Thursday, August 15, 2019

Pismo Beach

This week we're jumping from the desert to the beach. We wanted to take our granddaughter somewhere before starting school, so we took a two night "mini-vacation" to Pismo Beach. We live in S CA, and Pismo is in Central CA... cooler temps, not as built up or crowded. Much nicer in my book. My big dilemma was whether or not to haul along my big camera and a couple lenses or just rely on my iPhone. I doubted I would have the opportunity to do any serious photography. On the other hand, if there were great photo opportunities, I would be kicking myself. So after a little grumbling, I took my DSLR, 100-400mm tele lens, and 17-35mm wide angle. Just in case. You never know.

Turns out, I'm really glad I took it.
My wife took this photo of me taking pictures. I had spotted this bench on the far corner of the motel property and it looked like a perfect spot for some sunset shots. But things were cloudy and a little foggy, so I wasn't sure I was going to get anything good. I think it was about this time I heard my wife calling me (she was at the pool with Lilly). She was calling my attention to the sun becoming visible from behind the clouds. It looked very cool, and looked more like the moon than the sun. In the photo above, you can just make out the sun if you look closely.


I was focused on the cool looking clouds and fog rolling in from the distance and hadn't even noticed the sun.


I think it was at this moment it struck me: So glad I brought my DSLR and a couple lenses along on this trip!! No more grumbling.

Do you see the arch? I call this "Pismo Arch", although that may not be its real name.

A closer view of Pismo Arch. This area was loaded with birds. Actually it looked like bird real estate was at a premium. It looked to me (a total novice) like cormorants and pelicans were the dominate birds. I found myself waiting for birds to fly by so I could get some shots without birds in the frame!

On the second afternoon, things started out a little cloudy and foggy. I like the mystery created by the fog, and rarely get to take photos in conditions like this.
Then I noticed the sky start to open up.
For a moment, there was a well defined hole in the sky with a ray of light. Very cool!


Lens change (telephoto to wide angle). After the clouds burned off, we had blue sky for a while. I managed to get both a bird (not too hard) and the moon in this shot. This is looking the opposite direction (down the coast toward the Pismo Beach pier).

As sunset approached, the sky went kind of crazy. Orange/purple/red/gold all seemed to blend together. And everything, including the hills and the water, took on the sky colors.



It was an amazing show. Even the people down on the beach seemed to stop in their tracks to watch the sun drop behind the hills and enjoy the sky colors.

Except for this lady, who was busy flying her kite!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!

50 comments:

  1. Like weather here. Wait a while and you'll see it all. :-)

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  2. Wow - amazing sunsets and sky shots on the beach!

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  3. Never go anywhere without your camera, right? Great shots!

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  4. Whoa!!! Let me tell you a secret that my dear friends find odd. Pismo Beach is in my bucket list. They shake their heads when I tell them I'm longing to see Pismo Beach and they are like what is the fascination with this beach? Now I see more reasons to go there - the sunsets are spectacular. Always bring the camera, even though I sometimes don't heed this advice.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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  5. I guess the moral of this story is always to take your camera. Just based on what I can see I agree that a good number of those birds are cormorants. i am not sure about pelicans, but you had a better look than I had.

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  6. Amazing pictures. Good choice to take your camera and lenses along.

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  7. You and your wife have good eyes for scenery, you got some good shots.

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  8. Amazing views. Fantastic clicks.
    Great to read your post.
    Happy Weekend :)

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  9. Now you know. Always bring the camera. Great shots.

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  10. Great shots, I am partial to sunsets like millions of other folk. SO t me with allthe great shots, the sunset is the winner. Love it.
    Sherry and Jack our on the first coast.

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  11. Wow, what a great variety of shots. I'm glad you took the big camera along. I almost always do these days.

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  12. Sutnning photos, you were right in taking your lenses. Beautiful sunsets

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  13. Your beach pix are fantastic! Always take your camera!

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  14. Such beautiful photos, well worth taking the big camera. Love the sky colours.

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  15. Hello, Pismo beach looks beautiful. I love the arch and gorgeous sunset captures. I am glad you took your big camera. Lovely series! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend!

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  16. OMG your pictures are stunning. Each of the them presents such a mystic and fabulous sunset. Loved them.

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  17. Beautiful sunsets and that grey fogshot is also stunning.

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  18. Wonderful shots

    (whenever I see Pismo .... I say Pepto in my head)

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  19. Amazing sunset pics! Glad you brought your big camera.

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  20. Wow! You do find the best places and such divine photography and what a great place for you, your wife and that wonderful grand daughter ~

    Happy Day to You,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  21. WOW!! All I TO SAY----WELL MAYBE MORE--HAHA. aLWAYS ALWAYS TAKE ALONG A CAMERA AS YOU FOUND OUT TO BE THE CASE HERE. gORGEOUS SHOTS----WHAT BEATS A SUNSET
    mb Why capitals---driver error--haha
    MB

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  22. Absolutely beautiful photos. Glad you took the "big camera" along.

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  23. It just kept getting better and better as I read the post. I can imagine being in that sunset, lit all over in the sunset colors (yes, I've experienced that more than once, but not on a beach) with all kinds of emotions washing over you. Great captures!

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  24. These are some impressive views and you have captured them very well.

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  25. Wow! Gorgeous sky shots at the beach. Happy weekend!

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  26. I really like the third shot. Minimalism works very well. Dope.

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  27. Thankk you for allowing us to enjoy this outing with you and the lonely sights. Great job!

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  28. Awesome images! So happy you went the extra mile with your gear - wow and it was doubly worth it! Not only the sun, but also love the fog -so mysterious! Have a great weekend!

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  29. I stopped in my tracks looking at your beach photographs. Glad you brought the Big Boy along plus lenses and didn't just rely on your phone camera. Have a great weekend.

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  30. Muy buenas fotos del atardecer.

    Los colores y tonalidades de las fotografías son fabulosos.

    ¡Feliz Domingo!

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  31. All of these are beautiful, though I think my favorite is the palms and birds. I reminds me of Dr. Seuss' Lorax :)

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  32. A riot of warm color and splendid sea and landscapes!

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  33. What a great get-away for everybody! Love your images.

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  34. Stunning skies! The one with all the colors is incredible. So interesting the difference between the two days.... good that ‘grandma’ was keeping an eye on the sky as well as on Lily ... glad you took the camera and lens. That’s a beautiful beach ... and a boon to be on a quieter one. Great late summer getaway.

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  35. As long as room in baggage (when flying) is not an issue, I say bring all the equipment you can! So glad you did! Wonderful, enigmatic, stunning shots.

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  36. You got some great shots. There is just something special about a sunset over the beach.

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  37. Great shots indeed ,I especially like the third shot...

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  38. Goodness, the fisheye lens made such a huge difference. Gave so much dimension to those cave shots, but the sky photos are amazing. The color gradients are magnificent. Thanks for your kind comment on my photo today. Have a great weekend.

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  39. Wow, wow, wow! Nothing like watch the day draw to a close...or open up either for that matter. Wonderful series.

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