Dreamy California | Photographs from the central coast, Big Sur and Pheiffer Beach

Knowing I was going to be out in California at the end of December provided me with a little time to hit up some of my favorite spots on the Central Coast. If you've never been to Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur and had a chance to drive along coastal Highway 1, I highly recommend it. And if you're lucky like I was you're in for amazing clouds and gorgeous sunsets, don't know if they can be beat anywhere in the world. I've wanted to try and capture the light coming through this keyhole in a huge rock down at Pheiffer Beach for years. Had tried on a few other occasions and the elements simply didn't come together. This time I was blessed. See one example the third image below. The way the sun sets in the keyhole only happens for a few weeks each December, so I many have been surrounded by 50 other photographers that day :) Perhaps one of the best sunsets I've seen in a long long time. Enjoy a my favorites from the trip.

I'm putting together all new products and options to purchase these images in the coming weeks. Cool new acrylic prints, canvas wraps, and other modern options to enjoy a little beauty in your life. I'll post an update when they're available. Enjoy the weekend!

- Randall

Scenes from the Golden Gate Bridge | Fun Friday

It's not every time we travel to California that we get to spend so much time around the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. So it was definitely a treat to be able to make some photographs of the bridge and of the San Francisco skyline while we were scouting and shooting the fashion shoot we did last month. If you didn't see those images you have to check them out here. Theresa was focusing on the model and that left me to roam a little and create these photographs in the down moments.

We lucked out with amazing clouds and clear skies which can be really rare. Sometimes the fog comes into the bay and just sits there, hiding the Golden Gate altogether. Also be sure to check out a little more unique vantage point of the bridge when we sailed under it last year - see those here. Enjoy and happy Friday!

- Randall

See more of our fine art photography here. We'll be updating our options and adding to our fine art print collections soon so please check back.

Monterey & West Coast Photographers | Random Friday

Monterey & West Coast Photographers | Random Friday

So our last post about the wedding we shot in Monterey at Pasadera Country Club has me West coast day-dreaming a bit. Beautiful light, majestic landscape, beaches, mild temperatures all year....you picking up what I'm putting down? One of the favorite things Theresa and I would do would be to walk out the front door of the house we were renting and walk (or run) to the beach. Yes, we were spoiled and we know it now for sure as it wasn't even a mile. Theresa's favorite past-time was hunting for beach glass while I wandered around with a camera. Influenced by a lot of photographers who lived and worked in the Monterey and Carmel area, I love how if you look hard enough you can see all these wonderful abstract and beautiful images right in front of you.  A couple of my favorite photographers that lived in that area are Edward Weston and Wynn Bullock. If you happen to find yourself in Carmel then I highly recommend you check out the Weston Gallery and the Photography West Gallery. I would always walk out of those places burning with inspiration and the urge to photograph. Here's a few from the last time we were there (as always click on a thumbnail to see it larger). I also put the camera settings / info in the captions in case anyone's curious. 

Find more of Edward Weston's work here.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/4, 1/1250 sec.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/100 sec.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/640 sec.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/11, 1/100 sec.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/11, 1/640 sec.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/11, 1/160 sec.

Nikon D3s, 50mm 1.4 lens, ISO 200, f/11, 1/320 sec.

- Randall