Golden Gate South Tower

Take brilliant pictures of San Francisco from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge.

The iconic Golden Gate Bridge that spans the waters where the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean meet, symbolizes the Gold Rush and wealth of the Golden State of California. San Francisco’s most recognizable landmark is also its biggest tourist attraction. Featured in every travel publication, the Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed attraction in California.

Although it is hardly possible to photograph this icon in a novel way, the hike across the bridge promises some distinct compositions that are harder to find than the most typical overview photographs. Hiking on this majestic bridge also lets you appreciate the marvelous accomplishment that this bridge represents.

Take the walking tour across the windswept bay and enjoy some of the best views the city has to offer!

How to get there

Golden Gate Walk Map (click to enlarge)

From Highway 101 north, take the last San Francisco Exit (View Area Presidio / Golden Gate NRA / Fort Point). Turn left to the parking area. You can park here or take the tunnel underneath Highway 101 to the slightly larger parking area on the other side. Additionally you can park a little further on Merchant Road (free) or on the lot near Lincoln and Battery East Rd (free).

From Highway 1 north, merge onto Highway 101 and then take the next exit. Then follow the directions above. From Highway 101 south, take the 25th Avenue exit right after the Golden Gate Bridge then turn right onto Merchant Avenue.

The rate for the parking meters at the viewing area parking is $1/hour between 8am to 9pm, 7 days a week.

GPS position

• 37°48’50.39″N 122°28’40.20″W

How to photograph from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate from southeast viewpoint

The southeast viewing area, close to the parking lot offers an interesting view of the Bridge and its extension. Below it, you can see the top of Fort Point. Unfortunately, a wire-mesh fence partially blocks your view.

Nearby, a statue of Joseph Strauss pays homage to the chief designer of the Golden Gate Bridge. Standing back as far as possible and zooming in when photographing the statue, compresses the space between bride and statue, pulling the bridge closer.

Take the thrilling walk on this fascinating bridge! Once you cleared the wire mesh fence, you have a clear unobstructed view down. Since the bridge is popular with jumpers, this openness is in question. Lawmakers are considering extending the fence, which would influence photography.

Downtown San Francisco from the Golden Gate Bridge

Currently, you can still take photographs such as the one above, putting the bridge in the foreground and the city in the background. I focused on the city, to keep the distant features sharp, accepting some blur on the bridge. It is impossible to get the bridge and the city in focus, even with a very small aperture. A slight blur on the bridge does not matter though, since its features are easily distinguishable. The same amount of blur on the city would however be distracting. The movement of the cables makes focus stacking, the process of combining two pictures with different focal plane, difficult.

The platforms at the bridge towers offer the best spots for photography. I took the picture at the start of this article at the south tower. Looking straight up, I used the same focus technique, keeping the smallest features sharpest, trading off some sharpness on the larger nuts.

Golden Gate Long View

The sidewalk leads around the tower’s east pillar and protrudes out. From here, you have a better angle on the bridge (see above) and a good view of the tower’s macro details.

Golden Gate Painters Cage

Standing on the bridge during a slight wind and heavy traffic, gives you only a small sense of what it must feel like to work on the towers. Look straight up and imagine working there! When I discovered this painters lift / cage hanging from a cable from the south tower, I had to get on the floor to photograph it from this perspective. The image demonstrates the work environment of the bridge workers. The wide-angle perspective works in favor of the image, impressively demonstrating the height of the tower that seems so distant in this shot. The worker who has to stand in this small cage, dangling high above the bridge road deserves our utmost respect.

Look for details such as this cage, the door into the tower, the cable connectors and others to complete your bridge portfolio. Although it is hard to create unique bridge images, it is not impossible.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The views of San Francisco are better during late afternoon.

Time required

You can spend two hours leisurely crossing the bridge and taking photographs, but one hour does suffice if you do not have that much time.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Normal Lens
• CP filter
• Leave your tripod in the car. The bridge rocks in the wind and due to the traffic, making a tripod nearly useless.
• Bring $2 in coins for the parking meters.

Close Locations

• Fort Point
• Views of Presidio
• Presidio historic walk
• Land’s End and Sutro Baths
• Golden Gate Bridge from Hawk Hill and Battery Spencer
• Fort Baker
• Baker Beach
• Legion of Honor
• Stow Lake, Strawberry Hill, Aboretum (Golden Gate Park)
• Japanese Tea Garden (Golden Gate Park)
• Marina, Crissy Field
• Palace of Fine Arts

Useful Resources

• Walking and Biking Information for the Golden Gate Bridge

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Alcatraz Cellhouse Broadway

Alcatraz, the infamous penitentiary, is visible from the hills and beaches of San Francisco. It is San Francisco’s second most famous tourist destination, after the Golden Gate Bridge. Deceptively beautiful from a distance, the sheer cliffs, icy cold water, and treacherous currents made escapes from “The Rock” a futile attempt.

Authorities sent only the hardest criminals to this maximum-security facility. Among its famous residents were former Chicago mobster Al “Scarface” Capone, murderer George “Machine Gun” Kelly, and snitch Theodore “Blackie” Audett. The design of “The Rock” served to intimidate the criminals while it simultaneously reminded them of their lost freedom, due to the close proximity to San Francisco.

Today, Alcatraz still grips morbidly fascinated visitors, while offering unique opportunities for photographers. The dark dungeons of the cellblock let you create spectacular images that set a gloomy tone. The absence of natural predators like coyotes makes the island a preferred breeding ground for sea birds. The colorful wildflowers provide an unexpected foreground for the decaying concrete and steel buildings.

Alcatraz offers more than you might expect. It is therefore vital to prepare and get the most from your trip. Board the ferries and get ready to discover a piece of American history.

How to get there

You can only reach the island by boat. I recommend booking with the official provider, Alcatraz Cruises, who are under contract with the National Park service (see resources below). Avoid third party providers, who will resell those tickets. Book your tickets well in advance, since the tours fill up fast. If you are serious about your photography, you need to take the early bird tour, which sells out the fastest, often weeks in advance.

Park your car at Pier 27, on the “Priority Parking” lot. Nobody beats their weekend rate of $10 for 12 hours. From here you can walk to Pier 33, the Alcatraz Cruise terminal, in less than 10 minutes. Weekdays are just $15.

The parking lot across the street from Pier 33 charges a hefty $25.

Alcatraz Map (click to enlarge)

GPS position

• 37°49’36.65″N 122°25’16.45″W

How to photograph Alcatraz

Alcatraz from the Ferry

Your photography adventure starts the moment you step on the ferry. You will have good views of downtown San Francisco, Coit Tower and Fisherman’s Wharf including the SS Jeremiah O’Brien. Use a telephoto lens, preferably with image stabilization, and a circular polarizer. Get a place on the top deck of the ferry. Do not worry where you sit. As soon as the ship leaves, people are up and about, moving around the boat. The port side (left) of the ship offers the best views on the way to Alcatraz.

Alcatraz Broadway shot with Fisheye Lens

Once you are on the island, the park rangers will give you a short introduction. This is a good time to buy the $1 brochure “Discover Alcatraz”. The tour to the main cellblock will lead uphill to your right. Stay to the right and start walking uphill as soon as the rangers give the command. The whole mass of people usually moves with you. As long as you are with the first few people you will be fine.

The rangers hand out audio tours at the entrance. The audio tours include instructions where to go and what to see. Fortunately those instruct visitors almost immediately to stop and observe some plaques. Keep moving ahead and walk through the cutoff into the main hall, called Broadway. You will have this hall to yourself for only a few minutes until the audio tour catches up with you. Use a wide-angle lens (image at the top of the article) or fisheye lens (above) to give the halls even more depth.

Make sure you bump your ISO high enough to avoid camera shake. Since you have only a limited amount of time, I recommend erring on the high side to avoid blurry images. I simply set my camera to aperture priority mode to guarantee sufficient depth of field and used Auto ISO mode. Sometimes I set my camera to manual mode to guarantee depth of field while ensuring a maximum exposure time. Auto ISO mode takes care of the rest. The digital grain (noise) usually works well with historic subjects.

Alcatraz Library Black and White

Moving along the route of the tour, you will pass the library (above). The library is just an empty room with many windows. Taking advantage of the spotlight on the floor, this scene works well either completely empty or with a lonely person sitting on the bench. Use a wide-angle lens and leave some room on the side to allow perspective correction on the computer. This is a common problem with wide-angle lenses that you tilt up or down.

The administrative section is very interesting but not very photogenic. Leave the building toward the warden’s house and the lighthouse. From here you have the best views of San Francisco, the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Walk down the stairs and to your right on West Road to the historic gardens. Since 2008, a colony of white egrets has made this area their home.

Egret in flight

With some patience, you can sometimes catch the birds flying across the trail to the garden area to forage for food or nesting material. The birds are graceful in flight and comics in nature. Arguing over resources, the animals make almost human sounds, while at the same time sounding just outright hilarious. If your camera has a video mode, this would be a good time to use it.

To photograph the birds, set your camera to high speed shooting mode, select the center focus point, and use the focus servo mode to track them. You probably need several trials to catch them whizzing across the trail.

Alcatraz Garden

In spring you can see the gardens in full bloom. The bright colorful flowers contrast with the dull and lifeless concrete walls of the prison. You can take a docent lead garden tour Friday’s and Sunday’s at 9:30 am. The tour includes gardens that are off-limits to visitors, like the Rose Garden. The photographs on this page are all from publicly accessible areas. The picture above shows the west-side gardens with the cell house and the water tower in the background. I took the poppy photograph on the trail between the guardhouse and the Post Exchange.

California Poppies at Alcatraz

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Crowds at the Dock

I recommend the early bird tour, since this is the only time of the day where you can get the cellblock shots without massive amounts of people in your way. The light in the evening is best for photographing San Francisco, which creates a small problem, forcing you to wait or prioritize.

Summer can often be foggy and winter can be rainy. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit the park, while spring offers the best shooting options. The white egrets nest in spring and the wildflowers add a wonderful touch of color to the bleak, barren island.

You need to book in advance, and thus have little control over the frequently changing weather. Even gloomy days offer good shooting, enhancing the mood of the dark prison cells theme, while sunny days offer exceptional views of San Francisco.

Time required

Once on the island, you can stay as long as you want. The ferries run on regular intervals. We spent the whole morning here, returning about 1pm. This gave us sufficient time to see every location multiple times.

You could arrive in the morning and wait for the light to change toward the evening, but you will run out of things to do and since there are no food services anywhere on the island you need to prepare yourself for the trip accordingly.

Equipment

• Tripods: Contrary to information posted in some internet forums, you can bring your tripod. If you plan to shoot San Francisco during the late afternoon, you probably should. Although the lighting conditions inside are less ideal, I prefer not having a tripod. This gives me more flexibility to deal with the crowds and quickly take advantage of an opening. Ultimately it comes down to your preference.
• A wide-angle lens is indispensible in the tight cellblocks.
• A fisheye lens will give you even more field of view to photograph inside a cell or create grossly distorted views.
• A telephoto lens is necessary to shoot the birds and San Francisco. Image stabilization will be useful to avoid the tripod and to photograph from the boat.
• A circular polarizer brings out the colors in the flowers and the buildings, especially if you continue shooting until mid-day when the light is harsh.
• Food and drinks are not available on the island. Bring your own.
• Bring a jacket, even in warm weather. The conditions on Alcatraz are unpredictable. Wear shoes suitable to climb the hills and stairs of the island.
• Charge your batteries and bring sufficient storage / film to last all day.

Fees

A ticket with Alcatraz Cruises (the official operators) costs $26. This includes the boat ride to the island and entrance fee as well as the audio tour.

Difficulty Getting There

You can only get to Alcatraz on a ship.

Difficulty Photographing

The crowds make photography difficult. The early bird tour offers the best option.

Close Locations

• Ferry Building Farmers Market
• Pier 7
• Fisherman’s Wharf
• Fisherman’s Wharf Street Photography
• Pier 39
• Treasure Island
• Financial District
• Coit Tower
• Embarcadero Center
• Maritime Museum
• Chinatown
• Lombard Street
• Fort Mason
• Tiburon

Useful Resources

• Alcatraz official website
• Alcatraz Cruises (reserve your trip here)
• Alcatraz Gardens (and garden tours)

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Point Reyes Lighthouse is perched on a steep cliff in the windiest place on the Pacific Coast and the foggiest place in California. Despite the unusual weather, the lighthouse is a favorite destination for visitors. Located on the westernmost outcrop of Point Reyes National Seashore, the lighthouse is also the best location for whale watching from land.

Chimney Rock is a similar outcrop, on the opposite side of the tip of Point Reyes’ peninsula, at Drakes Bay. It is a narrow stretch of land of unbelievable beauty. Surrounded by deep blue and turquoise sea, this small peninsula is vividly colorful during spring, when carpets of wildflowers cover portions of the lush green pastures.

It is not a secret how picturesque this portion of Point Reyes is. Consequently, you will have a lot of competition for your photographs. Despite the large number of visitors, both locations still are exceptional photographic treasures that you shouldn’t miss.

How to get there

California Highway 1 leads through Point Reyes Station, north of San Francisco. In Point Reyes Station, you will see a sign to Point Reyes National Seashore and Inverness. Signs are posted in the northbound and southbound direction. Following the signs will lead you to Sir Francis Drake Boulevard. Follow this road through Inverness, all the way to the lighthouse parking lot.

To get to Chimney Rock, follow Pierce Point Road, which branches off to the right shortly after Inverness. Stay left on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard.

GPS position

Lighthouse

• 37°59’44.86″N 123° 1’22.77″W

Chimney Rock

• 37°59’24.65″N 122°57’55.71″W

How to photograph Point Reyes Lighthouse and Chimney Rock

Point Reyes Lighthouse

Lighthouse Stairs

Using the long flight of stairs, which lead to the lighthouse in a graceful curve, results in an esthetically pleasing composition. No wonder most photographers end up with an image just like this in their portfolio. The proportions and the flow are perfect. The viewer follows the stairs to the reward, the main subject, at the end. It puts the lighthouse in perspective. The fog helps to emphasize the distance and the length of the stairs. It also adds tension, since the lighthouse seems to stand at the edge of a deep abyss. The image gives no clue of what lies beyond, but somehow it seems as if we are meant to walk down the stairs to find out.

There is no bad weather for photography. Especially fog can greatly enhance the mood of any picture. Avoid including too much sky in your pictures and use your exposure correction, since cameras tend to underexpose in these conditions.

Lighthouse

It is no secret that the spectacular location makes the lighthouse so popular. You can find many interesting details and even some unique views down here, but the views from the stairs are simply the best. Unfortunately, those are also the most photographed, so don’t expect to come up with something entirely new. The picture in the introduction shows a different and much less photographed view of the stairs, facing in the opposite direction.

The exhibition inside the lighthouse provides a plethora of detail shots waiting for your camera and the perimeter has good views of the original lighthouse, standing on the ledge that workers blasted into the granite rock face over 100 years ago.

Danger! Charge!

After you say goodbye to the lighthouse, you still face the arduous task of climbing the stairs back up. Take an occasional breather and turn back for another view. Sometimes the weather changes quickly and the lighthouse may look better on your way up than it did on the way down.

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock

Chimney Rock is the most spectacular hike in Point Reyes. The Pacific Ocean foams on one side and Drakes Bay lies on the other side of the narrow land bridge leading out to Chimney Rock. The beach beneath is a popular hangout for cool seals and the meadows above are dotted with wildflowers. Just like the lighthouse, this hike is often very windy.

Fish Docks

Do not let the wind distract you from the extraordinary views and superb photography. Look for seals at the beaches and keep an eye open for whales blowing in the distance during spring. The most famous view is from the Headlands overlook trail (two pictures above). Chimney Rock is a small offshore rock that is not particularly photogenic. The trail makes up for it though and I recommend walking the trail to the very end, where California suddenly ends and the vast Pacific Ocean begins. This would be the perfect place to use a fisheye lens and photograph the curvature of the earth, including the Chimney Rock trail.

From here, you can also hike down to the historic lifeboat station via the Underhill Trail. Due to the heavy fog, even the lighthouse could not completely prevent shipwrecks. This station saved many lives, yet the nearby cemetery also tells the story of those that were not lucky enough to catch a ride on the boat in time.

Tanks

Keep an eye on the beaches and you may be lucky to spot seals taking a sunbath. Watch out for other subjects that can enhance your landscape photographs. Point Reyes is also home to a large population of deer, Tule Elk (not here, but further north), and mountain lions. Attach your telephoto lens during hikes and preset your camera (Exposure speed, Auto Aperture, and Auto ISO) so you are ready when you have to be.

Enjoy your trip!

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The stairs to the lighthouse are open from 10am to 4:30pm. If wind speeds exceed 40mph, the stairs will be closed. During the whale-watching season (last week of December to mid-April) and on weekends you will have to take a shuttle bus on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard (the road leading to the lighthouse and Chimney Rock). Spring (April and May) is the best time for a visit, since you can drive here directly and you will be able to find a large number of wildflowers.

Time required

Driving out to Chimney Rock and the Lighthouse from Point Reyes Station takes about one hour. Walking down the stairs to the lighthouse and back up takes about the same time and hiking the 1.6 miles out to Chimney Rock and back will cost you at least one hour. Together that is already three hours, without taking a single photograph. Since both locations provide exceptionally good opportunities, you should plan your entire day around this visit, maybe combined with a stop in Inverness.

Equipment

• Telephoto lens (whales, deer, sea lions)
• Zoom lens
• Fisheye Lens if you have one
• Tripod
• Polarizing Filter and UV filter
• Point and Shoot Camera
• Sweater and Windbreaker
• Snacks to get you through the day

Try to keep the load light for the climb down to the lighthouse.

Fees

Although there is no entrance fee for Point Reyes National Seashore, the shuttle bus (see Best Time section) will cost $5 / person.

Difficulty Getting There

You cannot drive to the lighthouse between the last week of December and mid April. You need to take the shuttle bus and plan accordingly.

In order to get to the lighthouse, you need to climb 308 stairs down and then back up. If you are in reasonably good physical condition, this is not a major obstacle, but it takes time and costs energy.

Lastly, the parking lot is notoriously overcrowded. You may need to park further away and walk.

Close Locations

• Tomales Bay State Park
• Pt. Reyes Tule Elk Reserve
• Pt. Reyes Coastal Trail
• Inverness and Earthquake Trail
• Fort Ross
• Bodega Bay and Bodega Head
• Bodega Dunes
• Bodega Cliffs
• Mt Tamalpais
• Muir Woods
• Point Bonita Lighthouse
• Secret Views of Marin Headlands
• Marin Headlands Bay Views

Useful Resources

• Lighthouse page on nps.gov
• Lighthousefriends page
• Chimney Rock hike

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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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Santa Barbara’s nestles between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Coast. The Spanish architecture and clean, palm dotted neighborhoods, and the superb location create a relaxed holiday atmosphere unparalleled anywhere else. When city planners chose to rebuild Santa Barbara in this clean villa like image, they built America’s most beautiful courthouse as the crown jewel of city architecture.

Santa Barbara’s Superior Court occupies an entire block in downtown. The building complex features a tall clock tower, a garden, murals, a fountain, ornaments, tiles, and other architectural highlights. Of all the features, the views of Santa Barbara from the “El Mirador” clock tower are the most remarkable.

No other building in downtown is higher, making this the best spot to photograph overviews of the city. Amazingly, I have never encountered crowds on the tower during my previous visits, but tourist traffic has increased over the years.

Do not miss the chance to visit the courthouse and enjoy the view from the eighty-five feet tall tower.

How to get there

The courthouse is located on 1100 Anacapa Street.

If you travel on Highway 101 southbound, take the Mission Street Exit (99). Turn left onto Mission Street. After five blocks, turn right onto State Street Route. Drive 0.7 miles, then turn left on E Victoria Street and immediately right onto Anacapa Street. The courthouse is one block further on Anacapa Street.

If you travel on Highway 101 northbound, take the Garden Street Exit (98B). Turn right onto Garden Street and follow it for about 0.8 miles. Then turn left onto E Anapamu Street. The courthouse will be on your left after one more block.

GPS position

• 34°25’26.84″N 119°42’9.88″W

How to photograph Santa Barbara Court House

Anacapa Wing

Photographing the courthouse in bright daylight is challenging. The brightness of the white building tends to overexpose. Review your histogram often and use spot metering to read the courthouse itself. Although this tends to result in overall underexposed pictures, it is possible to restore shadow detail. Clipped highlights on the other hand are lost forever.

You can potentially restore about one stop of overexposure from a raw file with most cameras. This requires a lot of experience in judging how far you can push your camera and how to interpret the histogram. A good RAW converter is essential in getting the best results from high dynamic range situations like this. Further noise filtering of restored shadow detail improves results.

An obvious alternative to deal with the high dynamic range is to create HDR photographs. This does however require a tripod. I recommend leaving it in the car before you enter the building, due to the security checks.

Hall

Avoid using flash for your indoor photographs. Use only available light and boost your ISO sensitivity as much as necessary to get the results you want. Since the courthouse is dark, that will not be easy. I shot the pictures on this page a few years ago, without tripod support and without Image Stabilization at ISO 800. You should be able to get some decent photographs as well.

Since hand movement is random, you will usually get a few sharp pictures if you take many photos in rapid succession, even if the shutter speed is very slow. By chance, a few of these pictures just “happen” to be sharp.

Mural Room

The mural room stands out as the court’s most lavishly garnished room. Everything from the floor tiles to the ceiling is decorated with elaborate detail. The murals are giant paintings depicting scenes of California’s early history, up to the construction of the Mission.

This room is even darker to preserve the paintings. Therefore, you also cannot use your camera flash. You need patience to get a sharp photograph without people in it.

It is always a good idea to capture close-ups of the texture of the paintings, the chandeliers, the ceiling and ornaments.

Court Tower Panorama

Take the elevator to the top of the clock tower. The views of Santa Barbara are breathtaking. I took the picture of the introduction and the panorama above from there.

Using a polarizing filter helps to remove glare from the water and the reflections from the windows of all buildings. It also brings out the colors in the roofs and the foliage. Since CP filters can lead to unnaturally saturated skies, it is always a good idea to only turn the filter as far as necessary. It is too easy to overuse these filters, as everything tends to “pop” more when you through the viewfinder with a CP filter attached.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The courthouse opens daily from 9:30 to 4:30.  The weather is more predictable in summer and due to the close location to water, smog is rarely an issue, making this a good location to fill an empty spot of your day.

Time required

You need about two hours to photograph the courthouse exterior, its interior features and take the ride to the tower for the best view of Santa Barbara.

Equipment

• Super-zoom lens with IS
• High ISO capable camera
• CP and UV filters

Do not bring a tripod and use a small camera bag if you can, since you will have to pass through security checkpoints to enter the courthouse.

Fees

Visiting the courthouse is free of charge. Parking is a bit difficult and you may end up having to pay. Look for a parking meter and allow sufficient time for an unrushed visit.

Close Locations

• Santa Barbara Presidio
• Santa Barbara Mission
• Santa Barbara Wharf
• 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 Court Website
• Architectural Features
• 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 stretch of California Highway 1 that hugs the coastline between Carmel and San Simeon is among the most iconic drives in world. Featured in countless movies, commercials, and print advertisements, this section of highway symbolizes the freedom of the open road. Countless drivers from around the world come here each year to enjoy this spectacular scenic detour.

Although driving without stopping is one of the greatest joys, we will take a detour from the detour and explore a backcountry road that leads us through the nearby mountains, where we will find tranquility from Highway 1, which does tend to get too busy occasionally. The green meadows, hills, and creeks offer a glimpse of another California, where time paces itself.

Overlooks with spectacular views, wildflowers, and Bixby Creek Bridge itself abundantly provide us with photo subjects that make this also a worthy detour for photography.

How to get there

Bixby Creek Bridge lies about 14.5 miles south of Carmel. Just north of the bridge is the north turnoff of Old Coast Road. Despite its very visible location, it is easy to miss. The south turnoff is opposite to the entrance to Andrew Molera State Park, about 4.5 miles north of Big Sur.

GPS position

North Turnoff

• 36°22’21.02″N 121°54’9.58″W

South Turnoff

• 36°17’18.54″N 121°50’39.64″W

Bixby Bridge Viewpoint

• 36°21’27.04″N 121°54’9.34″W

How to photograph Bixby Bridge Mountain Loop

Bixby Bridge at Night

Driving along Highway 1 is one of the greatest pleasures known to men. The unbelievable rugged landscape, sweeping views, and pure joy of gliding along without a particular goal and just for the pleasure of the drive are hard to beat. One of the greatest sights is the Bixby Creek Bridge, connecting Big Sur to the Carmel Headlands. The bridge is in perfect harmony with the landscape, a superb photographic subject.

One of my favorite places to photograph the bridge is from the viewing area about 1.2 miles south of the bridge. I took the picture in the introduction and the night picture from here. I had envisioned the night photograph for a long time, but always failed to be here at the right time. On a recent trip back from Morro Bay I ran late again, but I decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, I arrived at the viewpoint a full hour after sunset. Finding it was difficult too, due to complete darkness. The GPS coordinates in the previous section should make it easier for you to find. After I arrived, I set up my tripod. Composing the shot was next to impossible, since it was so dark. Using the level of my camera and tripod, I set up a straight shot and exposed it for 10 minutes, guessing a good exposure. I waited for a line of cars and took the shot. The image turned out ok, but if you can make it here 15-20 minutes after sunset, you will get much better results.

The rest of the distance between the two points is equally spectacular, allowing me to skip the description and focusing on our detour.

Into the Mountains

The subtler subjects of Old Coast Road require adjustment after you drove along the scenic wonders of Highway 1 to get here. Stop for a short while before your embark on your back road trip and re-tune your composition meters.

Compared to Highway 1 between Brixby Bridge and Andrew Molera, this trip may seem unspectacular at first glance, but the lack of tourist traffic and the intimate connection you will feel with this area make up for the lack of grand scenic landscapes. You can still find worthy subjects, but you will not have to share them with as many people.

The road ascends steeply from Highway 1, unveiling gorgeous views of the rolling hills meeting the ocean. The north end of the road climbs into a coastal redwood forest. The majestic trees look spectacular on foggy days. A small creek (Little Sur River) crosses the road after a short while. Small meadows are the perfect place for an afternoon picnic, as long as you respect private property lines.

California Poppies on Coast Road

Eventually the road climbs out of the valley and the forest gives way to rolling hills. Wildflowers line the side of the road in spring. Unfortunately, the best patches of flowers usually lie behind fences encircling private land. I used a wide-angle lens and a point of view very close to the ground to make the most of the flowers at the side of the road, hiding the fence, when it occurred to me to include the fence and flowers as the main subject.

Entangled

As the road continues south, the view to the ocean will open up, giving you the chance to spy on the drivers who zip past this detour, not even knowing of its existence. You can see the Pico Blanco Lighthouse in the distance and eventually the parking lot of Andrew Molera State Park. There are several good views on the way back down to the Highway. The main difficulty is finding a good place to pull over. It is easy to become lazy with all the fresh air and sun. Don’t be! Sometimes you need to pull out past your composition. Walk back and take the shot anyways.

Overlook

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

I prefer to visit this area in spring. Unlike other places, spring is longer in Big Sur, since the fog and occasional rain prevent the coastline from drying out. If you visit between late February and late May, you have a good chance of finding wildflowers.

I often seek refuge from the hot summers near the coast. The Big Sur area is always a welcome place to visit during summer.

Time required

The drive along the Old Highway takes less than 45 minutes. Stopping and taking many photographs takes no more than 2 hours, including the drive. Obviously, you need more time if you take my advice and have a picnic here. The drive between the two end-points on Highway 1 takes just 10 minutes.

Equipment

• Normal Zoom Lens
• CP filter
• Wide-angle lens
• Telephoto lens
• Tripod (night and macro)
• Cable release
• SUV (after rain)
• Picnic basket

Fees

There is no fee to drive along this road.

Difficulty Getting There

The dirt road may be impassable with a passenger car after a rainstorm. In winter, you therefore need to be prepared to turn back. In summer, you should not have any issues.

You will find several private residences up here. Please pay attention to the signs and stay off private property.

Close Locations

• Pico Blanco Lighthouse
• Andrew Molera State Park
• Garrapata State Park
• Big Sur Wildflowers
• Point Lobos State Reserve
• Carmel Mission
• Carmel
• Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
• Cambria and Cayucos

Useful Resources

• A bicyclist’s perspective

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