Shark Fin Cove, California Photography Location

  • Shark Fin Cove

    A dynamic photography hot spot.

    g 800 Shark Fin Cove - California Photography Hot Spot

SHARK FIN COVE, DAVENPORT, CALIFORNIA

This town lies about 9 miles north of Santa Cruz, along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, on Highway 1. Originally located on the banks of the San Vicente Creek, the town expanded to the north during the twentieth century. Shark Fin Cove is a hidden location near our favorite hotel and restaurant in the area—the Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn.

The town is currently noted for its spectacular cliffs and bluffs above the Pacific, beaches between the cliffs, surfing opportunities, the shuttered Cemex cement plant (closed in January 2010), and the former headquarters of Odwalla, a company that produces fruit juices.

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We don’t go anywhere without our Think Tank Camera Bags. Special offer!

IT’S NOT AN EASY HIKE

To get here, leave the Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn (grab some organic coffee here), leave the location, and make a left while facing the ocean. You can go down until you see a parking lot on the right-hand side. There is no sign, but this is where you park to hike down to Shark Fin Cove. It’s not an easy hike, so remember that before you go. It’s under minutes, but it is very steep, there are no handrails, and it may be slippery if it is wet.

SHARK FIN COVE

Photography Hot Spot Location

You are here looking for a breathtaking photography location in California. Look no further than Shark Fin Cove. This scenic spot is perfect for capturing dramatic shots of the Pacific Coast. Read on to learn more about this popular photography destination.

ABOUT SHARK FIN COVE

Shark Fin Cove is a beautiful photography location in California that offers stunning ocean views. The cove is home to various marine life, including sharks, incredible rock formations, and a dark sky location, making it a popular spot for photographers.

Located along the rugged coastline, Shark Fin Cove lies 1.5 miles south of Davenport and 10 miles north of the vibrant city of Santa Cruz.

PHOTOGRAPHING SHARK FIN COVE

Shark Fin Cove is a populardestination located in California. The cove is known for its dramatic cliffs, crashing waves, and resident sharks. Here are some tips for photographing Shark Fin Cove:

1. Use a wide-angle lens with a neutral density filter to get milky water long exposure shots.

2. Shoot sunset and Milky Way photography here too.

3. Shoot in RAW. This will give you the most flexibility when editing later on.

4. Wander around with your camera, exploring all the different areas around Shark Fin Cove.

SHARK FIN OVERLOOK

At Shark Fin Cove Overlook, there is a stunning view of the beach and the iconic Shark Fin Rock. For those who want to capture different perspectives of this natural wonder, take the trail that winds around the top of the cliffs. This area offers plenty of photo opportunities, with varying viewpoints, to capture the beauty of the cove and its surroundings. Take a short walk along the cliffs, soaking in the breathtaking scenery before looping back to your starting point. 

SHARK FIN ROCK

Aptly named Shark Fin Rock, it resembled the sharp dorsal fin of a great white shark, adding an element of danger to the otherwise peaceful beach. This geological wonder was a favorite among visitors.

SUNSET PHOTOGRAPHY

With its stunning sunset views and unique rock formations, Shark Fin Cove is a must-visit spot for any picture-taking enthusiast. The golden hour lighting and clear skies make it the perfect location to capture breathtaking images. Even if you’re not behind the lens, the cove still offers a romantic and picturesque setting to watch the sunset. It’s no wonder this hidden gem is one of Santa Cruz County’s best-kept secrets for sunset viewing.

SEA CAVE

A secret sea cave lies on the left side of the beach, hidden amongst the rugged cliffs. Its walls are carved and smoothed by centuries of relentless waves, creating an eerie yet alluring entrance. But beware, for its depths can be treacherous. One can safely navigate its slippery floors and dark chambers during low tide. Even then, unexpected sneaker waves can surge without warning, making each step a calculated risk.

Yet, even from a distance, the sea cave offers breathtaking views. The vibrant blue hues of the ocean peek through its cavernous mouth, beckoning to those brave enough to venture inside. The salty air dances on your skin as you stand at its threshold, teasing you with the mysteries that await within.

WHERE TO EAT AND STAY

Within a mile of Shark Fin Cove – Davenport Road House Reservations and Information.  It’s a fabulous place to eat, drink, and stay. We Highly Recommend it! This is one of our favorite places of the year. (the year we were there :) More info below.

MILKY WAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Shark Fin Cove is one of the best places in California to photograph the Milky Way. With its clear skies and lack of light pollution, this coastal location offers an ideal setting.  Although we were only here for one night on our trip, fog rolled in, and we couldn’t see the Milky Way, so we didn’t have many images to share with you.

Bring a tall tripod to get over the plants so your camera can see the cove and the Milky Way.

WHEN TO PHOTOGRAPH

Shark Fin Cove is a beautiful location in California. The cove is also a popular spot for sunset photography, so arrive early to get the best light. And, of course, from March to October, for Milky Way Photography. But remember, in March, April, and May, the hours are early morning to see the Milky Way.

HOW TO GET THERE

This excellent location is right along Route One between Davenport and Santa Cruz. It’s only five minutes from Davenport. Keep a good lookout for a small parking lot on the side of the road. There are no signs.

NEARBY PHOTOGRAPHY

You can compare this location to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

Perched high above the tumultuous ocean waves, Pigeon Point Lighthouse offers a surreal backdrop for stargazing and astrophotography. The night skies here lack artificial lights and pollution that typically obscure views, rendering the Milky Way in vivid detail.

You can photograph it from a distance, like in this image, or you can get closer to take a picture of it. We suggest you photograph it during the daytime, as well as to get an idea of how you would like to compose your shot at nighttime to make it easier.

Pigeon point lighthouse with Milky Way blurring above it in the sky.
USE camera information photography

PHOTOGRAPHY INFORMATION SUMMARY

It is a steep climb to get to the bottom. You should wear good hiking boots and be prepared. It takes work to get to the bottom.

Lens: Generally, this area is a wide-angle lens location and a Milky Way location.

Gear List at a Glance: Circular polarizing filter, neutral density filters, tripod, shutter release, wide-angle, and zoom lens. CPL filters will help you to create dynamic images. They will make your white puffy clouds whiter, take the silver glare off the waters, and replace it with a beautiful reflection. You have moving waters at the location, so you will want to have your neutral density filters with you to get the long exposure and milky water effect. It is an excellent spot for a ten-stop ND filter. Please look at our ND filter page for more details if you need additional information.

Think Tank Camera Bags

The only bag we use!

think tank camera bags

SURVIVAL FOOD

survival food and gear with an alien guy with food buckets

CAMERA SETTINGS FOR MILKY WAY

ISO:

Start with ISO 1600 – 3200. This is a common starting point, and you will adjust from here.

APERTURE:

Depth of field isn’t critical on these shots, but letting light into the camera is; therefore, you should shoot wide open unless you are trying to get other things in focus.

SHUTTER SPEED:

Now that the ISO and aperture are set in manual mode, adjust your shutter speed until your meter reads 0. Take a test shot and adjust from there. Remember, the Earth is rotating. If you leave the shutter open for too long, you’ll see star trails that won’t make for a crisp image. You can create star trails specifically, but that’s not what we’re going for here, since we started with Milky Way photography. We want crisp, non-star-trail images when doing this.

Here is the formula to avoid star trails— 500 rule – Divide 500 by the focal length of your lens. So, if you have a 24mm lens on a full-frame camera, you will set your shutter speed to 20 sec. (500/24 = 20.83). If you’re using a crop sensor camera, first calculate the focal length of the crop sensor.

WHITE BALANCE:

In live view mode, you can adjust your white balance settings and see how they look. You can also shoot in shade or cloud mode as a standard setting and change things later when editing.

area information - photography

AREA INFORMATION:

Entrance Fees: There are no entrance fees.

  • Do not attempt to swim or surf at this beach. The powerful currents, lack of lifeguards, and sudden waves make it extremely dangerous for water activities.
  • There are no amenities available at the beach. Restroom and water access are not provided at this location.
  • There is no food or water at this location, so bring your snacks and water.
GOOD CAMPING

CAMPING

Place your ad here for one year. 

For our Area Information, Hotel,

and Restaurant sections.

Billed at $99 per year.

Details 

T-shirts for sale, milky way
FOOD & DINING

RESTAURANTS

We LOVE this place. It offers many healthy meal options, and the menu features icons for vegetarian and vegan dishes. It also provides organic foods!! We promote healthy living, so this is one of our top places to eat.

Davenport Roadhouse Inn—See Below. It is a restaurant and a hotel. We enjoyed eating here because we love healthy, organic food.

The best hotels while doing photography

We foud it to be the best place with the best rates and great service!

HOTELS

Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant and Inn

Convenient Location:  Located just 10 minutes from Santa Cruz, among organic farms, boutique vineyards, and state beaches and hiking trails, is the Davenport Roadhouse Restaurant & Inn.  Our Restaurant features produce from neighboring organic farms, a full bar, and outstanding wines.  Our Inn features ocean views, beds made to our specifications, locally made soaps and lotions, and cashmere-like robes made of soy and bamboo fibers. In a hurry? Visit the Café/Take Out bar, which serves locally roasted coffees, custom teas, and delicious sweet or savory baked goods made daily.

WEATHER

 Area Weather: Click here to see the weather in Shark Fin Cove.

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