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. Our articles on California photography locations will help you find some spots. 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.
These are all of our images. We traveled to each of these locations but have not written the full article yet.
THE BIG SUR – CALIFORNIA
We traveled to Big Sur in California, but the majority of the road was closed, so we went back. The 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 it’s best to have plenty of gas when you enter the Big Sur region.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
We traveled to Yosemite National Park. We named it Yosemite National Parking Lot—article to follow. The 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 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 magazine. This is one of the few times among the hundreds of pages.
RARE SPOTTING ALERT: Pam is actually in a picture instead of taking one.
We renamed all Pam’s SD card folders: “USE ME,” “NO, USE ME,” and “ABSOLUTELY NOT THIS ONE.”😂📸
VENTURA FISHING PIER
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. It is located in Ventura Beach, on the Pacific Coast Highway. This is a top spot to photograph the sunset over the pier. Definitely. If you’re here, you must go to the Channel Islands.
JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK
We traveled to Joshua Tree National Park a few times over the years and keep going back. The best part about this location is the Milky Way skies during the Milky Way season. You must go to Joshua Tree National Park as a Milky Way photographer. 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 Milky Way images.
Indian Canyon was one of the first locations we explored in California, and it has remained a favorite ever since so we just keep going back. Located just outside Palm Springs, it offers a blend of desert landscapes and deep Native American heritage. The towering canyon walls, shaded oases, and vibrant plant life make it an unforgettable spot. If you’re visiting Palm Springs, this is a location you should definitely experience. The peaceful ambiance creates a unique environment that invites you to immerse yourself fully in the landscape.
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 lovely spot to stop. There is much to do in this general area, from Moss Landing down to the Big Sur.
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.
We photographed this lighthouse during the day and at night. 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 location with Shark Fin Cove and do Milky Way shots.
PLEASE SHARE
At my own expense, I offer all of this to you: a humble tribute to Mother Gaia. It is my hope that you will spread my art and message to others, uplifting and inspiring their souls.
May my works guide photographers, illuminating their path toward creating dynamic and impactful images that showcase the raw beauty and essence of life in all its transcendent glory. —Pamela Goodyer
• 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
The deserts of Southern California are a great place to start your 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 scenes that captivate anyone. 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 wide array of 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 great views of the surrounding desert landscape.
