A Day at the Coast (Again)

Some places deserve a return visit (or several). Point Lobos is one such place. I made the 60 mile drive last week in search of the tide pools at Weston Beach (scroll 2 blogs down). I was inspired by a photo by Don Smith (http://donsmithphotography.aminus3.com/), a professional photographer with whom I have taken a couple of workshops. I was enthralled by the beach and the tide pools, but I didn't find the photo that was in my mind. I had to return. I timed this second trip to a minus low tide, thinking that would reveal more tide pools. It did, but the rocks were so slippery with glutinous seaweed, the outer tide pools were inaccessible. But no matter, I found the subject I was looking for: an anemone surrounded by colorful rocks. This is the photo I had envisioned. I love it when a plan comes together.

Point Lobos has many photographic opportunities. I left Weston Beach and ventured down the South Shore Trail in search of wildflowers. They were plentiful, but most were on the inland side of the trail. I spotted this colorful bunch growing out of a perilous outcrop. A photo with a slanted horizon is considered a rookie blunder, and I could have straightened it in Lightroom. I chose to leave it because to get this shot, I had to crawl out to the edge of the cliff, lie on my side, and try to look through the view finder while holding the camera steady. It would have been easier to take the photo while standing up, away from the edge, but that would have been ordinary. I wanted the low perspective. The shot was worth a few bruises.

Before leaving the reserve, I walked the Cypress Grove Trail.

As I did last week, instead of heading home, I ate a picnic lunch on the beach and then drove to Pacific Grove to take more photographs of the coast. The sun had come out and provided a bright blue sky and ocean, a perfect color counterpoint to the pink/purple ice plant.

The coast is only an hour away, so I will return.
You can view more photos from this day of shooting
on Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/suebrazelton/