It is a photography paradox to me that many, many, many of my favorite photos were taken on Southern California beaches- when I spent so much of my adult life disliking Southern California (the crowds and the TRAFFIC!). There is something about the serenity of the water and the white sand that appeals to my eye. I remember looking at this trio of ladies with their hats and cover-ups and thinking they looked like my kind of people- so I titled it “The Book Club.”
And here he is again!
And is it just me or is there a giant turtle in the foreground?
I think there are two men in this photo.
When we were walking along the beach at Laguna, we came upon what I think was an engagement shoot. The young woman remained on the beach as the photographer headed past our group for the next set up. I took the opportunity to take a few shots thinking I could use them for some sort of image. I ended up lengthening her dress and moving her arms (she was cold and had her arms loosely folded across her chest) to make a more pleasing image. I’m not sure what she was looking back at, but I am thinking this has potential as the cover of a romantic mystery! 😉
And speaking of romance . . .today is our 47th anniversary! Happy Anniversary to us!
Intentional camera movement (moving and/or wiggling the camera while taking a photo) created this photo which I took from Photoshop into Topaz Studio to add a painterly layer at low opacity.
Newport Beach scene in black and white.
Yes indeed! Another bit of the beach scene from our last trip to Newport-
Newport Beach scene
Here’s another view of Newport Beach at sunset.
Hanging around after the sun went down before heading back to the hotel . . .
We drove to Southern California at the end of last week to visit our son and his wife for the last time before their much anticipated baby boy is born- and went a day early so we could see the ocean again. We walked in the late afternoon and early morning and so enjoyed being on the almost deserted beach!
The morning we left, we took a quick walk on the beach, and I must have taken at least 20 photos of a man and his mother as they came walking toward me. I think he thought I was stalking them, but what I really liked was the composition of the S-curve in the sand (and gull) with the dog walker in the background. A peaceful scene!
It’s no secret that I love abstracts and photos that may not be exact replicas of the scene I am photographing. I started manipulating photos the first year I got my camera (and not always in a good way . . .), and right now I am obsessed with multiple exposures.  Here is one I took of Balboa Pier- all done in camera with minor editing in Lightroom.
The “in camera” techniques are frustrating for this Photoshop lover- but there is something about the unpredictability of the result that makes it fun!
Observed practicing a one-legged standing pose (yes, he did have 2 legs)
We have just returned from a quick trip to Southern California to visit our son. We walked on the beach with him at sunset, and I grabbed this quick shot when I saw silhouettes against the orange sky. I think the fellow on the far right might be taking a selfie!
melinda anderson photography 