The Hidden Coast

     California is known for its abundant natural beauty, bustling cities, and unique cultural blend. Some of the Golden State's more remote locations, however, offer a glimpse of a California that is often talked about, occasionally filmed, but rarely seen. Big Sur and the Central Coast give visitors a look at California's Hidden Coast.

"The Bixby Canyon Bridge"

     When speaking of the Central Coast, a common question refers to Big Sur: What is it? The best way to describe Big Sur is as a region, a stretch of the Pacific Coast Highway reaching from Morro Bay in the south to Carmel in the north. Although there is a township with the same name, its borders are not clearly defined, and it mostly consists of a few restaurants and a gas station. The Big Sur region is inaccessible from any route other than Highway 1, and this may be one of the most windy segments of the famed PCH. The drive is harrowing for those prone to motion sickness, but the reward is an astounding 70 miles or so of completely unspoiled coastline, full of breath-taking views of turquoise blue and emerald green waters waters crashing into the rocky cliffs.

China Cove

     When we reached the northern end of Big Sur, just a few miles south of Carmel, we decided to stop and walk around Point Lobos State Park. I can safely say that it's the most beautiful place I've ever been in California. The park is filled with coastal walking trails, and is also known for some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the state. If you're able to visit, be sure to stop by jade-green China Cove.

Hearst Castle's Roman Pool

      Hearst Castle is worthwhile strictly for the novelty of the visit. A testament to the dangerous combination of insanity and wealth, seeing the artifacts brought from every age and culture really is interesting. Some of the architectural features are truly striking; my personal favorite was Hearst's indoor swimming room, known as the Roman Pool.

Morro Rock

     Morro Bay is known to some as the "Gibraltar of the Pacific." A large monolith juts out of the bay, creating a natural barrier between the small town and the sea. A quaint little city, Morro Bay presents an eclectic mix of operating fisheries and commercial businesses, galleries featuring local art, and an assortment of tourist traps of every nature. It's a ton of fun. We spent the day by renting a boat and touring around the bay in the morning, and moseying around the piers in the afternoon. Since it's only about 20 miles north of San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay makes an excellent and relaxing day trip for those visiting the area.

"Devotion" Inside the Mission SLO

     San Luis Obispo is a great town. The downtown, which features a river-walk, centers around the Mission Plaza. On Thursday nights, a "farmers market" springs up on Higuera Street, although it contains more vendors of pre-made food and wares than actual fruits and vegetables. The Mission San Luis Obispo, which sits in the heart of the city, makes for an interesting morning or afternoon. The Missions always intrigue me, and I make a point to visit them. Symbols of the mixture of religious goals and political desire, the California Missions are definitely an interesting piece of history. Be sure to walk through the gardens, and capture some of the stunning views of the mountains to the east.
     Pismo Beach is absolutely insane. As the only public beach in California on which you can legally drive motor vehicles, it isn't what you may expect. An odd assortment of red-necks and hippies and plenty of something in-between, Pismo Beach is definitely interesting. Be warned, however: driving in the sand isn't simple. After we were towed out by the kindness of strangers for the 3rd time, we were informed that it is necessary to deflate your tires. The heavy traffic on the beach itself can make for much confusion and chaos. However, beyond a short fence on the beach, lie the dunes. Despite my expectations, these became one of the highlights of my trip down the central coast.

     The Pismo dunes are the exact opposite of what you expect to find at a California beach, which is probably why they were featured as the set of Francis Coppola's "The Ten Commandments." They certainly would look more at home in Egypt. As I was asking for some tips about the dunes from a local, he said "Be careful to not go in too far, it's easy to get lost in there." Something in my eye must have told him that I wasn't one to be concerned for that sort of thing. Grabbing an extra bottle of water, I promptly headed as deep into the dunes as I could. On my way to the center of the dunes, I met up with a few middle-school aged kids riding body boards and cardboard sheets down the dunes. As locals, they said that this was one of their favorite things to do on the weekends. After about 45 minutes of trying to find the ocean again, I realized that I was lost. Pulling out my cell phone, I saw the ever so ominous "No Service" bar. It was wonderful. An unexpected, actual adventure. No people in sight from the top of my solitary sand-hill, no sounds except the very distant whistle of the wind blowing shapes through the dunes. It struck me then that this is what California is about. It's about being alone on top of a sand dune, as much as it is about being packed like a sardine into a subway in San Francisco. It's about driving up the coast on a rainy day, and stopping to gaze at the ocean any way as much as it is about zooming through the busy streets of Los Angeles. After a few hours of wondering along, I heard again the distant roar of the ocean and the freeway again, and I noticed a few bars of signal appear on my phone. I was back from my 3 hour tour of solitude, back to bustling Pismo Beach. I guess that it's things like this that make me love California, the Golden State.

The Pismo Dunes

    
 PS: Be sure to check out my new Tumblr feed, right here: http://photographicwanderer.tumblr.com/

Photo Favorites 2012

Well, 2012 is almost come to a close. It's been a fantastic and eventful year for me, with travel through Mexico, China, as well as several parts of the US. I'm eager to see what's in store for me in this coming year, and if you get the chance, check out my fundraising campaign to send me to Cambodia this summer! In no particular order, here are my personal favorite photos from 2012:

"Changing China" The Canton Tower at night in Guangzhou.

"Old St. Paul's" The Cathedral of St. Paul, MN

"When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won."-Macbeth

"That Starlit Beacon" the Pigeon Point Lighthouse at night

"Fading Act" a man in Guangzhou demonstrates the disappearing art of Cantonese Finger Painting

"Temple Park" A man paints with water outside the Temple of Heaven in Beijing

"Peking's Secret" A maintenance bicycle parked in Beijing's Temple of Heaven

"Will You Help Them?" A girl at an orphanage in Northern Mexico

My "Wall Project" Check back a few posts to read all about it!

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

      On a lonely stretch of California's Highway 1 between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz sits the Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Hostel. The rustic structure nestles into the windswept shore. Ice plant drapes down the cliffs, forming natural curtains to the coastal bluffs. As a resident, I can say that California didn't get it's reputation for nothing; it truly is a beautiful state.

"Nothing is but what is not"-Macbeth

West Coast Sunset

      Pigeon Point, still a working lighthouse, was built in 1872. In the 1960s, the Keeper's Quarters were converted into a hostel, which is currently managed by the non-profit group Hostelling International. Although amenities are few and the location is remote, the hostel provides guests with an unrivaled experience. Nearly every window has dramatic ocean-views. A deck wraps around the lighthouse grounds, extending out beyond the point and providing guests and visitors alike an unrivaled view. Beds can be obtained for as little as $26US, and the lighthouse grounds are managed by the State Park system, so you can visit for just a day.

Old Coast

     It was nice to have some time out of town. Even though I was only around 1-1/2 Hours away from my home in the suburban Greater SF Bay Area, it felt worlds away. My time was spent exploring the tide pools at the foot of the bluff, walking along the pristine beach, and sitting outside on the deck with my camera and ukulele. After sunset, I walked to the end of the point to try some long exposure shots of the lighthouse. The beams sent out from the structure seemed half-ghostly, illuminating white-capped waves for fractions of seconds. The ocean at night has to be one of the most terrifying and beautiful things humans can experience. I say experience, because it's more than something you watch. You hear it's roaring rhythms, you feel it's rumbling tones beneath your feet, and you see the tops of the waters glisten with starlight. The sea will never cease to amaze me.

     Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Hostel is a relic of old California. The uninhabited coast line, rusty light tower, and "surfer" feel of the hostel all contribute to a sense of nostalgia. The only visible man-made light aside from the lighthouse and the occasional stray ship, pours over the mountains from Silicon Valley. I'm glad places like this are still here. During my stay, I learned of another lighthouse/hostel only 20 miles up the coast, that I hope to stay in sometime soon. Even though it may be a relic of an old California, it's definitely not a dead California. Pigeon Point's beacon may be beaming for a while yet, calling to travelers from all four corners of the globe, inviting them to come in and watch the West Coast Sunset.

That Starlit Beacon

Neutral Density Filter

"My Ocean and Me"

     I love long exposure photographs. Something about how light can form trails and shapes, ocean waves can become placid ponds, and skies can gain a sense of hyper-realistic color and geometry makes me want to go out and shoot every night into the early hours of the morning. As a student, however,(especially one with a provisional motorcycle license, meaning I can't drive after dark) shooting at night is a rare treat. I still wanted to be able to get long exposures, preferably upwards of 5", but be able to do it without eating into my ever shrinking supply of sleep. After a quick buzz around Google, I came up with what seemed like a perfect solution: A Neutral Density Filter. I picked one up on Amazon, and took it out for a spin in Santa Cruz this week. I was more than impressed. Not only did the filter allow for me to preform longer exposures, but it also created a very dreamy feeling gray, with a heightened contrast, when at about half strength. I loved using this filter, and thought some of the results may be worth sharing. I hope you enjoy.

Gateway to the Sea

 

Calafia's State

Land's End

Seastones

"When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won." -Macbeth

San Francisco- Pt 1

 Chinatown. This was shot with a Holga Lens, which I feel encompasses the "feel" of Chinatown: Gritty, funky, and utterly wonderful.

 "Grant Ave"

 

"The Window To the Sea" Shot at the ruins of the Sutro Baths.

 Coit Tower and the TransAmerica Pyramid, as seen from Pier 39.

A Sea Cave near the ruins of the Sutro Baths.

Living near the City By the Bay has given me many opportunities to explore it's nooks and crannies, and to enjoy it's unmatched beauty and appreciation for art. These photos are from no particular dates, they are just a few of my favorite pictures of my favorite city.