Coast of California

[Gary892]

I am heading up the cost of California from Orange County to as far north as Santa Rosa.
I know there are the regular stops for photos like Big Sur, Monterey, but I am, looking for something different. Anyone have any ideas?

I have not booked any hotels because I am driving until I get tired and then find a place to stay. My wife and I call it an "Adventure."

I will be shooting 4x5 only.

Thanks

Gary

 

[bdial]

For this time of year, I'd consider staying inland for photography and the coast for views.
The road (Carmel valley road/ Arroyo Seco road) across the valleys between Carmel and 101 has tons of great possibilities.
Around Greenfield there are large vinyards with nice mountainous backdrops that might work well.

 

[Jon Shiu]

Hi, the Sonoma Coast (Hwy 1) is rugged and beautiful, as is the Mendocino coast (but it is a bit farther north than Santa Rosa.)

Jon

 

[grahamp]

My wife and I were in Pacific Grove for the past week, and it was the usual lottery with the coastal fog. Tuesday was overcast and windy all day. By Thursday morning it was calm and sunny on Point Lobos at 9am. You can always stop by the La Mirada site of the Monterey Art Museum and see the exhibition from the Eastman Collection.

Bodega Bay is about the same distance as Santa Rosa, and practically anywhere south to the Marin Headlands has something to offer.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Gary,

SERIOUSLY consider Mision de la Purisima Concepcion near Lompoc and Mision S. Antonio on Fort Hunter Liggett.

Neither is your generic, tourist-infested Californian mision.

(I used to live in Guadalupe, which is in the no-man's-land between Southern California, last town Sta. Barbara, and Northern California, first town, S. Luis Obispo.)

Cheers,

R.

 

[Richard Boutwell]

Here is my recommendation: Read some Stienbeck (The Wayward Bus, Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat-- they are all relatively short), get both DeLorme's North and South California Atlas and Gazetteer maps and then just wander. I like the landscape around Cambria (Hearst Castle). Andrew Molera State Park has a special place in my heart. As does Pfeiffer Beach. Carmel Valley Road, as other people have said, is very nice. Montaña de Oro State Park near Los Ojos and the drive to Jamala Beach near Lompoc is nice too. Have a great trip--

 

[Mateo]

hey Gary,

¿what kinds of things do you want to see? For the rock/tree/water type of pictures I would recommend:

1. Old coast road. goes the back way from bixby bridge to andrew molera
2. Nascimiento Furgusen road. goes from pacific valley to ft hunter ligget
3. San Juan grade. goes from salinas to san juan bautista...lots of brett weston and Ryuijie tripod holes there
4. River rd in the salinas valley

I would also recommend looking for fog instead of trying to escape it

 

[colivet]

Interesting thread you started Gary. On wed, I am flying from Hawaii into Orange county where I am renting a car for a 7 day photographic trip. Even though I have no set itinerary I am pretty sure I'll be exploring the california coast as much as I can. If I see someone with a 4x5 camera I'll stop to say hi.

 

[Vaughn]

I am heading up the cost of California from Orange County to as far north as Santa Rosa...Gary

Someday you'll have to plan a trip to the Northern California Coast (When we up here in Humboldt County are feeling generous, we call Monterey to Santa Rosa the central California Coast...when we we get in a bad mood, it is all southern California south of Santa Rosa!

Have a great trip!

Embrace the fog!

Vaughn

 

[Phil]

This is a site that documents the California coastline. You might find it interesting to check out where you are going.

http://www.californiacoastline.org/

Phil

 

[Peter Spangenberg]

I have always enjoyed spending time in Pescadero and San Gregorio.

 

[Mateo]

"we call Monterey to Santa Rosa the central California Coast...when we we get in a bad mood, it is all southern California south of Santa Rosa"

that's pretty rude! Central coast is generally accepted to be from SLO to before San Fran. Santa Rosa is definately north coast, their weather is more like yours than ours.

If someone tells you to take the 101 or the 5 you are in southern california

 

[Vaughn]

that's pretty rude! Central coast is generally accepted to be from SLO to before San Fran. Santa Rosa is definately north coast, their weather is more like yours than ours.

"I've been down so long it looks like up to me..."

It is all a matter of perspective...and all a bit of a joke...hence the smilely face. The SF Bay Area is creeping towards Santa Rosa -- and it is all so culturally (and weather and population density and economics) different than points north of there. If SF is "Northern CA", then one would have to give Santa Rosa and points north a seperate regional name, such as Ultra Northern California. (Alta Norte CA?)

But it is beautiful up here -- some rain today, some forceasted for tomorrow. The redwoods would be particularly wonderful to be in and photograph in with this weather. But Eureka can be a bit of a zoo during rush hour -- I have even had to wait until a second cycle of the traffic lights a few months ago!

Greetings from Arcata, California...where the Sixties meet the Sea!

Vaughn

 

[Kerik]

If someone tells you to take the 101 or the 5 you are in southern california

Mateo,

Ha!! Your are SO right. The "The (insert freeway number)" phenomenon is something I've been teasing my so-Cal inlaws about for years.

As to the topic, Art you may want to check out the Marin Headlands just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Lots of cool places to shoot there. I made one of my best-selling images there:

 

[Kerik]

Vaughn,

Despite the urban creep, San Francisco is about as far culturally from So-cal as you can get. Call your area what you want, but SF is NOT Southern California!!

 

[Roger Hicks]

Vaughn,

Despite the urban creep, San Francisco is about as far culturally from So-cal as you can get. Call your area what you want, but SF is NOT Southern California!!

Dear Kerik,

Well, I lived in Guadalupe for 5 years: 80 miles north of the last suburb of Los Angeles (Santa Barbara) and 30 miles south of the first major city of Northern California (San Luis Obispo). A hundred or more miles of no-man's land...

Cheers,

Roger

 

[Mateo]

Vaughn,

Guess I should have put some smiley faces up too...I wasn't getting all serious on you. But I am surprised that no one from southern california has chimed in to take offence, we'll both be in trouble.

 

[Vaughn]

Vaughn,
Despite the urban creep, San Francisco is about as far culturally from So-cal as you can get. Call your area what you want, but SF is NOT Southern California!!

I know, we only say it if we are in a real nasty mood -- I grew up in a suburb of LA...and a good place to grow up (smog is normal, isn't it?) and a good place to leave!LOL!

Culturely, that is again all relative. Politically, someone on the very far left sees those in the middle-of-the-road as conservatives...and someone on the very far right sees those same middle-of-the-roaders as liberals. So, many of us living way up here in the northwest corner see San Fransisco as being pretty far to the south! (and we know that all of you in the southern 2/3's of the state want our water!)

But to keep a little on-topic, I will second Kerik's suggestion of the Marin Headlands. The area under the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge is neat, too...and the near-by the site of the Sutro Baths (by the Cliff House -- and check out the Camera Obsura there).

Vaughn

 

[MikeK]

Someday you'll have to plan a trip to the Northern California Coast (When we up here in Humboldt County are feeling generous, we call Monterey to Santa Rosa the central California Coast...when we we get in a bad mood, it is all southern California south of Santa Rosa!

Have a great trip!

Embrace the fog!

Vaughn

I will be in your neck of the woods this coming weekend for a three day photo and camping trip - its an annual event for me. Absolute magic area both inland and the (lost) coast.

Mike

 

[kswatapug]

So much to do, so little time...

I personally think it is a sin not to go to Point Lobos, especially if it is foggy, stormy or low tide.

As for Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP, I understand they have now cleared the remains of the house and landscaping completely, offering some additional perspectives on the cove.

Pfeiffer Beach with its sand abstractions, surf and rock formations.

Also second the Old Coast Highway.

Garapata State Park for surf and rocks.

Bean Hollow State Park for some really neat, honeycombed rock.

It was only 100 degrees here today. The coast sounds wonderful right about now.

 

[Vaughn]

I will be in your neck of the woods this coming weekend for a three day photo and camping trip - its an annual event for me. Absolute magic area both inland and the (lost) coast.

Mike

Bummer...I'll be out of town...heading up to Portland on Friday to pick up my kids (my sister and brother-in-law have been entertaining them for the past three weeks).

It was been raining pretty good all this evening, more scheduled for tomorrow, but just cloudy to partly cloudy over the week-end...could be some very nice light! And the rain will knock down the dust if you get off on some dirt roads around the Lost Coast.

If you happen to be on the Arcata Plaza during the daytime (when you really should be out photographing!), stop by the Arcata Artisans Gallery...a cooperative I belong to, and I have a few photos hanging in the corner.

Vaughn

 

[bjorke]

Go slow, meet people. Talk with a funny accent and ask them about whales and bikers. Do not ignore the people who are not locals -- they, too, are part of the landscape. Show them your prison tattoo, see if they'll show you theirs.

 

[copake_ham]

OMG - look at all this bickering and one-upsmanship! What are we going to do when there are 60 million of you?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/18/opinion/18wed4.html?

 

[Kerik]

OMG - look at all this bickering and one-upsmanship! What are we going to do when there are 60 million of you?

We'll secede from the Union and lock the doors from the inside before that happens. And friendly ribbing hardly counts as bickering...

 

[Vaughn]

OMG - look at all this bickering and one-upsmanship! What are we going to do when there are 60 million of you?

In fifty years time, we could have major quakes in the south, central, and north areas of the state. The area around Mammoth (east side of the Sierras) could explode into a huge volcano. We might elect another actor as Govenor, and who knows what else?

My kids will be the age I am now in by 2050. I'll do my best to ease the transition, but I won't be around (the odds of me making it to 100 with or without my mind intact are pretty slim). But if I am around, I'll take a photo for you!

Vaughn