Spanning 840 miles, the California Coast is one of the most famous scenic regions in the world. From the old-growth redwoods just south of the Oregon border world-famous San Francisco and the Bay Area to the Monterey Bay on California's Central Coast to Los Angeles and the border field just south of San Diego, California's coast spans the range of many different types of ecosystems and iconic landscapes.
I was born and raised in California. The "Golden State" has been my home for my entire life. The first half of my photographic career was largely focused on Southern California while the past decade has been focused on Northern California. The depth of my body of work gives me an advantage over most photographers who are either from out of state or who only recently became a photographer during the Instagram era.
Museum-quality limited and open edition fine art photography prints for sale. I offer personal consultations with my customers to determine which style of print is best for you and produce custom print files tailored to your needs. Printing and shipping of my fine art landscape and nature photos are handled by world-class professional print labs. For licensing inquiries, contact me. I’m here to help you through the process as you consider purchasing artwork for your home or office. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Be the first to view new artwork releases, be notified of artist events and receive promotional offers.
Introduction to California Coast Photography
The California coast stretches over 800 miles, offering a diverse palette from the sunny beaches of Los Angeles to rugged cliffs of Big Sur on California's Central Coast to the rich marine wildlife along Monterey Bay to cosmopolitan San Francisco and the old-growth coast redwood forests in far north. Photographers like myself are drawn to this coastline, lured by the undulating ocean meeting rugged shores and serene beaches punctuated with towering palm trees. Capturing the essence of this dynamic landscape transcends a mere hobby; it preserves moments in time and showcases nature's vibrant artistry. Photography serves as a conduit between the visual splendor and the audience, allowing the magnificence of the California coast to be appreciated beyond the constraints of time and location. As eyes scan the horizon where blue skies merge with the Pacific, lenses focus, and shutters click-a testament to the photographer's quest to immortalize the coast's grandeur.
The Diverse Beauty of the California Coast Through a Lens
Given the vast length and varied topography of the California Coast, there is no one single defining feature. I find that most beaches in Southern California are better suited for recreation and lifestyle photography (Santa Monica Pier, Huntington Beach, etc...) more than landscapes as there are not as many natural features with the exception of a few beaches such as Corona Del Mar or El Matador State Beach. Meanwhile as you drive further north past Morro Bay through Big Sur, you'll encounter more sea stacks and less people. Once you drive north of San Francisco, the coast becomes more rugged which can be more conducive to compelling seascape photography. The Sonoma Coast is one area in particular that I enjoy exploring as it's incredibly beautiful and accessible yet far enough from the urban areas to not be as busy.
Notable California Coast Photographers
One can't mention California Coast photography without paying respects to the contributions of Ansel Adams and Edward Weston. Adams in particular, is the single most revered figure in landscape photography history. In addition to his famous Yosemite images, he spent a good amount of his career initially based out of San Francisco then eventually Carmel-by-the-Sea. Meanwhile, Edward Weston has a beach named after him in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. The Weston Gallery in-fact is still located in Carmel.
When it comes to contemporary California Coast photography, my own website, Richard Wong Photography is arguably the most comprehensive source from an individual artist.
California Coastal Landscape and Seascapes
While seascapes are an obvious subject to photograph along the California Coast, the coastline itself is also very photogenic. Some favorite locations of mine include Point Reyes National Seashore which has the Great Beach Overlook and Chimney Rock. Big Sur is also famous for a reason; with Highway One / Pacific Coast Highway weaving through the rugged cliffs for about a 90-mile stretch including the iconic McWay Falls Overlook.
There are also a number of coastal forests that are worthy of your attention. From the Monterey Cypress trees at Point Lobos to the cypress tunnel at Point Reyes to the old-growth coast redwoods, these are all incredibly stunning places to visit and photograph. I've been visiting some of these places for much of my life and never get tired of it.
For fine art collectors, you'll have your pick from almost any subject and theme since California landscapes have so much diversity.
Investing in California Coast Photography
As an art collector, I would encourage you to acquire fine art photography prints that resonate with you emotionally. Some photographers will push the notion that their prints are a monetary investment not unlike the stock market. Which is disingenuous to put it kindly. Speculative investing is not what this website is about. My fine art prints are produced with world-class materials & technique but I always say that you should pick the artwork that you could imagine staring at everyday for the rest of your life. The investment is in yourself and your happiness, not a financial investment. If my prints eventually are worth more on the after-market that's something for your kids to figure out someday but that's not why you should purchase my artwork.
Conservation Through the Lens: Preserving California’s Coastal Beauty
There is a legacy of using coastal photography to preserve public lands. Philip Hyde in particular was notable for his efforts with the Sierra Club in the 1960's to preserve Point Reyes National Seashore and Redwood National Park among other locations. Even to the this, old-growth redwood forests are purchased from private land owners for the public to enjoy forever. There is not much left of the original ecosystem so it's important we preserve what we can as these places are among the most incredible forests on the planet. The California Coastal Commission also works tirelessly to ensure public access to California's coastline. Billionaires and other landowners regularly try to restrict access to public beaches for themselves so I'm always eager to share how incredible our coastline is via my photography so others can enjoy it too if even from the comfort of your home or office.
Exploring Techniques and Equipment Behind My Images
I have a variety of photography techniques that I utilize during photo shoots. I'll regularly use circular polarizers to cut glare from the ocean. If the sky isn't too interesting, I may use a 10-stop neutral density filter to smooth out the water and create a dreamy look out of the seascape. When there is heavy wave action or incoming tides, I'll regularly be on the edge of the surf capturing incoming and outgoing wave action. Sometimes I may even blend wave exposures to create the seascape that I had envisioned. I almost always use a tripod to ensure sharp images since I'm generally using longer exposures. This also helps to ensure that my horizons are straight.
Nature and Wildlife Photography on the California Coast
The California Coast is a hotbed for wildlife. Anytime there is a minus tide, you can find scores of mussels, crabs and even the occasional sea star. During one recent photoshoot along the San Mateo Coast, I found hundreds of crabs walking around the tide pool. I had never seen so many before! If marine mammals are more your thing then sea otters and harbor seals are frequently spotted in Morro Bay and Monterey. I have even seen seals just offshore here in the San Francisco East Bay just down the street from my house. Elephant Seals are perhaps the greatest conservation story, as there were just a few seals left in the wild by the end of the 19th century but they have since rebounded to more than 100,000 in California alone. Great places to spot these large seals are Point Piedras Blancas near San Simeon, Ano Nuevo State Reserve and Point Reyes National Seashore.
There is a large herd of Tule Elk at Point Reyes along with numerous jackrabbits. I've seen fleeting glimpses of bobcats and coyotes in coastal areas as well. If you're a birder then it's hard to go wrong with La Jolla Cove as you can frequently see brown pelicans there.
The Art of Selecting and Displaying California Coast Photography
With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to decide which images to print or even the type of print. As an artist-owned business, I would be happy to help you through the entire process. I offer museum-quality acrylic face mounts and metal prints that come ready-to-hang. If you prefer to work with your own framer, I offer archival cotton rag prints which can be shipped directly to a framer of your choice. If you're looking for a specific type of image but unsure of where to start, I can offer suggestions. If there is a certain type of print that you can't find on my website then reach out to me. I may just have what you need. Contact me and we'll figure this out together.
48" x 72" A Walk in the Woods ChromaLuxe Edge Mount Print
