Category Archives: beach

How to photograph Santa Cruz Natural Bridges State Beach

2010/05/18 – 02:04

The Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz compresses numerous coastal attractions into a small, protected area. Here you can visit one of California’s Monarch Butterfly Sanctuaries, watch migrating whales, spot a sea otter, discover amphibian life in the tide pools, view wildflowers or just take in the spectacular cliffs of the California coastline.

Natural Bridges State Beach is easy to photograph and a pleasure to explore. The visitor center offers a free map and valuable information about the park. The beach is easily accessible and the coastal climate is pleasant, even on hot days. The park is also a Mecca for beach lovers. It bustles with beachgoers and BBQ parties on warm days. Bring your bathing suit if you are up for a little refreshment.
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, CA

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, flowers, hike, Northern California, santa cruz county, Seasonal, state park, Wildlife | Tagged , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Shell Beach

2010/05/04 – 05:04

The affluent beach community of Shell Beach, north of Pismo Beach provides a convenient scenic stop along Highway 101. The sunsets here are more vivid than elsewhere, the air is fresher and the water cleaner.

Gorgeous ocean-view hotels, seaside restaurants, and large residences occupy the small space between Highway 101 and the cliffs of the Pacific Coast. Below these cliffs, tide pools reveal an intriguing variety of amphibian life.

Nearby, at Pelican Point and Shelter Cove, you will find a colony of Pelicans and have superb views of the sea and Pismo Beach.
Sunset at the tide pools of Shell Beach

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Central Coast, Coast, San Luis Obispo, Southern California, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Torrey Pines State Reserve

2010/03/31 – 20:32

Nature’s last stand, amidst the Southern California urban jungle, is Torrey Pines, a park that protects a rare pine tree and migrating birds. Sheltered from covetous developers encroaching on the beaches of this beautiful land, the park still suffers from overcrowding.

With its plentiful natural beauty, the park attracts large crowds of city dwellers seeking a temporary relief from their urban lifestyles. The constant “xcuse-me” of the nation’s densest gathering of joggers, paired with noisy city dwellers, make finding solitude impossible and concentrating on photography difficult. Hold on to your equipment when you float down the trails in a sea of people and do not try to swim upstream!
Yucca - Torrey Pines, CA

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, flowers, hike, park, San Diego, Southern California, state park | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment

How to photograph Huntington Beach Pier

2010/03/16 – 02:29

As the official title “Surf City USA” states, Huntington Beach is the self-proclaimed surfing capital of the United States. The most photogenic landmark in Huntington Beach is, without a doubt, the Huntington Beach Pier. Stretching out into the vast Pacific Ocean from the intersection of Main St. and Pacific Coast Highway, the pier is the hub of beach life in Huntington Beach. And, as most people who have visited the long stretches of beaches in Southern California know, the addition of a pier actually adds some photographic interest to your pictures rather than just the long and endless drab blue green ocean stretching off for parts unknown.

Whether your interest is dramatic landscapes and sunsets, street photography, or action sports, you can usually find something of photographic interest at the Huntington Beach Pier.
Sunset at Huntington Pier

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, Los Angeles, Southern California, state park, Street Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments (7)

How to photograph the Hotel del Coronado

2010/03/11 – 16:33

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.
Pool of the Hotel del Coronado

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, landmark, San Diego, Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (3)

How to photograph Venice Beach and Canals

2009/12/22 – 15:19

Venice Beach Boardwalk is the funkiest, hippest place in Los Angeles. Street vendors set up shops, interrupted only by street food shacks and street performers. Venice Beach is an assault on your senses. Music booms all around you while weird looking creatures and vendors compete for your attention.

Venice Beach exemplifies Los Angeles’ stereotypical mantra of seeing and being seen. People here are mostly out to enjoy themselves and each other. For street photographers, the bustling Ocean Front Walk is a heaven send. People here are either happy when you photograph them or don’t notice you at all.
Venice Beach Skaters

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, landmark, Los Angeles, Southern California, Street Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments (9)

How to photograph Fort Ross SHP

2009/10/06 – 04:12

Discover one of California’s first State Parks.

Fort Ross State Historic Park is a reconstruction of the 1812 Russian Fort, erected to facilitate fur hunting and trade. The small fort is a reminder of early settlement and the hard life nearly two centuries ago.
Chapel at Fort Ross

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, Fort, landmark, Northern California, Sonoma coast, state park | Tagged , | Comments (1)

How to photograph Russian Gulch SP

2009/08/06 – 05:19

Unlike other parks, Russian Gulch State Park offers many amenities that make it attractive to casual tourists, but less interesting for photographers. You will not find many hidden jewels here, yet photographers can always discover unique perspectives and interesting views.
Russian Gulch State Park

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, landmark, Mendocino Coast, Northern California, state park, waterfall | Tagged , | Leave a Comment

How to photograph Jug Handle State Reserve

2009/08/04 – 04:57

Although Jug Handle State Reserve is famous for its ecological staircase, the mouth of Jug Handle Creek that opens into an incredible beach cove is the real star of the park. The park includes about one mile of spectacular coast that is worth stopping for and it harbors one of North California’s finest beaches. Drivers on Highway 1 only get a very brief glimpse of this beach, but many completely miss the park. Take the short hike along the coast or follow the trail and steps right down to the beach to discover this amazing hidden jewel.
Kelp at Jug Handle SNR beach

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, hike, Mendocino Coast, Northern California, state park | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Salt Point State Park

2009/07/30 – 18:03

The coast of Salt Point State Park holds some of the strangest sights in Northern California. Despite the sweeping panoramic views, the deceptively tranquil looking coves and the sea and land animals that you can find here, Salt Point State Park is also home to alien looking Tafoni formations unique to this park and a few other places on Earth.
Salt Pan

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, hike, Northern California, Sonoma coast, state park | Tagged , , | Comments (5)
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