Driving Up the Coast of California (3 of 6)

Driving Up the Coast (3 of 6)

Elephant Seal Vista Point

The elephant seals were just relaxing by the surf when we passed through.

As we continued up the coast, thru Cambria toward Big Sur, we had a marine layer of fog that didn't seem to give way to the sun all day. This lends a certain mood to the scenery and has the effect of a "fade out" in photos which adds interest to the composition.

The rugged coast line, in this weather, inspires one to experiment with contrasts of detailed texture against hazy, unfocused areas and to include muted, subtle tones in one's color palette.

Taking a break to soak in natural wonders can be as refreshing for our work as it is for our well-being.

We traveled along long stretches road where you could barely discern the water's edge. It turns out, this is common for summer and winter months; the breath-taking views emerge in spring and fall. (Guess my research could have been more thorough.) Several points of interest were skipped along the way. If truth be told, it was probably a blessing for the family- I would have wanted to stop far more for pictures, if the scenery had been less obstructed. Anyway, it's a good reason to make a second trip! 

Eventually, we made our way to Carmel-by -the-Sea, where we saw a hint of blue in the sky, and another mission.

Carmel Mission Basilica, has a very different feeling than the Mission in San Luis Obispo. Their architecture, grounds and aesthetic reflect their surroundings and are as unique as their communities.