The Best California Photography Locations

California is a photographer’s dream: a vast land of deserts, beaches, mountains and cities. Places like Yosemite, San Diego, Anaheim, and Los Angeles are full of photography locations where you can take amazing pictures. Unfortunately, we can’t move out there anytime soon (we’re stuck in New Jersey), but our articles on California locations will help you find some locations. If you haven’t already done so, look at “Shark FinCove.” Its a great hot spot for photogaphy!

Sometime shortly, if the world stays in one piece, we will spend a month in California doing photography in all the great California photography locations.

California Photography Hot Spot Locations

Shark Fin Cove, California

Channel Islands National Park

The Salton Sea, California

Thousand Palms Oasis

MORE OF CALIFORNIA’S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY AREAS

THE BIG SUR – CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHY

We traveled to the Big Sur in California in 2000 and 17 but the majority of the road was closed. Big Sur is a remote area accessible only via Highway 1. The easiest and most common way to get there is by car, though some enthusiastic adventurers cycle along the highway. Gas stations are far between, and gas is expensive, so best to have plenty of gas when you enter the Big Sur region.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

We traveled to Yosemite National Park in June 2017. Please be aware that we call this Yosemite National Parking Lot—article to follow. The photography potential here is incredible, but you must be prepared to fight for parking and deal with large crowds. They say to take the bus from stop to stop, but it is not too appealing if you have a lot of photography gear to lug around.

Rare picture to the left. We might run a contest to see who can figure out how many times she’s pictured in the photography magazine. This is one of the few times among the hundreds of pages.

Venture Beach, California fishing pier with dynamic color sunset

VENTURA FISHING PIER

We traveled here in December of 2011. We were on our way to Channel Islands National Park, and we stayed overnight near the boat area and discovered the Ventura Fishing Pier. This pier is the oldest in the state. The pier is located in Ventura Beach, on the Pacific Coast Highway. This is a top spot to photograph the sun setting over the pier.

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK

We traveled to Joshua Tree National Park a few times over the years. The best part about this photography location is the Milky Way skies during the Milky Way season. If you’re a Milky Way photographer, you have to go to Joshua Tree National Park. It should be on your top 10 to-do list.

If you’d like to explore and do a lot of photography, spend an entire day in this park. But save some energy for nighttime Milky Way photography.

California photography showing cactus and mountain snow cupped.

INDIAN CANYON – PALM SPRINGS

This is one of the first locations we photographed in the state, and it is still one of our all-time favorites. This is an absolute must-photograph location if you are in the Palm Springs area. This park offers multiple areas for creative photography for all outdoor enthusiasts, from photographing canyons to taking a dip in the river or photographing waterfalls. We rode horses along the scenic trails, climbed towering boulders, and photographed majestic California fan palm trees.

HOPKINS STATE MARINE RESERVE

One can frequently see harbor seals lounging on the rocky shores and sandy beaches of Monterey Bay. From here, you can photograph the town of Carmel by the Sea, which has the most incredible, unique houses. Pescadero Point on the beach is a nice spot to stop. There is much to photograph in this general area, from Moss Landing down to the Big Sur.

MOSS LANDING – ELKHORN SLOUGH

Elkhorn Slough serves as a crucial temporary resting place for migratory shorebirds. The area is also home to mammals like harbor seals and sea otters. Over 300 different bird species have been documented in the Elkhorn Slough watershed, including the Western Snowy plover which is classified as a federally threatened species. These plovers build their nests and forage in the former salt ponds of the Moss Landing Wildlife Area.

PIGEON POINT LIGHTHOUSE

We photographed this lighthouse during the day and at night time. Located on a cliff along the coast of San Mateo County, just south of Pescadero, stands the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse. It has been directing sailors since its construction in 1872. The region was named after the unfortunate accident of the clipper ship, Carrier Pigeon, which crashed into a nearby rocky ledge 500 feet from the shore due to thick fog. Pair this photography location with Shark Fin Cove and do Milky Way photography at both locations.

MORE GREAT SPOTS TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY

• Alcatraz Island
• Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
• Anza Borrego Desert State Park
• Big Basin Redwoods State Park
• Death Valley National Park
• Glass Beach in Fort Bragg
• Golden Gate Bridge• Griffith Park Observatory
• Hearst Castle in San Simeon
• Hollywood Sign
• Joshua Tree National Park
• La Jolla Cove in San Diego
• Lake Tahoe

• Malibu Creek State Park
• McWay Falls in Big Sur
• Mono Lake
• Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Muir Woods National Monument
• Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur
• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
• Redwood National and State Parks• San Francisco Bay Area
• Santa Monica Pier
• Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
• Yosemite National Park

CALIFORNIA PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS

The deserts of Southern California are a great place to start your photographic journey. From the dry yet colorful landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park to the rugged beauty of Anza Borrego Desert State Park, you can find stunning scenes that captivate any photographer. The nearby Mojave Desert is home to Death Valley National Park, where unique formations such as the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the Badwater Basin salt flats exist.

The mountain ranges offer an equally stunning array of photographic opportunities. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are home to Yosemite National Park, which is known for its towering granite formations, majestic waterfalls and beautiful meadows. Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks boast some of the world’s largest trees, while the San Bernardino Mountains provide breathtaking views of the surrounding desert landscape.

California’s coastline is also full of photographic possibilities. From the spectacular beaches and cliffs of Big Sur to the rugged beauty of Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, there are endless opportunities to capture stunning coastal scenes. The Monterey Bay Aquarium is a popular spot for photographers to capture underwater life. Hearst Castle in San Simeon is a great place to capture the grandeur of the state’s past.

Finally, no visit would be complete without a trip to Los Angeles. This vibrant city has countless photographic opportunities, from the iconic Hollywood sign to the city skyline.

It is a vast and diverse state that offers photographers endless landscapes and geography to explore. From the deserts of the south to the mountains of the north, there is something to photograph for everyone.

More Places to Do Photography