Barreled

If you look closely, you will see the tip of a surfboard coming out of the barrel. I'm sure this guy was grinning for the next few days...

Finding the Right Key

One lucky surfer finds some shade on a draining section at the Cove.

The Long Walk to the Top

When good, the wave at Rincon is so long that you catch a wave in Santa Barbara and ride it to Ventura... yes, the county line does bisect the point. However, the point I'm trying to make is that it is a VERY long ride. After catching one of these rides, a surfer makes the long walk back to the top of the point to do it all over again! It's one of the places where your legs can get as much of a work out as your arms. 

Big Saturday - Part III

Two shots from "The Queen of the Coast" (aka Rincon) just as the wind had switched and the rain departed. The tide was quite low this evening... and the surf was big (but not huge). This was the probably the best I've ever seen Rincon break. Also, I think a lot of people were scared of the rain (or didn't know that the conditions became good)... and it was relatively uncrowded for a period of time. In my opinion, it's worth getting a little sick for waves like this.

Big Saturday - Part II

Mussel Shoals (aka Little Rincon) doing its best impression of its big sister just up the coast. It was amazing to watch the lines wrap in from around the pier. Some of the bigger sets would break just outside of the pier and steamroll their way down the point (the photos only capture about half of the wave's length). I wish this spot would break like this more than a couple times per year!

Big Saturday - Part I

A few weeks ago, a big storm came through Southern California (here is some video footage of waves crashing into Santa Barbara's pier). It was our first significant rain of the season... and it lasted for a few days. With the storm came strong winds and a plenty of rain. As the rain subsided, I decided to emerge drive down to the beach to take some photos of the waves. I was expecting to see "victory at sea" conditions. However, as soon as I got down to the beach, the winds shifted... and the stormy seas turned into nicely groomed groundswell. These are a few shots of a spot that rarely breaks. I think a few people might recognize the pier in the background.

A Walk on the Beach at Low Tide

Low tide sunsets are always the best. These are a few photos I took after a late afternoon surf session at Rincon. I love all the different shades of color.

Last Bit of Light

Another shot from on top of the cliff at Rincon. This was taken just as the sun had dipped below the horizon. It was low tide... so there was a nice glow along the beach at ocean's edge. 

Warming Cool Tones

Looking north towards the Santa Barbara coastline. I had just exited the surf at Rincon and was perched on the edge of a cliff. I loved the glow and the different shades of color against the horizon.

Central Coast Perspective

Love having this view when surfing on the Central Coast of California. 

The Golden People of the Golden State

I went for an evening surf session at Rincon (aka "The Queen of the Coast") and decided to put my new camera lens (Tamron 18-270mm) to work after I finished surfing. I love the different perspectives that you can get with the increased zoom. These photos definitely support California's nickname as "The Golden State"!

The Glow of the Metropolis

Looking down on the metropolis of Hong Kong as it glows in the night sky. 

Behind Open Windows

A lone man waits in the Star Ferry terminal as the metropolis of Hong Kong towers over him in the background. 

The Metropolis - II

In my previous post, I showed some images of Hong Kong from the rooftops. The images in this post were taken over the same couple of days... but from a different perspective (at sea level). All of the shots were taken while on the Star Ferry or while waiting to board the Star Ferry. Looking back at these images, I'm still shocked to see how crisp/clean the air is. There will be days when you can barely see across the harbour.

The Metropolis - I

During a trip to Asia last year, I had a layover in Hong Kong... and was lucky enough to be there on one of the clearest days of the year! Therefore, I made my way to some of my favorite rooftop bars and took some photos. I don't think I will ever get sick of looking at these views.

Man Mo Temple - Sheung Wan

I was looking through some of my old photo albums and noticed these photos I took while traveling in Hong Kong. I was wandering around the streets in Central and stumbled across a temple on Hollywood Rd - Man Mo Temple. My primary reason for going inside was to escape the dreadful heat. However, once inside, I found a very inviting and peaceful environment. Pausing for a moment under the giant hanging incense coils was a pleasant contrast from the hectic pace of the surrounding area.

SB Winter Sunset

 Enjoying a "winter sunset" in Santa Barbara...