Coit Tower

Lately I've found myself doing a lot of touristy stuff around San Francisco. Since I don't technically live in "The City" I guess its okay. Besides, there's a crapload of stuff to see and so much of it I've never explored.

A few weeks ago I decided to visit the famous Coit Tower. According to Wikipedia it was built atop Telegraph Hill in 1933. I've never wanted to visit this attraction before due to its geographic location in the city. Since it's perched atop a hill, its not exactly easy to get to. You can drive to it, but its pretty miserable due to the small parking lot and hoards of people waiting in traffic. Your only other option is to walk up a seemingly endless set of steps originating at the edge of the Presidio. For whatever reason I was feeling extremely ambitious this day and decided to take the steps.

It was definitely touristy, but the extreme workout and $4 elevator ride up to the top were worth it in the end. It was a gorgeous day and I managed to grab some interesting shots at the top. If you've got an hour to kill, add this to your list of things to do on a quiet weekend.

The Cassidys

Way back in May I did a family portrait session for my good friends The Cassidys. You might recognize Cole from a baby shoot I did back in October of 2007. Jeff and I used to work really close together and unfortunately they made the decision to move back to the Lone Star State. They're originally from Texas and now that Cole is getting older he gave Mom and Dad an ultimatum. "Either we move to Texas to be closer to my grandparents, or I'm never learning to walk!" He didn't get the name "Cole-Monster" for nothing. Fortunately as you can tell from these pictures Cole isn't a monster at all...I just like calling him that :)

Jeff went to college at Santa Clara University, so we figured what better way to commemorate the family's last days in California, than to do a shoot at his Alma Mater. The campus has so many gorgeous locations and it made for a great session. As you can tell Cole was having the time of his life. I don't think this little guy stopped smiling the entire time. I suppose his days at Santa Clara were numbered because he's destined to become a Longhorn.

Hope you guys enjoy your photos. Can't wait to come visit.

Check out the slideshow for more pics.
Click HERE for a full size version.

Highway 1 Drive

Gosh...I'm extremely behind on my blogging, but I'm doing my best to catch up. Things were a bit crazy for a time there, but everything seems to be settling down. Its funny how our lives ebb and flow, but nature seems to have its own course for us.

I've been doing a ton of shooting recently (which I'm way behind on) and about a month ago I headed down to Paso to shoot a wedding. The next day I was feeling pretty lazy and I wasn't in any hurry to get home so I decided to take the scenic route....beautiful Highway 1. This route from SLO to Monterey is hands down one of my favorite drives. You pass so many incredible sights and gorgeous coastal vistas. This road has a personality of its own. I'd consider it one of California's greatest attractions. Since I was already armed with my photo gear I decided to take my time on this drive and stop anywhere I could get a chance. The weather this day was a bit on the gloomy side, but I still managed to capture some great images. There's literally 100's of unique places to stop along the route, so I did my best to cover a few.

First stop was the quaint town of Harmony (Population 18).
There's not exactly a ton to see here, but its worth a stop. Be sure to peruse the local pottery and glass shop.

Somehow this beat up red truck manages to maintain it's charm over the years.

On the shores of the beaches near San Simeon the Elephant Seals gather each year to do their "business". Its quite a site to see hundreds of these creatures sprawled out along the coast. I would have loved to get some closer shots, but access to the seals is restricted to ensure their privacy and your protection.

Not far after San Simeon you reach Ragged Point. This is one of the few places you can stop and grab a bite to eat on your drive. They've got a nice sit down restaurant and an outside grill for people in a hurry and on a budget. This place is also one of my favorite coastal vistas. If you're brave enough, there's a shoddy footpath that will take you all the way to the shore. Its a bit of a trek, but worth it if you have the time.


Last but not least, one of my favorite destinations, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur. Unfortunately this area was recently ravaged by a series of forest fires, but they can't take away from the beauty of the famous beach with the 80 foot waterfall that cascades directly onto the shoreline. I'd give my right arm to be able to run along that beach one day...too bad I'd probably crack my skull open in the process. People die every year trying to get down to this piece of paradise. I guess we'll have to settle with looking at it from afar.



I would have loved to cover more spots on this trip, but unfortunately I had to work the next day. In the meantime I'd highly recommend the drive if you've never taken it before. You won't be disappointed.