In late May 2023, I made a whirlwind trip up the California coast. One of the stops I was very excited about was Montana de Oro park, a great mix of cypress and oak groves, dramatic coastline, and long hiking paths.

I arrived early in the morning, just after sunrise. Nature seemed to conspire against me. The sky was a featureless gray mass. The fog was very thick, palpable on the skin. Coastal views were not possible, so I worked a little inland among the groves of trees. I sought out moodier scenes, ones with ambiance. And when I could find it, a lone tree in fog is always a good subject.

As the morning pressed on, the fog lifted a little… and nature continued to taunt me. The tide was low and to describe the surf as lackluster is being generous. I walked the meandering path that snaked along the edge of the cliffs. More intimate closeups of the rocks proved interesting, if only for a short time. I was more intrigued with the many interesting rock formations close to shore. If only the tide was a little higher or the surf a little rougher - they would be so much more photogenic.

Long exposures worked well for these scenes. The ocean was not going to serve up drama, so I embraced its calm and weaved it into the photos. Toward the end of my time at Montana de Oro, the surf action picked up a little. Long exposures were still the go-to look for the images, but with the increased wave activity, the ocean took on a smoky, foggy look of its own. In a way, complementing the fog that still held fast.

I look forward to returning to Montana de Oro for another visit. The photographic potential of this location is fantastic. I’ll time my next visit with a higher tide… and hope the fog lets up!