Bay Area Coastal Crawl with dgrinners
I still have a ton of photos to process in my queue, including the ones from the Moab shootout, but I received an unexpected nudge over the weekend via a phone call asking – where are your photos? Sigh. So… without further ado -- California Coastal Crawl.
With the dgrin party in my neck of the woods and with my photo family flying into town, I knew I wanted to show my friends the beautiful 'hood that I live in. Ann (Ann McRae), Christina (Phyxius), Debbie (Loper) were flying into town just for the event and Nikolai (Nikolai) was planning on driving all night long to arrive on Saturday morning for a special shoot!
Even though I lived in the bay area for years, I hate to admit it, but I have actually captured very little of it though my lenses. This event gave me the perfect opportunity to change that and I decided to take a day off of work for exploration! Hooray for dgrinners!
There was only one problem. I was burnt out --- completely, utterly drained and I've been this way for months due to a combination of factors including some intense issues at work. I slept walked through Moab shootout in October because I was so exhausted. When the dgrin party weekend rolled around, all I wanted do was crawl into my warm, comfy bed and sleep, but this was something that I couldn't do. After all, my photo family was coming to town! So… onward. March!
Dan (dadwtwins) once told me that he has done some of his best work when he had anything else to give. I don't have if I achieved anything on that level, but am happy with my photos and extremely thankful of the time spent with friends.
I called our journey the coast crawl because that's what we did – crawl at a turtle's pace. And in all honesty, I think turtles move faster than us! I think we had plans to hit six or seven wonderful locations, but I think we got to about three quality stops on the first day. And personally, I prefer quality over quantity.
Friday.
I met everyone at Hotel Zico in Mountain View and Sam (Sam), JC (JC Dill), Justin (Jzazzi) came along as well! We decided to take the south to north route with our three car caravan along the coast with the intentions to meet up with Andy + crew at Twin Peaks in the city for sunset. In addition, I was going to play a game of Hansel and Gretel by sending text message breadcrumbs to Anthony (tisun) because he had to work until about 1 pm and would meet us along the way which worried me because the cell phone coverage at the coast can be quite spotty.
Our first stop was Capitola, a city in which I've never have visited and only knew it to be an exit along the freeway.
1. Justin Zazzi – I took this frame, and then decided to ask him to pose for a few more (which confused him). However, it turns out that I liked the initial one the best.
2. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! Warm, blue with a just teeny bit of haze. And this wasn't a typical December California day…It was warm enough for flip-flops!
3. Utter Fail.
I spent 45 minutes trying to set up a long exposure shot underneath the pier – it didn't happen, but my first IR frame from underneath the pier worked.
Our next stop was Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, but we never stopped at the bridge itself, but instead, went hunting for butterflies… thousands and thousands of butterflies. I don't think there's an easy way to capture the magnitude of the butterflies.
I sent Anthony a message that we were in Santa Cruz (around 1 pm) and hunting for butterflies – he responded back – you're still in Santa Cruz????
4. Monarchs – but I did get one to pose for me
Our next stop was to search for more critters and we wanted to try for the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo and attempted to send Anthony a text message that we'll meet him there. However, they're closed in December. Onward to the next stop! One slight problem – no cell coverage. I was really afraid that he wouldn't find us...
Bean Hollow is of my most favorite places in the bay area. There are more spectacular stops along the coast, but none that can offer so much – animals, waves, textures, etc. I can spend hours here….
5. Waves
To my relief, I was able to get one text message out to Anthony and he showed up 10 minutes before we left for San Francisco. Breadcrumbs worked.
We rushed up the coast and made it twin peaks with minutes to spare! While others were taking panos, I actually liked the view behind us more. It was felt just like previous shootous -- Andy, Schmoo, Travis, Nick (gluwater), Ivar, Andrew Gibbons, etc. with tripods all trying to harness the light.
It felt like home.
6. Suatro Towers
There was some discussion of photos of North Beach or the Wharf, but we decided that we wanted food more. After all, the crawlers didn’t really have a real meal other than snacks and we decided to head back down south to Daly City for a stop at Boulevard Café.
Saturday.
We actually got up for sunrise!
7. Pier 7 and the Bay Bridge
8. But I actually like the simplicity of the IR one more.
9. Anthony, Christina and Debbie.
10. JC:
After a quick breakfast in Alameda (selected due to easier parking) with Nikolai and his beautiful daughter Helen, we split up in the cars since Nikolai needed to meet his model. Christina, Debbie and I decided to take the longer route, and it turned out longer than expected. Oops! Lombard, Pier 39, Ghirardelli and then to Kirby Cove and the Golden Gate Bridge. Just a slight detour :wink
But we made it for about three or four sets of the model shoot at Kirby Cove. Although I’ve been to the Marin Headands numerous times, this was my first experience at Kirby Cove and it won’t be my last. I’m still not a people photographer, but I have new found respect for those who photograph events and people. It’s not easy!
11. Bricks:
12. Golden Gate Bridge through the tunnel:
13. Miriam:
14. Sherpa Nikolai – he was carrying Miriam’s bag and Ann’s tripod + his own gear!
15. Ann: enjoying the warm bay area weather after a long hike up hill
And then it was time to head back south to Mountain View for the party!
Sunday.
I think I only drive this much in a single day when dgrinners are in town and I did a similar drive when Skippy came to town. I must admit that I had amazing gas mileage during the day!
Moutain View -> Monterey -> SFO -> Fremont for my hockey game.
16. Fishy-y Jellies
17. Floating
I can’t believe I survived the weekend. I can’t believe I made it to my hockey game. I can’t believe that I played in the game and I might have gotten an assist, but I was so tired that I couldn’t remember.
So….. when are we doing it again?
I miss you guys already! :cry Come back soon!
With the dgrin party in my neck of the woods and with my photo family flying into town, I knew I wanted to show my friends the beautiful 'hood that I live in. Ann (Ann McRae), Christina (Phyxius), Debbie (Loper) were flying into town just for the event and Nikolai (Nikolai) was planning on driving all night long to arrive on Saturday morning for a special shoot!
Even though I lived in the bay area for years, I hate to admit it, but I have actually captured very little of it though my lenses. This event gave me the perfect opportunity to change that and I decided to take a day off of work for exploration! Hooray for dgrinners!
There was only one problem. I was burnt out --- completely, utterly drained and I've been this way for months due to a combination of factors including some intense issues at work. I slept walked through Moab shootout in October because I was so exhausted. When the dgrin party weekend rolled around, all I wanted do was crawl into my warm, comfy bed and sleep, but this was something that I couldn't do. After all, my photo family was coming to town! So… onward. March!
Dan (dadwtwins) once told me that he has done some of his best work when he had anything else to give. I don't have if I achieved anything on that level, but am happy with my photos and extremely thankful of the time spent with friends.
I called our journey the coast crawl because that's what we did – crawl at a turtle's pace. And in all honesty, I think turtles move faster than us! I think we had plans to hit six or seven wonderful locations, but I think we got to about three quality stops on the first day. And personally, I prefer quality over quantity.
Friday.
I met everyone at Hotel Zico in Mountain View and Sam (Sam), JC (JC Dill), Justin (Jzazzi) came along as well! We decided to take the south to north route with our three car caravan along the coast with the intentions to meet up with Andy + crew at Twin Peaks in the city for sunset. In addition, I was going to play a game of Hansel and Gretel by sending text message breadcrumbs to Anthony (tisun) because he had to work until about 1 pm and would meet us along the way which worried me because the cell phone coverage at the coast can be quite spotty.
Our first stop was Capitola, a city in which I've never have visited and only knew it to be an exit along the freeway.
1. Justin Zazzi – I took this frame, and then decided to ask him to pose for a few more (which confused him). However, it turns out that I liked the initial one the best.
2. I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day! Warm, blue with a just teeny bit of haze. And this wasn't a typical December California day…It was warm enough for flip-flops!
3. Utter Fail.
I spent 45 minutes trying to set up a long exposure shot underneath the pier – it didn't happen, but my first IR frame from underneath the pier worked.
Our next stop was Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, but we never stopped at the bridge itself, but instead, went hunting for butterflies… thousands and thousands of butterflies. I don't think there's an easy way to capture the magnitude of the butterflies.
I sent Anthony a message that we were in Santa Cruz (around 1 pm) and hunting for butterflies – he responded back – you're still in Santa Cruz????
4. Monarchs – but I did get one to pose for me
Our next stop was to search for more critters and we wanted to try for the elephant seals at Ano Nuevo and attempted to send Anthony a text message that we'll meet him there. However, they're closed in December. Onward to the next stop! One slight problem – no cell coverage. I was really afraid that he wouldn't find us...
Bean Hollow is of my most favorite places in the bay area. There are more spectacular stops along the coast, but none that can offer so much – animals, waves, textures, etc. I can spend hours here….
5. Waves
To my relief, I was able to get one text message out to Anthony and he showed up 10 minutes before we left for San Francisco. Breadcrumbs worked.
We rushed up the coast and made it twin peaks with minutes to spare! While others were taking panos, I actually liked the view behind us more. It was felt just like previous shootous -- Andy, Schmoo, Travis, Nick (gluwater), Ivar, Andrew Gibbons, etc. with tripods all trying to harness the light.
It felt like home.
6. Suatro Towers
There was some discussion of photos of North Beach or the Wharf, but we decided that we wanted food more. After all, the crawlers didn’t really have a real meal other than snacks and we decided to head back down south to Daly City for a stop at Boulevard Café.
Saturday.
We actually got up for sunrise!
7. Pier 7 and the Bay Bridge
8. But I actually like the simplicity of the IR one more.
9. Anthony, Christina and Debbie.
10. JC:
After a quick breakfast in Alameda (selected due to easier parking) with Nikolai and his beautiful daughter Helen, we split up in the cars since Nikolai needed to meet his model. Christina, Debbie and I decided to take the longer route, and it turned out longer than expected. Oops! Lombard, Pier 39, Ghirardelli and then to Kirby Cove and the Golden Gate Bridge. Just a slight detour :wink
But we made it for about three or four sets of the model shoot at Kirby Cove. Although I’ve been to the Marin Headands numerous times, this was my first experience at Kirby Cove and it won’t be my last. I’m still not a people photographer, but I have new found respect for those who photograph events and people. It’s not easy!
11. Bricks:
12. Golden Gate Bridge through the tunnel:
13. Miriam:
14. Sherpa Nikolai – he was carrying Miriam’s bag and Ann’s tripod + his own gear!
15. Ann: enjoying the warm bay area weather after a long hike up hill
And then it was time to head back south to Mountain View for the party!
Sunday.
I think I only drive this much in a single day when dgrinners are in town and I did a similar drive when Skippy came to town. I must admit that I had amazing gas mileage during the day!
Moutain View -> Monterey -> SFO -> Fremont for my hockey game.
16. Fishy-y Jellies
17. Floating
I can’t believe I survived the weekend. I can’t believe I made it to my hockey game. I can’t believe that I played in the game and I might have gotten an assist, but I was so tired that I couldn’t remember.
So….. when are we doing it again?
I miss you guys already! :cry Come back soon!
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Comments
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I particularly love #12 - the bridge from the tunnel. I sooooo did not see that shot, WOW!
And thank you for not pointing out how badly I failed at getting myself back up that hill Saturday! Lucky for me that Nik is THE perfect gentleman!
I'll be there - where ever, when ever there will be a dgrin shoot, just holler and I will see what I can do about being there!
Thanks again
ann
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Who would be so rude and do that??
Beautiful series April. Your Bay Area shots never disappoint. I really like #5, #7 and #12. Well done!!
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you are not only a fabulous and gracious host but a damn good photographer to boot.
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I said it before, and I want to repeat it again: without you this whole thing wouldn't be same, or plain wouldn't happen
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And you have to come back! We've only seen such a little itty bitty part of the bay area!
And it was so good seeing you...
So, is that why you kept walking by the front of the tunnel.....and actually, you prob-ly saw that shot and I didn't because you could stand UP in that tunnel!
I agree - I need to come back!
ann
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Let me know when you're back in town again!
And I did very little. I just asked what you wanted to do, and made recommendations based upon that.
And you would be proud of me! I actually stitched a pano! --- sunset @ Twin Peaks.
I heard your voices and decided to walked through the tunnel, but left my camera gear behind since I'm a klutz and was afraid of tripping and failing. And then I saw the bridge, but I didn't have my camera gear!!!!!!
And I could not go back through the tunnel since everyone was shooting inside! And then Helen told me that I could go around... that's why I kept walking in front.
And I just received my camera body from canon. It seems that the AF was manufactured defective -- assembled incorrectly. I'm still waiting for my lens to come back, but they stated the issue was sand. We'll see how everything is...
I'm very surprised that I got any photos at all from those three days!
1. Waves at Bean Hollow... I really want to go back and get a good sunset here...
2. A longer exposure of the waves
3. Spotted comb jellies; these are new and really hard to photography
ann
My Galleries My Photography BLOG
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When I'm in the area in a few months we'll have to go shooting a bunch, k?
Photos that don't suck / 365 / Film & Lomography
I forgot that I had a few candids of people on my G9.
1. Ann forgetting that the waves do roll in and can get you wet and cold
2. Debbie (with her extra special covered 70-200) and Christina
3. Sam!!!!
4. Justin trying to get some good waves
5. The motley crew at Twin Peaks -- feels like a shootout
6. Anthony (with my siggy) and took some panos with it.
7. A chimping JC
8. Nick with the biggest tripod that I've ever have seen. 8 feet tall???? I would need a stop ladder for that thing!
Until next time....whenever that maybe.
Cuong