Good photography in California

[jwolf6589]

In a couple weeks I will be taking a trip to California and will be bringing my cameras. I will be in the Bay Area and also in the Monterey area. Its a beautiful coast so does anyone have any photo recommendations for the Monterey area, Santa Cruz, or the surrounding areas? I have been recommended Big Sur but thats too far away so I will need other recommendations.

I love to capture beautiful photos and video of nature. Thanks..

 

[ericgtr12]

The Bay Area offers a lot of great photographic opportunities. It's the area I photograph the most so I can give you some suggestions and examples on that front.

Mt Tam offers great views in any direction of both San Francisco and Marin and right now is fog season so you can catch it rolling in from above on most days through September.

San Francisco itself can be seen from multiple locations, Treasure Island is a great spot to capture the city skyline with the western span of the bay bridge, you can also hit Twin Peaks for more panoramic views.

I don't get to the south side as much but areas of interest there would be the Santa Cruz boardwalk, lots of really great beach and pier shots to get there. Then there's the 17 mile loop of Pebble Beach with some of the most iconic coastal settings on the entire west coast, if you get a chance it's a great way to spend a day. https://www.pebblebeach.com/17-mile-drive/

Good luck, there's no shortage of shots to be had in this stretch of California.

 

[jwolf6589]

The Bay Area offers a lot of great photographic opportunities. It's the area I photograph the most so I can give you some suggestions and examples on that front.

Mt Tam offers great views in any direction of both San Francisco and Marin and right now is fog season so you can catch it rolling in from above on most days through September.

New item by Eric T

photos.app.goo.gl

New item by Eric T

photos.app.goo.gl

San Francisco itself can be seen from multiple locations, Treasure Island is a great spot to capture the city skyline with the western span of the bay bridge, you can also hit Twin Peaks for more panoramic views.

New item by Eric T

photos.app.goo.gl

New item by Eric T

photos.app.goo.gl

New item by Eric T

photos.app.goo.gl

I don't get to the south side as much but areas of interest there would be the Santa Cruz boardwalk, lots of really great beach and pier shots to get there. Then there's the 17 mile loop of Pebble Beach with some of the most iconic coastal settings on the entire west coast, if you get a chance it's a great way to spend a day. https://www.pebblebeach.com/17-mile-drive/

Good luck, there's no shortage of shots to be had in this stretch of California.

Pebble beach? I may check that out if it’s near Monterey.

 

[dimme]

Highway 1 south of San Francisco is a great place for photos. If you in the Monterey area there is Big Sur just south of there and the Bixby Bridge. Pacific Grove buts up to Pebble beach and offers some nice views.

 

[jwolf6589]

Highway 1 south of San Francisco is a great place for photos. If you in the Monterey area there is Big Sur just south of there and the Bixby Bridge. Pacific Grove buts up to Pebble beach and offers some nice views.

How far is Big Sur from Monterey?

 

[dimme]

The park entrance is about a hour drive, but to be honest once you head down route 1 from Monterey anywhere around there is beautiful. So even if you don't have a lot of time a short trip south of Monterey is worth it.

 

[bunnspecial]

Isn't Monterey roughly 1 year from Big Sur?

 

[jwolf6589]

Isn't Monterey roughly 1 year from Big Sur?

More like 1-hour.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Isn't Monterey roughly 1 year from Big Sur?

More like 1-hour.

This was a joke based on Mac OS. Obviously went over your head.

 

[Allyance]

Very good, for those of us that live out here in CA, it is a great area, except for the fires and the landslides.

I have ridden Highway 1 many times on my bike. A group of us would ride from the Glendale-Pasdena area up to Luguna Seca for the races. Take all day, ride fast, stop have a bite to eat, ride fast some more, great fun. Even camped out in Big Sur on year, damn that was cold. Little did we know they sold firewood at the camp ground!

 

[jwolf6589]

The park entrance is about a hour drive, but to be honest once you head down route 1 from Monterey anywhere around there is beautiful. So even if you don't have a lot of time a short trip south of Monterey is worth it.

I got lots of beach shots.

 

[AxisOfBeagles]

The Big Sur coast is to "beach shots" what a meal at a 5-star restaurant is to a tin of baked beans.

PS .... "Isn't Monterey roughly 1 year from Big Sur?" is the funniest thing I've seen online in years.