Despite its convenient location along a well-traveled path, San Miguel Arcangel Mission is an often-overlooked photographic treasure. Due to recent earthquakes, the old mission used to be in a desolate condition. The mission church was long closed with the thread of an immanent collapse looming over it. Today the church has reopened, owing to extensive restoration projects funded through donations.

The decay that threatens the very existence of this mission also makes it one of the most appealing ones to photograph. Crumbling walls, rusting ornaments, and peeling paint give it an authentic old feeling that some other missions lack. While you walk through the old mission remnants, you can feel the age of the buildings.

Simply plan a stop on your next trip along Highway 101, you won’t regret it.

How to get there

San Miguel Mission is located conveniently right next to Highway 101 about eight miles north of Paso Robles.

Heading north on Highway 101, take the Mission Street Exit (239A). You will see the mission from the off ramp. From 101 southbound, take the 10^th Street exit (239), then turn left onto 10^th Street. Drive about 0.2 miles then turn right onto Mission Street. You will arrive at the mission after another 0.2 miles.

GPS position

• 35°44’41.16″N 120°41’49.46″W

How to photograph Mission San Miguel

Mission Bells and Cacti

The bell tower is the most distinctive element of the mission. It is located at the south side of the mission. The orange-red colored brick stones and blue skies are complementary colors, creating a bold look due to the high color contrast. A circular polarizing filter can help you enhance the colors even more. Use this filter sparingly, as it can easily lead to very unnatural looking images.

Pay attention to the perspective of the clock tower. If you tilt your camera while using a wide-angle lens, the tower will appear to lean backward in your photograph. Either you can use this effect to enhance your picture, or you can strive for accuracy and may want to correct it. In that case, I recommend leaving some cropping space above it, which will make correction easier.

San Miguel Front Gate

Boosting large and small detail and sharpening are two techniques I use to emphasize the texture of the peeling paint, the crumbling plaster, and mossy stones. It adds character to the photograph and emphasizes the historic aspects of the mission. Pay attention to smaller details. Stop and ask yourself what made you look at a feature and why you recognized it. Can you capture this fleeting spur of attention in a meaningful photograph? Can you isolate this feature?

Bell

Show details in a larger context, to add meaningful background information or isolate the detail and leave the viewer puzzled to highlight the graphical properties.  The image above uses selective focus to emphasize the bell, while leaving enough detail in the background to avoid the appearance of a bell floating in empty space.

Obviously, there are limits to the depth of field you can accomplish. You can however simulate narrow depth of field on the computer by adding blur to an image. Simulating an infinite depth of field is also possible, but requires proper planning. Photographing multiple pictures with the focus set at varying distances, and combining them on the computer can simulate this effect.

Piano

To keep the decay at bay, flash photography is not allowed inside the mission. Natural light often results in better-looking photographs, but presents severe challenges. Eventually, you cannot boost your ISO settings any higher and the image stabilization will reach its limits. A common trick is to take several photographs of the same scene. Since your handshake is random, there will always be a few pictures that turn out sharper than others.

The increased amplification (high ISO) usually means that your camera will not record as much dynamic range as it can in bright light. This means it may become more difficult to brighten dark areas, as they will turn out even noisier. Advanced noise filtering can help. I use Topaz DeNoise filter for these situations.

Colonnade and Wagon

Spend some extra time walking the grounds of the mission and look for creative angles, different perspectives, and uncommon points of view that enhance the character of the mission. A small shift in the camera position or angle can make a big difference in your photographs.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The museum is open between 10am and 4:30pm and the church opens from 8am to 5pm. If you are running late or early, it is therefore best to save a visit to the church for last or do it first. The early morning and late afternoon light is best. Due to the opening hours, it is a good destination for an off-season visit, since the sun will be at lower angles during this time.

Time required

You should plan a minimum of one hour. It would be best if you can afford to spend two hours here.

Equipment

• Zoom lens (with IS if possible)
• Wide-angle lens
• CP Filter
• Polarizing Sunglasses

Fees

During my last visit, the mission gratefully accepted donations of any kind that were desperately needed to repair recent earthquake damage.

Close Locations

• San Luis Obispo Mission
• San Antonio Mission
• Cambira and Cayucos
• San Simeon Otters and Seals
• Hearst Castle
• Morro Bay
• Montana de Oro State Park
• Avila Beach
• Shell Beach
• Pismo Beach

Useful Resources

• Mission Website

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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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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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Morro Bay is a delightful fishing town with a sheltered harbor. At the entrance of the harbor towers Morro Rock, a volcanic granite dome and Morro Bay’s most prominent feature.

I used to bypass Morro Bay on my travels after I first moved to California. From a distance, it did not seem to offer much and the three smoke stacks of the local power plant are still an eyesore to me. Since then I have come to appreciate Morro Bay. The fishing boats, the sea life, and the dramatic sunsets that backlight an equally dramatic landscape have won me over. I love coming to Morro Bay and I am never short on excuses for another stop at Morro Bay. After all, it is conveniently located at the confluence of Highways 1 and 101.

Do not miss Morro Bay, a fantastic family destination with countless photography choices.

How to get there

Morro Bay is located about 13 miles north of San Luis Obispo on Highway 1, about 17 miles west of Atascadero on Highway 41 and about 20 miles south of Cambria on Highway 1. Morro Bay is impossible to miss if you take any of these roads.

Morro Bay is located at the coast, almost at the exact halfway point between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

GPS position

• 35°22’0.67″N 120°51’13.42″W

How to photograph Morro Bay

Morro Bay State Park

Heron at Morro Bay State Park

The saltwater marsh at the northern end of Morro Bay State Park is a perfect location for bird photography. All kinds of sea birds come here to hunt and congregate. The blue heron above just caught his lunch.

You will need a telephoto lens of at least 300mm for the birds. If you have a shorter lens, you can still photograph the birds, but you may have to crop your images. Alternatively, you can capture a few vertical images with the sand spit and colorful kayaks in the background.

The Estuary in the southern part of the park should make a perfect sunset location. You can capture the reflecting sunlight in the arms of the water tentacles from South Bay Boulevard. The park also has a small marina where you can rent a kayak and explore the bay in greater depth.

Bayshore Bluffs and Tidelands Parks

Bayshore Bluffs Park - Morro Bay

Just north of the State Park is the small Bayshore Bluffs Park. At first glance, it looks underwhelming, but then I discovered the stairs at the southern end of the park. The stairs lead to a small beach that is completely covered in oyster shells. Boat owners land their small craft here, which make a fantastic foreground for the bay.

I used a medium range lens and stepped several meters back from the boat to avoid dwarfing Morro Rock in the distance. This meant that I needed a very small aperture to get the boat and the rock sharp at the same time. I used f/14 on my 7D, which means I would get a small amount of diffraction, un-sharpness caused by light bending. In post-processing, I sharpened the image.

Tidelands Park, just north of Bayshore Park, is another good place to photograph the boats anchored in the harbor and the cheeky squirrels waiting for handouts.

At the docks

Ye Olde Man

Most visitors to Morro Bay come to the docks and the shops and restaurants just south of them. This is where most of the tourist activity takes place, the bustling heart of Morro Bay. I took the sunset picture from the introduction here and countless other images. Most of my images are from this area, since there is simply so much to see here.

Sometimes, seals rest on the docks or goof around in the water. Colorful storefronts and playfully excited children are also good motives if you are not shy. The old weathered fishing vessels moored at the docks add an authentic flair to the entire area that you cannot find anywhere else.

On the Breakwater

Surfers

If you take a drive to Morro Rock, you will get a different perspective on the city and Morro Strand State Beach to the north. The latter is a popular surfer destination. You need a long lens to capture the action. Alternatively, a shorter focal length will give you a scenic postcard view of the waves, the surfers, and the northern fringes of Morro Bay, nestling in the foothills.

Morro Bay at night

A good place to end your day of photography, before settling down for a fresh seafood dinner, is Coleman Park. The best time is about 15 to 30 minutes after sunset. Increase your ISO setting slightly to keep the exposure times below a couple of seconds. Otherwise, the boats will look slightly blurry, due to the motion of the water.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Morro Bay has something for every season. Sunsets are more dramatic in winter, while the weather is more pleasant and predictable in summer. Summer brings more fog, which can add to the atmosphere of your images. Spring and fall are also good, since you will have less competition from other travelers.

Time required

Depending on the depth of your visit, you need between one hour and one day. If you have only a short amount of time, stay near the docks and the restaurants.

Equipment

• Wide-angle lens
• Normal Lens
• Tripod and Cable release

Fees

There are no fees to pay, but you should sit down in one of the countless seafood restaurants along Embarcadero or Front Street.

Close Locations

• Montana de Oro State Park
• Avila Beach
• Shell Beach
• Pismo State Beach
• Guadalupe Dunes Park
• Point Sal State Park
• Hearst Castle
• Santa Maria
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• Cambria and Cayucos
• San Simeon Pier and Seals
• San Miguel Mission

Useful Resources

• Morro Bay Brochure (pdf)
• Morro Bay Website
• State Park Page

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The drive along scenic Highway 1 is one of my favorite pastime activities in summer. The drive in itself is immensely satisfying, even without stopping, yet each stop reveals something special. San Simeon is one of those stops that does not always reveal its beauty at first glance, but does fascinate countless visitors who dare to take a second look.

Learn about the enchanting wildlife viewing spot that brings you close to the majestic elephant seals, allowing you to observe and photograph them in their natural habitat. Discover the otters dancing with seagulls beneath the pier in Hearst Park.

San Simeon is famous for nearby Hearst Castle SHP. Many visitors see the Castle, but miss the real stars of San Simeon, the sea mammals.

How to get there

San Simeon Map

San Simeon is located about 30 miles north of Morro Bay, along the Pacific Coast Highway US-1 and about 90 miles south of Carmel. During the winter months, heavy rains sometimes wash away the road between Carmel and San Simeon. Check the road conditions page in the resource section if you wish to take the scenic route along US-1. Take US-101 south and US-46 across the mountains from Paso Robles as a detour.

Hearst Park is opposite the turn-off to Hearst Castle SHP, on the west side of CA-1, just north of Motel City San Simeon. The Elephant Seal viewing area is about another 4.5 miles north of the park and just south of Piedras Blancas Light Station.

GPS position

Hearst Park with Pier:

• 35°38’35.12″N 121°11’14.19″W

Elephant Seal Viewing:

• 35°39’47.44″N 121°15’28.25″W

How to photograph the Otters, the Pier and the Seals

San Simeon Pier and Otters

Pier

The pier in Hearst Park is a good place to look for otters, seals, and dolphins. It is a very photogenic subject in its own right as you can see above and in the introduction section, so stopping is never a bad idea, even if you cannot spot any wildlife.

I love to play with shadows and shapes, which is how I got to the image in the introduction. The pier looks fantastic from many angles, this just happens to be my personal favorite. I prefer the composition from the left side, since the pier curves left. On the pier itself, I find it a good idea to change my position and vary things around a bit. Try lifting your camera over your head, holding it low or shifting your position around.

The real stars of our visit were the otters. We stood on the pier and witnessed this strange scene unfold between the otter and the seagull.

The food nab

1: Mr. Otter munching: “Yum, crab, my favorite!”
2: Ms. Seagull sneaking up on Mr. Otter, who is still distracted by his catch.
3: Ms. Seagull apologetically: “Ahem, Hello Mr. Otter, would you mind sharing your sumptuous meal with a hungry bird?”
4: A slightly annoyed Mr. Otter drops the catch into the water, and Ms. Seagull dives for it.
5: As she comes back up, she mumbles a “Mmmhhh, thanks!” with her mouth full. “Don’t mention it!” said Mr. Otter. “Now get out of here!”
6: Ms. Seagull ducks away, while Mr. Otter makes a roll and goes back to the seafloor for more

Fortunately, I kept the camera on this unlikely couple, while they had their little encounter. The whole scene repeated a few times until the seagull disappeared.

I used a 200mm telephoto lens and stood directly above the odd couple. I selected the center focus point on my camera and kept it on the otter. Although this meant I would have to crop the images, I did not need to move my focus points around or worse yet, have the camera focus on his tail instead of his head. I also selected the focus-tracking mode that continuously adjusts focus.

San Simeon Seals

Seal scratching itself

Photographing the seals is easier and more predictable, since they come in large numbers and are here year round.

The GPS section includes a link to the main viewing area. Just 0.3 miles north, you will find another viewing area. A trail, with good views, connects the two. A little over one mile south of the main parking lot, there is another pullout, with a third viewing area. Depending on the time of the year and the mood of the animals, either of these viewpoints can be best.

You should bring your longest telephoto lens or rent one before you come. Even a 300mm lens is just the bare minimum, a 500mm would be better to get closer to the action and to fill your frame.

Nose buddies

Filling the frame (overflowing the corners) with a large number of animals will leave the viewer puzzled about the real size of the herd. Our brain fills in the missing information with countless more animals, making these types of images more impressive. Filling the frame with a single animal shows its character.

Bull

Keep your distance. It is a crime to disturb these animals in any way and once you have seen how incredibly agile a 4000lb. bull chasing a competitor is, you most likely will stay away on your own.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Winter is the best time to see the seals and the otters. The pregnant female seals arrive in December and around January and February, you can see the pups. Usually you can find seals throughout the year on at least one of the two viewpoints.

The best time to photograph the seals is in the morning, since you will look west.

Time required

You should plan one hour for Hearst Park and one hour for the seal viewing.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens
• Wide-angle lens
• Tripod

Fees

There are no fees for the seal viewing areas. During our last visit in November, there was no charge to enter Hearst Park.

Close Locations

• Hearst Castle
• Cambria and Cayucos
• 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

Useful Resources

• Elephant Seal Information
• California Road Conditions

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Montana de Oro State Park is California’s largest coastal state park. Despite the 1 million visitors each year, you will be able to find solitude on the nearly 50 miles of trails. Diverse coastal landscapes, spectacular wildlife viewing, and outdoor sports activities make this park so popular.

Montana de Oro’s sweeping views of rugged coastal landscapes, dunes, and the chance to photograph wild animals make it very attractive for photographers. Unspoiled coastal landscapes are becoming increasingly harder to find, which makes the park such a treasure. The constant pressure from Sacramento’s budget threatens this jewel of the Central California Coast.

Montana de Oro State Park is the perfect place to plan your weekend getaway from the hectic lives we lead today. You will find a sanctuary of pristine nature that will calm you and rejuvenate your spirit.

How to get there

Montana de Oro State Park lies south of Morro Bay, near the city of Los Osos.

Heading south on CA-1, take exit 277 toward Los Osos. Follow S. Bay Boulevard for about 4 miles, then turn right on Los Osos Valley Road. Follow this road (it turns into Pecho Valley Road) into the park.

Heading north on CA-1, take exit 200A to Los Osos Valley Road. Follow it for about 11 miles until it turns into Pecho Valley Road, which leads directly into the park.

Follow the park road to the end to get to Point Buchon Trail. Start here, since this trail closes first.

GPS position

• 35°18’0.64″N 120°51’46.21″W

How to photograph Montana de Oro SP

Morro Rock View

As you drive into the park, you will come over a small hill. On top of it is a pullout that has a superb view of the sand spit, Morro Rock, and Morro Bay. I took the image above from this pullout, just after sunset. The soft light works well with this type of image, giving it a dreamy look.

The foreground, sand spit, and the hills in the background form a Z, with Morro Rock sitting in the corner of the Z. The Z will draw the viewer toward Morro Rock from the bottom and from the left sides of the image. This creates interest and involves viewers in the image.

Spooner's Cove

I used a similar technique in this image of Spooner’s Cove, where all imaginary lines converge in the distance at the open ocean. This creates an escape spot for the viewer to flee into the image. The water mirrors the clouds and the rocks mirror each other while avoiding symmetry. This adds a dynamic focal point to the image.

Spooner’s Cove is the most popular beach in the park, which means it will be busy. This makes it hard but not impossible to take good photographs here. Instead of photographing the entire beach, I concentrated on smaller areas to keep the sense of solitude that I created with most other images.

Above the cove stands the old Spooner House. It serves as a museum and visitor center.

Point Buchon

I highly recommend the Point Buchon Trail that starts at the end of the road. The Pacific Gas and Electric Company tightly controls access to the trail, which means you need to leave this area long before sunset. Starting your exploration here is thus a good idea. The trail features excellent wildlife viewing chances (images below), protected beaches and grassland (image above), and after many miles a glimpse of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant.

White Egret

Mountain lions, coyotes, and bobcats are the hunters you may be able to observe at Montana de Oro. Bring your longest lens and a bag of patience to have a chance of spotting these elusive mammals.

Photographing birds, seals, and whales is more predictable and easier. I observed this white egret hunting for small critters. He stalked through the brush, suddenly froze while wobbling his tail, and then thrust his head into the deep grass. The egret had just snatched an unlucky lizard.

The white bird easily fools your camera’s exposure meter when you set it to evaluative metering. The background area is significantly larger and darker, causing the bird to become overexposed and washed out. Use spot metering and/or adjust your exposure accordingly. I realized this too late and when I had adjusted my settings, a weird person decided that it was time to shoo off my bird.

Whale blowing

During the winter months, you can also spot migrating grey whales from the shores of Montana de Oro. We sat down on the bench at Point Buchon from where we spotted a whale blowing in the distance. The whales are usually too far to photograph, unless you bring a very long lens. My 200mm did not reach far enough (see above).

Sand Spit Beach - Montana de Oro

My favorite area for sunsets is the sand spit beach that you can reach from a turnoff from the main road. This is where I took the image in the introduction and the image above. The image in the intro is an HDR photograph. I stacked three images in order to deal with the large dynamic range of photographing directly into the setting sun.

If you did not bring a tripod, avoid having the sun in your photographs. You can still take advantage of the soft, warm light as it hits everything else (image above).

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Point Buchon Trail only opens during the day. You have to sign in and the rangers strictly enforce the time. You have to leave well before the last light of the day, making this stretch off-limits for your sunset photography. However, the park has some good sunset viewing spots elsewhere, making this a good place for sunset and/or sunrise photography.

Currently, Point Buchon Trail is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The winter months between December and March are best to spot whales, whereas spring will bring flower carpets that will enhance your landscape images.

Time required

You need the better part of a day to explore the entire park. Two hours is barely enough for a quick drive with some scenic stops.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens (Animals)
• Wide-angle lens (landscape)
• Tripod and Cable release (sunset)
• Binoculars

Fees

Currently there is no day use fee for the park.

Close Locations

• Avila Beach
• Morro Bay
• Shell Beach
• Pismo Beach
• Guadalupe Dunes Park
• Point Sal State Park
• Hearst Castle
• Otters and Seals of San Simeon
• Santa Maria
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• Cambria and Cayucos
• La Purisima Mission
• Wildflowers

Useful Resources

• Official website

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Avila Beach is a secluded, charming beach community, hidden from the traditional tourist routes but close enough for a short side trip, if you know where to look and if you find the only access road from the highway.

The town has the best beach in the area. It is located in a natural harbor sheltered by mountains from three sides. The beach is the main attraction for most visitors, but it has a lot to offer to us photographers as well. I learned that this is also a favorite location of a fellow photographer, Bob Towery, who has produced some of his most astonishing work here; a fact that made it infinitely more difficult for me to write about this heavenly small vacation town.

I am thus just going to give an account of my impressions and instead encourage you to come here and discover this place yourself.

How to get there

Take exit 195, Avila Beach Drive, from US-101, just north of Pismo Beach and south of San Luis Obispo. After about 2.5 miles, you will reach the city of Avila Beach.

GPS position

• 35°10’44.20″N 120°44’3.37″W

How to photograph Avila Beach

Avila Beach Pier

We pulled into the best parking spot in town, right at the intersection of Front Street and San Miguel Street, hopped out of the car, and took a stroll along Front Street. Soaking up the atmosphere, I was reminded of times I spent in Spain at the Mediterranean Sea. The beaches were empty that day and the first lunch guests arrived at Custom House, the restaurant I immediately picked for our lunch later that day. The customers who sat outdoors on this winter morning seemed happy with their choices and enjoyed the warm weather. A perfect summer’s day that just happened to take place in winter.

A pier is usually a good choice to start your photography and I often make this my first destination. It did not take much to convince Dani for the short stroll. From a distance, we discovered a frothy wave that moved around the fishing boats anchoring in the bay. As we got closer, we discovered the real reason behind those waves was a flock of seals that playfully circled the boats, chasing each other and the fish.

Seals

In one swift motion, I flipped my backpack around, unscrewed my wide-angle lens and flipped the telephoto lens onto my camera. Dani is used to these jerky motions and knows how to avoid the flying backpack from hitting her face. It was not difficult at all to take a few quality shots of the seals in their element, once I had the long lens set up.

We even discovered a gray whale blowing in the distance, just at the edge of the horizon and beyond the reach of my camera.

Above our heads circled swarms of pelicans, in numbers unlike I have ever seen before. Occasionally one of them broke loose and dove headfirst into the water from a high altitude, diving for fish. This happened so fast, that I could barely focus my eyes fast enough on it. I still had to attempt to capture the kamikaze birds in action.

Pelican Dive

I am like a gunslinger with my camera. I am very fast to pull the camera up, aim, focus, and pull the trigger. I still was not very successful at hitting my target. There were simply too many birds and their dive happened too fast and was too unpredictable.

I changed my strategy. I set my camera to focus tracking mode, spot metering and center focus point and followed one pelican around that looked hungry enough to go for a dive. It took me a few minutes, but eventually I got the shot I was after.

I spent a few more minutes photographing the boats, the pier, and Pismo Beach in the distance, before we decided to walk back and sit down for lunch.

Spiral

Lunch did not happen the way I anticipated. A giant and noisy biker horde suddenly invaded town and took over my restaurant of choice. I normally do not mind a bawling pack of mid 50ies who never grew up, but it ruined the Mediterranean flair for me. Instead, I decided to stick around for a few more photographs and to seek refuge in a seafood restaurant in Morro Bay later.

Fantasy Land

I found a few more interesting places, like this corner of newly developed candy colored houses that I could use to spice up my portfolio and some beach shots and wave shots that looked interesting, but nothing brag worthy and nothing like the work Bob has shown. When we saddled the hybrid horse, we were exhausted and somehow dried out from the hot Avila Beach winter sun, leaving a little piece of heaven behind, and vowing to come back in the near future on one of our next trips through this remarkable stretch of California Coast.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The amount of birds, seals, and distant whales we saw during our visit in November was astounding. Avila Beach should be good throughout the year, with its pleasant climate and laid back beach atmosphere. I usually prefer the off-season in these towns, since they tend to become overcrowded in summer.

Time required

This is not the place to rush things. Take your time and sit down for a meal if you can to get in the mood and to relax first. Nonetheless, you can spend two hours just on the pier, beach and along Front Street.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens (birds)
• Normal Lens
• CP Filter
• Fast camera with accurate focus

Fees

Avila Beach is a free slice of heaven.

Close Locations

• Point San Luis Lighthouse
• Shell Beach
• Pismo State Beach
• Guadalupe Dunes Park
• Montana de Oro State Park
• Morro Bay
• Point Sal State Park
• Santa Maria
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• La Purisima Mission
• Otters and Seals of San Simeon
• Cambria and Cayucos
• San Miguel Mission

Useful Resources

• Avila Beach Website

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Sunset at the tide pools of Shell Beach

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.

How to get there

Shell Beach Road runs parallel to Highway 101 and connects the two locations. Driving north on Highway 101, take the Shell Beach exit, driving south take exit 193 towards Shell Beach Road.

GPS position

Best Western:

• 35° 8’58.85″N 120°39’13.92″W

Tide pools:

• 35° 9’22.54″N 120°40’41.36″W

How to photograph Shell Beach

Pelican at Pelican Point in Shell Beach

The Best Western Hotel occupies the best real estate in Shell Beach. Park your car and walk to the gazebo overlooking Pelican Point. The cliff extends out towards the sea. It offers superb views of Pismo Beach to the south and the rocky cliffs to the north. The gazebo itself is a romantic subject for sunset shots and a favorite for wedding photographers.

At the cliff below, you will see flocks of Pelicans. You need a medium telephoto lens to photograph the animals. Unfortunately, these comical birds live in a filthy environment. To keep the dirty rocks in the foreground out of your picture, try to catch them in flight or at the edge of a rock.

Just north of Pelican Point, you will find Shelter Cove, a small beach with an unusual amount of round rocks. Unfortunately, there is no access to the beach, giving you very limited shooting options.

Shelter Cove

If you have the good fortune or foresight to arrive at a low tide, you can take advantage of the tide pools. Many of the most fascinating creatures live underwater in these small pools. Be aware that the water creates glare, which you can eliminate with a circular polarizing filter. Unfortunately, this also means reduced light sensitivity by up to two stops.

To emphasize the alien nature of the creatures, get up close and use a small aperture (large f/number), keeping everything in focus. Together with the filter, this results in longer exposure times. Use a tripod, but keep in mind that the slight movement of the water means you should not exceed times of 1/10s. Choosing a higher ISO sensitivity will keep the exposure times short. Experiment with the settings and verify sharpness and exposure.

The tide pools also provide a spectacular foreground for a Southern California Sunset. Look for a section that reflects the sunlight to you. The golden glare will add interest and emphasize the foreground.

Put your camera on a tripod and pre-focus to maximize the depth of field. Use aperture priority mode, to keep the same depth of field as the light changes. Enable mirror lockup on your SLR or use live-view shooting mode. This avoids camera shake and keeps your pictures sharp.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

The time before sunset until sunset is best. The sunset is most spectacular with cloud cover above you but an opening in the west for the sun to shine through it. When I travel north/south, I often take Highway 101 if there is a slight chance for good cloud cover. Even clear days can be good.

You need a low tide to explore the tide pools (see link below).

Time required

You can spend just a few moments photographing the sunset or up to 3 hours photographing everything else.

Equipment

• Telephoto Lens (birds)
• Wide-angle lens
• Normal Lens
• Tripod cable release
• CP Filter
• Split ND filter
• Tripod and Cable release
• lens cleaning kit to clean off the salt water

Fees

There is no fee to see these places.

Close Locations

• Pismo State Beach
• Avila Beach
• Guadalupe Dunes Park
• Point Sal State Park
• Santa Maria
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• Montana de Oro State Park
• Morro Bay
• La Purisima Mission
• Santa Ines Mission
• San Miguel Mission
• Solvang Danish Town
• Otters and Seals of San Simeon
• Cambria and Cayucos
• Santa Barbara Courthouse
• Santa Barbara Wharf
• Santa Barbara Mission

Useful Resources

• Tides in Pismo Beach

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Hearst Castle Pool

History buffs, media and television aficionados, marketing folks and photographers will find Hearst Castle a fascinating place to visit.

History buffs will find W.R. Hearst’s collection of items he shipped from Europe mesmerizing. A whole mansion filled with artwork and furniture taken out of Europe is probably going to excite someone else but the ebullient guides. TV people will enjoy tales and documentaries of luscious movie star parties and wonder who besides Chaplin slept in the beds of the Guest Villas.

The streamlined operation that is Hearst Castle will attract Marketers. Guides are herding tour groups en masse through the grounds with perfectly choreographed timing to maximize tourist traffic. Even the visitor center leaves nothing to chance, as it is set up for maximum tourist dollar extraction. After leaving the movie you can pick up your coupon for DVD purchase, browse the art store and/or gift store, which offer savings bundles of important memorabilia. Grab a bite in the cafeteria and don’t forget your $80 beef, grown on the farm, on your way out! The restrooms are still free. Use them, as there is no facility near the Villa itself!

Photographically the villa is exceptional. I don’t care much for all the inside stuff which appears like a rather tasteless collection of fusty old stuff, but the outside grounds, the Neptune pool, Roman pool, Gardens and Casa Grande views are exceptional. Unfortunately, there is rarely enough time to take a photograph in peace since that would disturb their timing. In the end, you will feel rushed, but since this is the only affordable way to see Hearst Castle you should do it anyways. Hearst Castle is a must-see destination. Take the introduction tour or the garden tour unless you care a lot for old things.

How to get there

From the visitor center, you can only go up to the castle with a tour bus. You will be part of a group of 52 people (that is the number of seats in the bus) and that is your only way up there, unless you would like to spend thousands for a private tour. The road to the visitor center is about 3.2 miles north of San Simeon.

How to photograph Hearst Castle

If you are a great hip shooter, you will be able to show off quite nicely here. Make sure you control the ISO level of your camera when you go inside the Casa and do not forget to dial in a low value when you come out again. Use a fast lens or image stabilization (or both if you can afford it). Take a photograph of the herds of tourists and for crying out loud don’t touch anything. One poor fellow set the alarm off by stumbling against a chair inside the Casa Grande.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Any time is good but mornings are best to maximize your chance of blue skies. Make sure you book in advance (see resources below) to ensure your spot.

Time required

The tours take a little under 2 hours. The introduction tour includes a somewhat nauseating (pans and flybys) IMAX movie of 40 minutes. Tour and move take at least 3 hours. Make sure you come 10-15 minutes before your tour starts.

Equipment

• Do not bring your tripod; you will not be able to take it into the house
• Bring a fast lens for indoor photography (hand held)!
• Bring a polarizing filter for outdoor photography!

GPS position

Visitor Center:

• 35°39’1.36″N 121°11’10.18″W

Fees

$20 and up for adults, $10 and up for children

Difficulty Photographing

Hearst castle is rather hard to photograph. Escorts funnel you along a preset path and if you manage to split for a second, you can be certain that some other group or members of your group are stumbling all around you. The only photograph you can take without people in it is straight up. You have to cope with low light hand-held photography and guides with no regard for photography. That is probably o.k. in their mind, since the gift store has all the photos you could ever want. Welcome to the future.

Close Locations

• Otters and Seals of San Simeon
• Piedras Blancas Lighthouse
• Cambria and Cayucos
• Morro Bay
• San Luis Obispo Mission
• Mission San Miguel Arcangel
• Montana de Oro State Park
• Sounthern California Wildflower Routes
• Big Sur wildflower photography
• Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP

Useful Resources

• Official Website with Tour Information

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