“Light makes photography. Embrace light. Admire it. Love it. But above all, know light. Know it for all you are worth, and you will know the key to photography.” (George Eastman)
Light
Cardiff by the Sea
Cardiff by the Sea, or more precisely South Cardiff State Beach (or Seaside State Beach, I’m never quite sure about the naming) is my go-to place for taking walks at the beach with Toni. I’ve been there countless times – and photographed there, countless times, of course. It’s nice that dogs are allowed on the leash year-round at all times. At the southern end of the beach are some lovely tide pools by the name of Tabletop Reef – my favorite photography subject.
Red Tide in San Diego, 2020
Currently, we’re seeing a “red tide” algae bloom in San Diego. It’s a bit smelly and awful looking in the daytime (it smells of rotting trash and the ocean has a brownish color), but at night, when the breaking waves agitate the algae, they give off a somewhat eerie, blue glow, which is quite mesmerizing.
The Bluest Hour, Solana Beach
Long exposure seascapes at a very, very blue hour (three photos), and an bit of an aha moment about the camera position I ended up using for these images.
Variations of a Sunken Tidepool at Dawn
Winter storms wash out the sand from our shores and carry it away; summer swells and currents bring it back and bury coastal features under it. One might say that the sand moves in and out like the tide – just much, much slower. The tide pools of Tabletop Reef in Solana Beach are no different and at this time of the year, only the topmost part of the rock structure that I’ve been photographing so many times over the years is sticking out of the sand.
Foggy Morning at the Beach
Photos and thoughts from a morning walk at foggy South Cardiff State Beach, Encinitas, California.
Surf & Pebbles (Triptych)
Leftovers from a morning visit to Tabletop Reef. The tide was high and waves were pounding the tide pools like I had not seen it before. I couldn’t even get close to where I normally make photos (well, at least not without getting a severe soaking – cameras and salt water don’t mix too well so I didn’t try).