A SMALL TASTE OF BIG SUR

Big Sur.  El Sur Grande. The Big South.

Few places I've been in the world can rival the breathtaking beauty of this remote destination in Central California. As you wind along the jagged rocky cliffs of Pacific Coast Highway 1 from San Simeon up to Carmel-by-the-Sea, over 90 miles of seemingly untouched wilderness spread out before you. (Talk about Americana at its finest!)

It is a magical place with a vast array of landscapes & micro-climates.  You can be looking up at giant Redwood trees one minute, and then out over a field of cacti the next. I've driven through Big Sur several times in my life and every time it is different. The light and the color of the sea changes depending on the time of day and season you're there - it always keeps you on your toes. I love it.

We drove up through Big Sur last Thursday, August 18, 2011 from our home in Orange County, California to the Monterey Peninsula for what has become known as 'Car Week'.  Of course when we set out on this automotive-themed vacation, I envisioned taking loads of car-related photos throughout the trip (Which, I did. More to come on those photos soon!). 

But, as we drove along PCH, the signs for 'Vista Point Ahead' seemed to call my name.  We didn't stop much, but when we did I tried to capture just a very small taste of this amazing place with my camera. I hope you enjoy. And, if you've never been, then start planning that road trip now! I can assure that you won't be disappointed.

SHOOTING THE MOON

We've been having some very strange weather here in Southern California lately. Well, strange for Orange County in the month of May anyways.  One minute it's boiling hot and sunny, the next it's chilly and raining.

Last night some clouds were rolling through over the Full Moon as the next round of rain was coming in and it felt like Halloween in the middle of Spring. I expected a wolf to start howling and a black cat to run across my path (our black Pug did, if that counts?!?).   It was time to grab the camera and have some fun shooting the Moon.

SOME LOCAL OC NATURE

This afternoon Tim & I ventured out to historic Irvine Park at the mouth of Santiago Canyon for a little taste of nature. Having grown up in Orange County, California in the city of Irvine, I must admit that I had never made it out to Irvine Park until today (kind of like living in Manhattan and never seeing the Statue of Liberty or somethin').  And I was so astounded at the beauty that is literally 15 minutes from our doorstep, I am now looking into an annual parking pass! 

What drew me out there today was the Orange County Register newspaper's wildflower photo contest - I wanted to find some beautiful wildflowers to capture with my camera and enter in the competition. But, once we arrived, I soon realized that there was a lot more to see than just the flowers...

WILD, WILD WESTERN WYOMING

I've found throughout my travels that there are few places in the world these days (particularly in the bustling U.S.) that truly feel untouched by man. Growing up in California, I've heard lots of talk of the 'Wild, Wild West' - the frontier that Pioneers 'discovered' (well - cough, cough - along with the 'discovery' of the Native Americans who were already living there for thousands of years - ahem! But, I digress...)

Wyoming is one of these places, though, where today you can still get a sense of the vast wilderness - the beautiful, wild land that America once was.  It is stunning. With breathtaking landscapes around every bend, Wyoming is hands-down one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, let alone had the opportunity to ride my motorcycle through. It's the kind of natural beauty that makes you gasp inside your motorcycle helmet, and slows your mind as you take it all in. I hope to make it back one day - meantime, I like to look through my photos and reflect...

CLOUDS

I woke up this morning to a cloudy day and it got me thinkin'... while it may sound simple, some of my favorite things to photograph are clouds.

There they are - over our heads in the sky every day, just passing us by on the wind, morphing every second into something new. And every once in a while you look up and they take your breath away. With their whispy shapes, they way they catch the sunlight and the colors in the sky, each one different from another, relaxed & dreamy one moment and then threatening & gloomy the next.

So, here's a little selection of some of my favorite clouds I've photographed in recent months around the U.S. for your day-dreaming pleasure...