Hello photgs in California. I am Edward from Ontario, Canada and looking for anyone who lives in or near Oceano, California. I would be interested in corresponding about the best time of the year to visit to photograph the dunes at Oceano or Guadalupe-Nipomo area. I can be reached directly at teastman@thewritingfactory.com or simply post a reply. Also interested in places to hang my camera bag and tripod for about 7-10 days. Any info will be appreciated.
Lookin for info on Oceano California dunes
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Search over at the largeformat group. Someone over there used to live in Oceano. Oceano is a tough spot to get good weather for dunes for a week. If it is foggy, then no shadows. If it is clear, then often still and the number of foot prints will be great. I think you can still ride horse in the 'no drive' preserved area. It is not a very large area. When they are right, they are wonderfully sculptured sand.
There is lots of camping along the coast, if that is what you need.
If you just want dunes, then Death Valley has 5 sets and the Devil's Playground (south of Baker at Kelso, Calif) is probably the largest patch of sand dunes in North America.
There is lots of camping along the coast, if that is what you need.
If you just want dunes, then Death Valley has 5 sets and the Devil's Playground (south of Baker at Kelso, Calif) is probably the largest patch of sand dunes in North America.
The last time I saw Oceano I felt sick that it was in such a mess. If you go there bring a 4x4 to block the tripod so you don't get hit by an offroad cycle or vehicle. It's a sorry situation. Death Valley would be much better, or White Sands.
http://www.desertusa.com/magjan98/dunes/jan_dune1.html
Edward, look at #5 on this list. I remember Brett Weston mentioning Westgard Pass and Owens Valley in the DVD BW Photographer by Art Wright. This could be the dunes in the video.
Curt
Edward, look at #5 on this list. I remember Brett Weston mentioning Westgard Pass and Owens Valley in the DVD BW Photographer by Art Wright. This could be the dunes in the video.
Curt
Born and raised there.
You won't deal with 4x4's if you shoot the north end of the dunes or head South of Oso Flaco from Main Street. My favorite time is in the winter. much less foot traffic and a much higher concentration of sunny days. People on the central coast of california wait for winter so they can warm up. Even in the winter it's tough to find an untrampled dunescape on the north end of the dunes, but you will not find car tracks.
You won't deal with 4x4's if you shoot the north end of the dunes or head South of Oso Flaco from Main Street. My favorite time is in the winter. much less foot traffic and a much higher concentration of sunny days. People on the central coast of california wait for winter so they can warm up. Even in the winter it's tough to find an untrampled dunescape on the north end of the dunes, but you will not find car tracks.
A few years back, I got all my gear stolen. All my Hasselblads and 35mm gear at the water park east of the dunes. I was depressed. But it is georgous place to go. I did tent camping at the dunes.
Yah, do watch out for the 4 wheelers. Fun crowd, fills up all the drinking establishments. I think there are dunes areas where they can only drive so don't take your cameras there unless you are photographing them. You don't want to get hit (I mean run over, they are nice folks). My boss is a 4x4 buff and that's one of his favorite places to go.
Yah, do watch out for the 4 wheelers. Fun crowd, fills up all the drinking establishments. I think there are dunes areas where they can only drive so don't take your cameras there unless you are photographing them. You don't want to get hit (I mean run over, they are nice folks). My boss is a 4x4 buff and that's one of his favorite places to go.
Alas, more and more we seek the few places yet unspoiled. But only to find out that the reason we even know they once existed is because it's been "discovered".
And having been discovered, they've been "spoiled".
Doesn't seem as if there are many places left on the poor planet to "wonder" about anymore, does it?
And having been discovered, they've been "spoiled".
Doesn't seem as if there are many places left on the poor planet to "wonder" about anymore, does it?
So right George. There is one place on this island I used to love to photograph at. No more, it is now one of the dirtiest places on the island.
Every Sunday the Travel section of the NY Times has at least one article about some new "undiscovered" place.
And you think "cool", until you remember that about two million other folk are reading the same article that day - and that it's already been blasted all over the internet too!
I have been to the Guadalupe dunes several times. The best time is from February threw October. The dunes are closed during the other times of the year due to bird nesting. You need to get there before the ranger opens the gate at about 6:00am. Follow him in and go to the end of the road to a parking area. From the parking area head south/east out from the lot about 2-3 miles and you will find some spectacular dunes. Every time I have been here I have Never seen another soul out on the dunes! I usually go mid week. You may run into an occasional film shoot or wind. Be prepared for the wind in the afternoon. Start early and with the low light of winter you should have have great success. Now you know one of my secrets. Damn, why am I telling you this, guess I'm not so bad after all. I have made some of my best images here. Good luck.
Jim
Jim
Do you mean February through October like you wrote - or October through February?
Your post states the former - but you then speak about Winter shooting? :confused:
George, sorry. I mean October through Feburary. A short time but well worth it. I'm not far away so bad days are not a problem for me.
Jim
Jim
Every Sunday the Travel section of the NY Times has at least one article about some new "undiscovered" place.
And you think "cool", until you remember that about two million other folk are reading the same article that day - and that it's already been blasted all over the internet too!
Two winters ago we had a bumper crop of rain [does rain come in crops?]. So we went to Death Valley and had the place to ourselves. You could see 150 miles and the Valley floor was carpeted with flowers.
That weekend the Los Angeles Times printed an article in the Travel Section about how great the flowers were in Death Valley. The following weekend the hoards arrived. There are two gas stations in Death Valley, the lines got to be hours long and fist fights broke out.
The moral of the story is to go before an article gets printed.
Steve
A LOT more from Guadalupe than from Oceano (far fewer 4x4s). I lived in Guadalupe for 5 years and my late father-in-law used to guard the gate to the dunes there in his early 80s (he never quite got the hang of retiring).
I found the dunes astonishingly hard to photograph. The canyons a few miles inland were easier but still difficult. Don't miss San Luis Obispo.
I found the dunes astonishingly hard to photograph. The canyons a few miles inland were easier but still difficult. Don't miss San Luis Obispo.
Your father-in-law must have turned me away a bunch of times because my car was 4 wheel drive even though was just going to take pictures or surf. I also had troubles when I was hired by Patagonia to document the Unocal diluent spill (petrolium thinner) in the Guadalupe Dunes that was covered up for years. I remember having to borrow a car to get out there.
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