A Photographic and Cinematic Adventure On The Creative Frontier
This is how we walk the dog here in Colorado! The Great Sand Dunes are incredible, and if you are ever visiting here make sure you schedule them up. Last year I shot an entire series there using a single camera and lens. I shared the lesson I learned here.
This will be my final image from Hermosa Beach for a while. I shot a bunch when I was out there, but sometimes I like to let places cool down a bit before I process the photos. Not only does it help to dive into them with a fresh outlook, I just like knowing I have a few of my favorite photos in the backlog just waiting to be shared. It keeps things exciting in the darkroom (and the blog I guess).
Hermosa is an absolute photographer’s paradise. You can photograph everything from breathtaking sunsets to some of the best surfers in the world and everything in between without even renting a car. If you are interested in learning more about a perfect photo weekend in Hermosa Beach, check out our newest travel guide..’The Photographer’s Guide To Hermosa Beach‘.
Question….
I just discovered Hermosa Beach to be a perfect weekend photo get away, do you have any places that you like? I would love to hear about them as I’m sure others would too. Thanks!
Yesterday I wrote a bit about how the piers shape each of the costal beach communities of Southern California. Like I said, each one is different and worth exploring. Today’s image is almost a tale of two piers. Not because of the pier itself, although the Manhattan pier (pictured here) is much different than the Hermosa Pier (yesterday’s image), but because of the conditions I photographed them in. On this day, a winter swell had rolled in form the north and the seas were angry. This was also the day I decided to go out and paddle board. I was planning on photographing the Manhattan pier from underneath. I had visions of a long classic and powerful exposure. However, because of the wether that day, I felt that incorporating the sea told a more complete story. To achieve the vision I had in my head I shot with a very long focal length (400mm in this case) and timed the waves at their height. I wanted the face of the wave to be visible and still balance well with the pier in the distance. Let’s just say I shot a lot of images until I got this one. For me, this was a photographic blessing from nature. I could stand and stare at waves all day. Tomorrow we will continue our story of ‘The Strand’ by taking a look at the people and activity that makes this place what it is!
The story of the Strand can’t be told without the story of it’s piers. The Stand is a concrete pedestrian path the connects all the beach communities around LA. It starts in Palos Verdes in the south and runs to Santa Monica in the north. However, what defines each community is their pier. Every beach community along the Strand is unique and has its own vibe. Before our visit, I pretty much thought the LA coast was one long beach community, separated only by geography, but connected by the Strand. That’s not the case at all. The heart of each community is its pier. The pier serves many purposes. It stabilizes the sand which creates a predictable break for surfers (read locals only). It provides access for fisherman. Many locals gather on their piers to watch the sunset. In the case of the Santa Monica pier there are even amusement parks on it. It is these piers that define each community and make them unique form one another, they are also the reason the south bay area of LA is a perfect destination for photographers. You can fly in on a Friday and take a taxi to the Beach House. Photograph the Hermosa Beach Pier (pictured here) that evening, the Manhattan Beach Pier the following evening, and fly out on Sunday. The perfect photo vacation without ever having to rent a car. Tomorrow we will take a look at the Manhattan pier, shot from a totally different perspective and completely different seas.
If you are a regular here, you have probably heard me mention that I am more of an ocean and less of a mountain type of guy. For some reason the tides, waves, and water make a whole lot more sense to me. That being said, I’m pretty lucky to have places like this only an hour or so from my house.
Photographer’s Note: This was a handheld 4 image panorama stitched together in Photoshop. I used to be very reluctant to shoot panoramas. I was under the assumption you had to have complex tripod heads to ensure everything was level and words like parallax intimidated me. Nowadays, I just try to keep some element in my viewfinder level as I shoot 3-5 images with about 20% overlap in each. Photomerge them right out of Lightroom and voila, I have a massive panorama to work with. So go out and have some fun making panoramas. Nothing to be scared of. I posted a video about this here. Also if you are interested in purchasing a 4′x12′ print of some Colorado mountains let me know!
