium aperture setting.

egret

Egrets are notoriously difficult to photograph. They occupy a relatively small space in the frame and since the camera tries to average exposure throughout the frame, it overexposes the bird that is often much brighter than the background. Use spot metering and/or exposure compensation to compensate for this effect! Review your histogram and make sure it does not clip on the right! The pixels to the far right are usually the white birds. Direct sunlight compounds this issue, making it very difficult to photograph egrets on sunny days.

Obviously, you cannot count on finding birds in the same spot, but there are a number of them around. If you move quietly, you maximize your chances of spotting them.

Queen Mary

From the narrow outlet that shelters the marina, you have a good view of the ocean liner Queen Mary that now serves as a hotel and tourist attraction, as well as cruise ships that may anchor in Long Beach. You could work an angle on the Long Beach Skyline incorporating the yachts in the foreground or look for egrets and seagulls to spice up your shots.

On a sunny day, the narrow land is always good for a pleasant stroll away from the hectic city life, a picnic or just to relax and spend some of the best hours of your life. You could even forget the parking meter, since the maximum is still affordable. This place is worth it after all.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The weather in Long Beach seems to be sunny, interrupted with a few rare but strong storms in winter. Avoid stormy and windy days, especially those causing high surf. Otherwise, there is no bad time to visit this area. If your time is limited, you can come here during the day and go somewhere else for your sunset shots, seeing that you can create good photos throughout most of the day.

Time required

Two hours near Shoreline Village, thirty minutes in Shoreline Aquatic Park (the location of the tall lighthouse) and 20 minutes on the pier are about the minimum time you should spend here.

Equipment

• Image stabilized lens
• Wide-angle lens

Fees

Parking rates are $2 per 20 minutes, with a maximum of $8. With minimum purchase, you can validate parking for up to 2 hours and $1. During special events, like 4th of July, there may be a flat rate of $10, but you could park in the lot with self service parking machines.

Close Locations

• Queen Mary
• Russian Foxtrot Submarine
• Belmont Shore
• San Pedro
• Point Vicente
• Naples Island
• Huntington Beach
• Newport Beach
• Laguna Beach, Treasure Island
• Santa Catalina Island
• Crystal Cathedral
• Disneyland
• Downtown Los Angles
• Huntington Library

Useful Resources

• Long Beach Marina
• Everything LB: Shoreline Village

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Clinging to the cliffs between lavish Orange County residences and the Coastal Highway, Crystal Cove State Park is a pristine refuge for naturalists and a godsend to photographers. It offers a wide range of outdoor water sports activities, ranging from fishing to diving, surfing, and kite flying. Miles of backcountry trails and several campsites provide a sense of nature and open space that make it easy to forget the proximity to the yachts of Newport Beach and the villas of Laguna Beach.

The weather conditions that attract wealthy Orange County residents to this area make Crystal Cove State Park a year-round pleasant destination. Dramatic Southern California sunsets, rugged cliffs, tidepools, and an unspoiled mountainous backcountry wilderness area will give you a chance to deploy your full creativity on this beautiful landscape and to walk home with fond memories and a full memory (card).

How to get there

Crystal Cove State Park is located along Pacific Coast Highway, south of Newport Beach and north of Laguna Beach. It is impossible to miss.

GPS position

• 33°34’41.37″N 117°50’29.20″W

How to photograph Crystal Cove State Park

seagull

You need good light to create superior pictures of coastal landscapes. Throughout most of the day, poor light creates a flat, washed out landscape. A circular polarizing filter helps the situation a little, bringing some color to your shots, but it cannot substitute for good light. Avoid the CP filter with very short focal lengths, since they can cause unsightly gradients in the sky, especially when you boost contrast.

Trail

Use the day to enjoy yourself, scout good places and take some location snaps that help you identify good locations for the late afternoon. Photograph surfers, kites or children playing in the sand during the day, or go on a backcountry-hiking trip and leave the landscape shots for later.

historic cottage

Scouting is an important part to any successful shoot, but at Crystal Cove State Park, you just need to look around the Historic District for your sunset location. The warm light augments the charm of the 1920’s and 1930’s beach cottages that were built before the usual development restrictions.

The State Park restored 22 of the 46 cottages for public use and will restore the remaining cottages in the near future. The yet-to-be-restored cottages at the north end are the most photogenic. With their crooked fences and rugged charm, they challenge the lavish Orange County esthetic with simple bungalow charisma.

Crystal Cove State Park is home to several spectacular tidepools. You need to consult a tidepool chart for low tides and pick a day where the tide is low during the early morning hours. Otherwise, countless park visitors will scare or carry away any trace of amphibian life. Use a circular polarizing filter to cut the glare from the water and put your camera on the tripod to deal with the low light and the additional losses that your filter causes. I further recommend a cable release.

I used the tidepool as a foreground reflecting pool in the picture in the introduction, thus incorporating it into a larger landscape.

sunset

Crystal Cove is a romantic getaway location for stressed LA lovebirds. It is easy to let the fantastic photo choices sweep you away, but remember to enjoy the landscape and the people who travel with you. Soak up the tranquility that lingers here from a quieter era.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

You can spend an entire day at Crystal Cove. If you cannot afford this much time, I recommend the afternoon, including sunset. Make sure you park at the Los Trancos Entrance parking lot, across the Pacific Coast Highway from the Historic District. The parking areas inside the park close at sunset and the fines for violation are very steep.

This part of California enjoys the best climate year round. I personally prefer the off-season winter months for the cheaper prices, fewer crowds, and dramatic weather conditions. Spring is the best time to visit the park, since the wildflowers will add additional color to your photos.

Time required

I recommend visiting at least half a day. Prioritize if you cannot afford this much time. See the Historic District and the easy access to the Bluffs near Pelican Point.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Telephoto Lens
• Cleaning kit
• Layered clothing
• Water and snacks

Fees

The park charges a steep $15 parking fee. Share a ride with someone, park outside and take a bike or consider going all out and getting the State Park Pass for $125, which will give you access to many other California State Parks.

You need a permit and insurance if you work here with clients (Wedding and Portrait Photography).

Close Locations

• Laguna Beach
• Newport Beach
• Huntington Beach
• Crystal Cathedral
• Dana Point
• San Juan Capistrano Mission
• Belmont Shore
• Queen Mary
• Shoreline Village, Long Beach

Useful Resources

• State Park Website
• Cottage Reservations
• Crystal Cove Info

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