Category Archives: Street Photography

How to photograph Capitola

2010/08/04 – 04:54

Charming beach communities like Capitola are rare in Northern California. The city is famous for its laid-back atmosphere, surfers, and hip downtown bars at the water’s edge. Capitola is the perfect escape for busy Bay Area residents who slip out of their business suits for the weekend, partially envious of the aging surfing hippies that never sold out.

Fun in the sun, a beer at the beach on Zelda’s patio, the best slice of pizza you can get with sandy, naked feet, or a late night flirty Margarita at the Margaritaville, these are some of the simple pleasures Capitola has to offer. You will not have any trouble convincing your family members to join you for this trip.
Capitola Wharf

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Bay Area, beach, Central Coast, Coast, Montery Peninsula, night, Northern California, santa cruz county | Tagged , | Comments (3)

San Diego’s Best Night Photography Spots

2010/03/23 – 20:27

The old proverb, all colors will agree in the dark, is obsolete since the advent of color photography. In her infinite wisdom, Mother Nature gave us good eyesight at night. The reduced color vision is a small price to pay to see in the dark and not be eaten.

Then men invented color photography.

Now we can increase exposure time but retain color sensitivity in the dark. Suddenly, night is vibrantly colorful. The different color temperatures of the varied artificial light sources produce a wide color spectrum only visible to the camera. It is easy to dazzle viewers with night photography. Reason enough to explore the energetic city of San Diego at night.

Night photography is easy. A sturdy tripod, a cable release and patience will get you very good reproducible results. The additional effort keeps the competition away and the streets empty for your work.

San Diego is an appealing city to photograph at night. The San Diego Bay provides a splendid reflecting pool, the old gas lamps arrange for color and the varied subjects ensure diversity. Consider a night out on your next photo tour and take advantage of the changeling city.
USS Midway at Night from the Pier

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Coast, hike, landmark, park, San Diego, Skyline, Southern California, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Huntington Beach Pier

2010/03/16 – 02:29

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

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

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

How to photograph Los Angeles Chinatown

2010/01/07 – 16:30

The kitschy colorful Los Angeles Chinatown is still home to hard working immigrant families, trying to carve out a living in a foreign land. They bring a piece of their culture, which is very different from the western world. Chinatown thus becomes a major attraction for photographers almost by definition. The vibrant colors, competing with each other, almost look unreal. The striking Chinese letters have the appeal of art décor beautifying the facades of most buildings.
Chinese Lanterns in Los Angeles' Chinatown

By myphotoscout | Also posted in landmark, Los Angeles, Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment

Los Angeles – El Pueblo and Union Station

2010/01/05 – 15:36

Los Angeles’ historic district is located close to the founding site of El Pueblo de Los Angeles, where 44 Mexican people founded the city in 1781. Restored in the 1930ies and embraced by the Latino culture, El Pueblo struggles to retain its authenticity among the kitschy shops selling anything that looks Mexican enough to fetch tourist dollars. Then again, El Pueblo protects some of the oldest buildings in Los Angeles and Latino culture has always had a colorful flair.
Los Angeles Union Station

By myphotoscout | Also posted in flowers, landmark, Los Angeles, Southern California, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

How to photograph Venice Beach and Canals

2009/12/22 – 15:19

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

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

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

How to photograph Christmas Lights in San Francisco

2009/12/15 – 06:49

Christmas time should bring cheer to our hearts and bring people closer together. In our consume driven society, corporations have succeeded in distorting our views and changing our perception of what matters and what does not. Consequently, people fight each other throughout the month of December in order to serve their new masters, department stores.
Macy's Christmas Lights, Union Square

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Bay Area, Event, landmark, night, Northern California, San Francisco, Skyline | Tagged , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Locke historic town

2009/08/14 – 18:35

While driving back from a nature trip in Northern California, we decided to take an alternative route home. The detour lead us past the spooky but unimposing town of Locke, its ghostly and strangely warped buildings and locals who fit the town like Cinderella’s shoe fit her foot. After the long trip, my better half looked at me bewildered when I jumped out of the car, thrilled to take pictures here.
Locke: A place for bipolar disorder?

By myphotoscout | Also posted in central valley, Ghost Town, Northern California | Tagged , , , , | Comments (3)

How to photograph Downtown Los Angeles

2009/07/02 – 20:35

Los Angeles is a fascinating, diverse city of epic size. It is the largest city in California, draining much of the state with its hunger for resources and splendor. Despite its narcissistic style, Los Angeles also offers some gems for photographers. Some of the more interesting areas are the Business District in Downtown, the Grand Central Market, Bradbury Building and the Public Art Sculptures spread among these streets.
Bank Building Downtown LA

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Los Angeles, Southern California | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (4)

How to photograph Cable Cars in San Francisco

2009/03/02 – 16:39

Ask any tourist what they expect to find in San Francisco and Cable Cars are always on the short list. The old cable car system is world famous and a landmark of the city by the bay. Take a ride in the only moving national landmark.

By myphotoscout | Also posted in Bay Area, San Francisco, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (7)
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