Want to fill your feed with original imagery? Point your lens to the Coastside.
Don’t get suckered by the gourds.
Seriously. There is so, SO much more.
Sure, every autumn Half Moon Bay takes on the role of quaint seasonal destination with pumpkin patches & hay mazes, not to mention a world-famous pumpkin weigh-off (where the winner these days typically clocks in at over 2000 pounds).
Yes, it is all very charming, and the pumpkin pancakes at the big culminating fall festival are indeed well worth the trip. But take the orange-tinged blinders off, ’cause photographically speaking, the Coastside is a visual bonanza well beyond its pigeonholed pumpkin-spiced identity.
If you’re interested in photography beyond selfies and food porn, the seaside run south from Devil’s Slide to Davenport is where it’s at in the Bay Area.
Think about it, you have miles of largely undeveloped coastline hemmed in by redwood forests in the hills, as well as all sorts of expansive open space preserves. There is Fitzgerald Marine Reserve & the Mavericks big wave break to the north as well as Año Nuevo & Waddell Beach wind surfing to the south. Factor in pelicans, herons, bobcats, mountain lions, wild turkeys, elephant seals, harbor seals, anemones and much more. The natural beauty is world class and just a half tank of gas away.
On top of that, the region’s blue-collar industries of agriculture and fishing are inherently photo worthy (particularly compared to the scooter-driven programming world that so much of the Bay has succumbed to). It’s real deal, hands-dirty, salt-of-the-earth work, and it’s uniquely photogenic. (And if you don’t believe it, head to Pillar Point Harbor during the next crab harvest.)
So lay off the millionth picture of the Golden Gate Bridge (and the many many other shot-to-death Instagram subjects), pack your camera and take the drive. You still have a few good months before the fog takes over.
From 2011 to 2014, Charles Russo was the staff photographer for the Half Moon Bay Review, the Coastside’s 121 year-old newspaper. Many of these images original appeared in the Review during that time period.
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