Mission San Francisco de Solano Church, Sonoma, CA

Sonoma Mission was the 19th California Mission that I visited. The mission church was pretty though I was surprised by how small it was. Developed in 1823, Mission San Francisco de Solano (Sonoma Mission) was the last to be developed and is the northernmost of the 21 California Missions.

See more of my California Missions pictures.

Forest Shrouded in Fog, Mt. Tamalpais SP

After a late night of the Photowalk, I woke up before dawn with the hopes of photographing the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marin Headlands. No luck. It was completely fogged in so much that I couldn’t see the bridge despite standing next to it at the first turnoff in the Marin Headlands.

Since that didn’t work out (and since Muir Woods NM wasn’t open yet), Greg Lato and I ended up going to Mount Tamalpais State Park above the fog layer to shoot landscape photos. Mt. Tam is the best California State Park in my opinion and it is not even close. Not only is the scenery amazing, the weather is about as extreme as it gets here. Down below the fog in Muir Woods, it was 50 degrees meanwhile just a few miles away up along Bolinas Ridge it was pushing 80 degrees by 7:30 a.m.

See more of my Bay Area pictures.

Sunset Clouds Over Monterey Bay, Point Lobos State Reserve, California

As pointed out in my previous blog posts, California State Parks Access Pass and Allan Memorial Grove, Point Lobos SR, the California State Parks system is in danger of being compromised from the proposed budget cuts. I could get by just fine without a city like L.A. but I cannot imagine living in a California without our awesome state parks. If I could afford to, I’d be shooting photos at places like Point Lobos State Reserve every day.

See more of my Monterey Bay pictures.

Crystal Cove State Park, California

The Director of Communications from the California State Parks Foundation asked me to help pass on this plan to help save our California State Parks from budget cuts. http://www.calparks.org/takeaction/

Here is some info from the California State Parks Foundation website:

“Today, CSPF took the first of a series of formal steps toward a long-term, sustainable funding mechanism to keep state parks open and accessible for Californians.  Along with our partners in a campaign committee, we filed a proposed statewide ballot measure to try to put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot in November 2010. The measure is called the “California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010″ and calls on Californians to support their state park system and wildlife conservation areas by paying $18 annually for a State Park Access Pass surcharge on vehicle license fees.

You know that for the last year and half, we’ve tried to work with the Legislature and Governor to Save Our State Parks. Although we staved off the closure of 80% of the system (proposed by the Governor), and elimination of all core state funding for state parks (also proposed by the Gov), it’s clear that the powers that be in Sacramento aren’t riding to the rescue for state parks. Well, we’re done trying to convince them and we’re taking our case to the people. CSPF is actively working to put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot in November 2010 and will be spending this Fall and Winter gathering public support.”

In my opinion, $18 annually to help preserve our parks is a bargain. As mentioned in my previous blog post on Point Lobos State Reserve, the State Parks are a regular part of our everyday lives much more than people might realize. Almost every beach in Southern California is a state beach for example. If you cut back on security, trash cans, etc… it becomes a problem for society rather than being the places that originally attract people to our state.

Monterey Cypress Trees, Point Lobos State Reserve, CA

On my recent trip to Monterey, I came to the realization that Point Lobos State Reserve has the most spectacular scenery along the entire California coast. In particular, I think the Allan Memorial Grove trail is really something special. Point Lobos can be a difficult place to photograph but when you walk around this place, it is truly a magical feeling. The coastline here is so rugged and free.

It is a shame that our state government has been contemplating eliminating many state parks and services (reducing the number of trash cans by half at state beaches for example) due to the budget crisis. I do not buy the reasoning that it is to save money because the parks are one of the few public services in this state that actually do bring in profit for the state. People come to California because the state is known for awesome wilderness parks like Point Lobos. We only get one shot to preserve these places in addition to the state historic parks. Once you stop protecting them, they are gone.

As a nature photographer, my goal is to the see our state’s natural resources preserved as they were meant to be and to see damaged areas restored to their natural state. I think most of the people who read this blog probably share similar views so if you know people in California, talk to them about these issues. They might not even be aware that this is happening. Everyone who has lived in this state has been to a state park whether they were aware or not. Most of Huntington Beach for example is a state park.  If enough people start talking about our California State Parks then perhaps Sacramento will start listening.

See more of my Monterey Bay pictures.

Crystal Cove State Park Coastline, California

On Friday night, I walked out onto the scenic vista at Pelican Point, Crystal Cove State Park before heading back to the trail when I passed this couple pushing their baby in the stroller to the scenic vista. I didn’t think anything of it until I rounded the corner below when the other people going back up the trail started pointing “Oh how sweet! He is proposing to her! Yay!” I missed the first part but saw them kissing so I’m sure that there really was a proposal.

So if either of you find my blog, a framed 16×24 print of this photo is on me. Let’s spread the word.

Cheers.

P.S. I’m still searching for my Crystal. :-p

See more of my Crystal Cove State Park pictures.

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area With Los Angeles Skyline in the Distance

I took this photo two weeks ago after attending the ASPP event in Culver City. I would like to time my next visit on a rare clear day so I could get a photo of the Los Angeles city skyline with some snow on Mount Baldy Peak.

See more of my Los Angeles pictures.

Chino Hills State Park Spring Mustard Flowers, Southern California

First of all I wanted to thank those of you who attended my Sierra Club nature photography presentation on Wednesday night. It was a great audience with a lot of enthusiasm. I was flattered with the warm reception I received and had a great time meeting lots of new people.

Moving backward a few days prior, I took this hillside photo at Chino Hills State Park. There weren’t many poppies or much of anything else blooming yet other than a lot of green hillsides and mustard flowers. It was quite pretty actually. Hopefully there are more flowers by now since it hasn’t rained this week.

See more of my Inland Empire pictures.

After the Hearst Castle tour, I was feeling pretty hungry so I went over to Sebastian’s which is basically located across PCH from the Hearst Castle parking lot but tucked way back into the forest. I went earlier in the morning to take this picture before the store was open but remembered seeing a sign outside that said there was a deli inside. So after the tour I went over there figuring the average Hearst Castle tourist wouldn’t know about it.

So after some deliberation, I decided to order the french dip sandwich. Excuse my inner Paris Hilton, but Oh my god it soooo good!! On the menu they said ingredients include Hearst Ranch Beef, horseradish, au ju’s sauce, etc… and some sort of bread. Sounded fairly interesting but this turned out to be the best sandwich I have ever had in my life. I can’t stop thinking about it either. Too bad I didn’t have my camera with me or think to use my cell phone camera but take my word for it.

Sebastian’s Store dates back to the 1870’s and looks like a homey little small town general store. Doesn’t look like a place where you would find great food but that is what’s so great about it. Unlike those pretentious fancy schmancy high-end L.A. restaurants newspapers and magazines brag about in the media all the time, Sebastian’s is one of those low-key places where you just kind of stumble into in the middle of nowhere.

After eating, I went around the front again and saw a sandwich board that said “Home of the Famous Hearst Ranch Beef Dip Sandwich.” Turned out to be a lucky decision on my part.

See more California Central Coast pictures

If there is one California Coast tourist attraction that is a must-see it is Hearst Castle. It is very popular and for good reason. It is just freaking awesome! I’m sorry I can’t come up with any more descriptive words but the architecture and setting is too magnificent for words. Though this is a very well-known scene, I still was mumbling cuss words to myself in disbelief when I walked up to the Neptune Pool.

My parents took us to Hearst Castle in the early 90’s and until now that was my only visit. I wasn’t planning on going during this trip either but I had some time to kill between photo shoots so I walked up to the counter to see if they had any tickets left. Tickets tend to sell out months in advance but I managed to get in on the next tour which was the Casa Grande North Tour. The North Tower was never completed so I think that is why there might have been openings.

I also met this retired sports photojournalist on the tour and we ended up talking photography for most of the time. Overall I would say Hearst Castle was the highlight of the photo trip.

See more Hearst Castle pictures

This is the seascape version yesterday’s blog post of the monterey shale rock. This was actually my 5th visit to Montana de Oro but my first time walking to the tip of the Bluff trail. I’m glad that I did because this area is the most visually interesting part of Montana de Oro SP in my opinion.

See more of my Morro Bay pictures.

I liked how the juxtaposition of museum windows and exhibits framed Morro Rock and the bay. If I had my flash with me I would have tried some bounce flash off the ceiling to see if I could illuminate the interior a little better without getting glare off the glass.

See more of my Morro Bay pictures.

Spring Wildflowers at Sunrise, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California

I think the peak of the bloom will be next week. It seemed like the flowers weren’t quite opened up yet though there is a fair amount already. Nothing can compare to the “100-year bloom” of 2005, but it’s still good this year.

Yesterday, it was super crowded at the Visitor Center and at Palm Canyon. This location had a lot of people too last night but it’s a wide open space so it wasn’t so bad. Surprisingly, I was the only photographer there for sunrise this morning!

See more of my Anza Borrego Desert pictures.

For several years now, I have gone to tide pools during the winter months whenever the tides range from -1.0 to -2.5 feet. My goal has been to photograph the ever-elusive octopus. Octopus are generally found in rocky reefs hiding underneath rocky surfaces while half-submerged in water so they are difficult to find. They also change colors as well so finding one has proven to be quite the treasure hunt.

On a tidal zone scale of one through six, octopus are generally considered to be in the level 6 category of marine wildlife so the most likely opportunities to spot one would be when the tide is around the -2.0 feet level. In Southern California, I think the lowest tide I have ever photographed was -1.9 or -2.0 because it only gets that low for a day or two per year. Further up the Pacific Coast, the tide gets lower however and I have photographed down to negative 2.5 foot tides in the past.

My luck was no different on Saturday at Crystal Cove State Park. I did manage to photograph a nearly complex exoskeleton of a California Spiny Lobster however as it was actually lying on the beach, not even in the tide pool. I think that was a result of the extreme difference between high and low tide. In the morning, high tide was a +7.1 ft. and the low tide was -1.6 ft. For my next tide pool adventure I am going to explore a tide pool that I have never been to before so I’ll keep that location a secret for now. From what I have heard, that place yields more marine wildlife.

Orange County Coastline, Crystal Cove State Park, California

See more of my Crystal Cove State Park photos.

I got there around 4:30 p.m. I must have went to the new part of the park because no one was there. Then I went to the developed section of the park and I saw the beginnings of a wedding party happening at the Sunkist Center and a family picnic in the park but no one wandering around the citrus groves. I’m thinking that it was either too early in the season for oranges or I arrived too late in the afternoon. Either way I didn’t find anything I was passionate about shooting there. The park closes at 7 during the summer season but the sun sets around 7:30 so I think for scenics it would be best to wait til the end of September. In October the park closes at 6 so definetely September would be better for light on the landscape. I’m not sure when the oranges will start to become ripe but I imagine probably in another month or two.

Picture: Carrizo Orange Seedling (Poncirus trifoliata x citrus Sinensis citranges), California Citrus State Historic Park, California

The coolest part of CA Citrus SHP is the giant fruit stand on the street corner. It is actually the marquee for the park but I thought it was kinda cute to shoot. There is an actual fruit stand across the road that was open when I first drove in but closed by the time I got back out there to shoot the Giant Orange Fruit Stand. Next time I’ll try to see if I could get some photos of the worker at the regular fruit stand.

I had never been to Riverside before other than a few band competitions at Riverside Community College when I was younger, so I wanted to check out the Mission Inn. My mom’s friends went to a wedding there a few months ago and the hotel looked awesome from the snapshots I saw so I needed to go see it for myself. The architecture looks even more impressive in person but I think the only way to photograph it is to be invited to a wedding there or eat at one of the restaurants because the hotel isn’t that big and most of the space is devoted to those activities. The Mission Inn is modeled after the Spanish Mission style of architecture and is a registered National Historic Landmark. I had never seen architecture quite that beautiful before. Outside of the two square blocks surrounding the Mission Inn however, downtown Riverside doesn’t look too impressive.

Photo: Mission Inn, Riverside, California

There is a Mission Inn Museum adjacent to the hotel which gives daytime tours of the hotel in areas that are generally inaccessible to the public. That would probably be a nice tour to go on. A building that beautiful deserves to be seen.

See more of my Inland Empire photos.