Tag Archives: Travel Photography

Shoreline Village, Long Beach

2011/02/16 – 05:26

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

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

shoreline village

By myphotoscout | Posted in beach, Coast, landmark, Los Angeles, Marine, South Coast, Southern California | Also tagged , , | Leave a Comment

Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach

2011/02/02 – 05:47

Pacific Beach is a laid-back beach community within the northern city limits of San Diego. Its long beach and boardwalk are a perfect example of Southern California’s beach culture.

I am not a fan of beach photography. Beaches often lack an interesting foreground, are often overcrowded, and generally difficult to photograph. Fortunately, Pacific Beach has an intriguing pier, an active surfing community, and an abundance of characters that should provide you with plenty of things to photograph.

Pacific Beach, or PB, is a place to relax. You will find a diverse restaurant and nightlife scene, resorts, motels, and small B&Bs in close proximity. It is close to Mission Bay, Sea World, and many other San Diego attractions, making it perfect for taking a break and doing as the locals do. Enjoy your time out and take your photographs along the way.

Three Friends at Crystal Pier

By myphotoscout | Posted in beach, Coast, landmark, San Diego, South Coast, Southern California | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)

Hearst Park Otters and San Simeon Seals

2011/01/12 – 06:19

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.
San Simeon Pier

By myphotoscout | Posted in beach, Central Coast, Coast, San Luis Obispo, South Coast, Southern California, state park, Wildlife | Also tagged , | Comments (3)

12 Best California photography locations of 2010

2010/12/28 – 03:37

Discover my favorite photo spots of 2010.

2009’s top list was very successful. Many of my readers appreciated the short summary and keeping with this tradition, I hereby present to you my favorite places of 2010. This year was very exciting. I introduced my new iPhone application, a travel companion that makes all my articles available for offline consumption. I have traveled to many new places, collecting photographs and ideas for new location guides, and much more. I have revisited many places and I have discovered new places as well.

Wrapping up another fantastic year of photography, gives me the chance to go back to some of my favorites again.

By myphotoscout | Posted in Announcements, Fall, Los Angeles, Northern California, Southern California, spring, Summer, winter | Also tagged , | Comments (7)

How to photograph Avila Beach

2010/12/22 – 06:13

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.

Pelican Flight

By myphotoscout | Posted in beach, Central Coast, Coast, Marine, San Luis Obispo, South Coast, Southern California | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)

Wall Street Mill – Joshua Tree NP

2010/12/15 – 06:11

The Wall Street Mill hike in Joshua Tree National Park is a welcome distraction from the beautiful desert landscape. Old ruins, several weathered cars, and a macabre gravesite and other superb subjects await hikers on the short trail that ends at Wall Street Mill, an old gold stamp mill.

A hearty prospector, William (Bill) F. Keys, owned the mill and built a ranch around it. He was able to carve a life from this unforgiving landscape, leaving an abundance of highly photogenic evidence, including a headstone that he erected for a person he shot in a dispute.

Today, only photographers shoot here. If you love ghost towns or the Old West, you should take the short trail and discover an unchanged piece of the Wild West.
head on

By myphotoscout | Posted in desert, hike, Joshua Tree, national park, park, San Bernadino, Southern California | Also tagged , | Leave a Comment

California Photo Scout – Native iPhone Application

2010/12/13 – 18:12

Now you can own the entire California Photo Scout database on your iPhone and take it with you wherever you go.  You don’t even need a network connection to access all the data contained within. I have worked very hard during the past months to bring you an iPhone application companion for this website. Now [...]

By myphotoscout | Posted in Announcements | Also tagged , , , , | Comments (2)

Cholla Cactus Garden – Joshua Tree NP

2010/12/08 – 05:17

Man-sized cacti in a beautiful mountainous landscape characterize the Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park, a desert park full of life and wondrous shapes. The fascinating shape of these cacti and the large variety can yield stunningly beautiful photographs, yet not too many photographers find their way to this remote location just a couple of hours from Los Angeles.

Joshua Tree National Park is known for its namesake, the Joshua Tree, and for the fantastic rock climbing unique to the park. However, the cactus garden will present you with a good solid shooting opportunity that you should not miss.
Cholla Cactus Garden

By myphotoscout | Posted in desert, Joshua Tree, national park, night, park, San Bernadino, Southern California | Also tagged , | Comments (3)

How to photograph the Governor’s Mansion

2010/11/17 – 04:58

The magnificent Victorian era Governor’s Mansion is the former residence of several of California’s most influential Governors, including President Ronald Reagan. The tall house is full of memorabilia of each former inhabitant. You can visit the house, accompanied by a guide with a bag of amusing stories. The tour of the house will afford you a unique perspective on these powerful individuals. Learning about their respective quirks makes them appear more human.

The house is also a delightful, but challenging, photography subject. The details, colors, and textures of the furniture, carvings, and paintings are stunning and can keep you busy. Torn between the stories and the visual feast, you will find the tour flies through the house at a quick pace.

If you come to Sacramento, you should consider visiting the Governor’s Mansion. You won’t regret it.
Govenor's Mansion Formal Parlor

By myphotoscout | Posted in central valley, Gold Country, landmark, Museum, Northern California, Sacramento, state park | Also tagged , , | Comments (1)

Tule Elk Reserve and Pierce Point Ranch

2010/11/04 – 04:24

The majestic Tule Elk, a subspecies of elk native to California, living at Point Reyes now number over 400 animals, making it the largest herd in California. After becoming nearly extinct just a few decades ago, this is one of the biggest success stories of conservation.

You have a very good chance of spotting these magnificent creatures, while hiking along the windswept Tomales Point Trail, north of historic Pierce Point Ranch, a former buttery dairy. The elk are friendly and used to hikers, making them easy subjects. The Tule Elk Reserve is thus one of the best wildlife photography spots in California.
Tule Elk Bull

By myphotoscout | Posted in Coast, Fall, hike, National Seashore, Northern California, Point Reyes, Wildlife | Also tagged , | Comments (6)
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