For regular followers of my blog, you may notice it has a new look. I started this blog in March of 2013, so I decided that after 12 years, it was time for a refresh. I was able to find a new theme that I liked and was able to convert the blog with only a few hiccups. For example, the old way of setting up a “Follow” button no longer worked but after a bit of research I figured out that a new “Subscribe” button, set up in a different manner, accomplishes the same thing. So at this point I think I have most of the bugs worked out and the elements that I want to appear do so in the new format. So time for a new post.
Back in mid-January I had been planning to travel to Pasadena to photograph a couple of gardens. With the fires raging, I decided that wasn’t the smartest plan. So, somewhat at the last minute, I decided to visit the coastal areas just north of San Diego. and a bit of the city itself. I have been to San Diego a number of times over the years, including when I ran the San Diego Marathon in 2006. But I have never really done any photography in the area.
With it being a last minute change in plans, I didn’t do as much research/planning as I might normally do for a photo trip. While I had a few ideas in mind, some of which worked out and some didn’t, I did spend more time driving around looking for things to shoot than I would have otherwise. Still, I came home with some decent photos.
My first location was the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Perched high on a cliff overlooking the mouth of San Diego Harbor, it was built in 1855. It was one of the first eight lighthouses built on the US west coast. And while it was in operation for 36 years, it was decommissioned in 1891 because, due to its altitude, it was often obscured by fog and wasn’t visible to mariners. The replacement lighthouse was built below it, closer to sea level. The location offers some great views of San Diego. (Click on images to get a full-sized view.)
Following my visit to the lighthouse and the surrounding grounds, I drove down to the lower level where the new light is located. From the cliffs there I had a great view of Brown Pelicans flying past me.
Following my lighthouse visit, I made my way along the coast, checking out a few locations. None of them provide me any inspiring photo opportunities until I got closer to Ocean Beach. I could see the pier from a distance and thought that it definitely had potential for a sunset shot. It didn’t disappoint. I have included two versions below. The first was just at sunset and has a lot of warm tones to it. The second was a bit later and has more blues and magentas in it. Let me know which you prefer.
I finished off the day back in San Diego, at Old Town. I hadn’t been there in years so, as could be expected, a lot had changed, a few things were still recognizable.
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Wind At Your Back 
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