The hours before sunrise were cold and wet. The rain was mild, but never let up. Moments before sunrise there was a break in the rain. I climbed down the rocks to capture a makeshift waterfall fed by the incoming tide and the soothing colors of morning.

I waited months for these conditions. Low tide, partly cloudy skies, and on a night I could get to Sunset Cliffs with plenty of time to setup. I love these geometric shapes etched into the rock and how the tide pools look like eyes.

The soft blues and oranges of the afternoon sun on the San Diego shores just north of Scripps Pier.

My last night in Lagos Portugal. I hiked all through the hills around the grottos of the Ponte da Piedade. Evening set in. As I worked my way back up the to the top of the point, the moon peeked through the clouds, shimmering on the ocean. It was time for one more photo.

Don't let its name deter you. Sunset Cliffs in San Diego is an awesome place to watch a sunrise.

A gentle surf caresses the shallows at Praia de Camilo in Lagos, Portugal.

Once the sun is down in La Jolla, the surfers need to head in. It can be rough navigating around the rocks, especially when the surf is rising. After this shoot, one of the guys had a hard time getting safely to shore... with a banged up knee to show for it.

A forecast for rain didn't discourage me and my workshop from heading to Torrey Pines early Sunday monring. This is why.

I hiked out to Lands End to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge. Setup on Eagle Peak, I was continually drawn to the calm blues of Mile Rock Beach to the north. I want to return to this spot and get down at sea level for another shoot. This is a beautiful spot.

Some beaches are littered with kelp and seaweed. Isolate one, make it your foreground subject, and revel in the simplicity of the composition.

A glorious sunrise at Torrey Pines State Beach. This is what it looks like when it all comes together.

A golden sunset and steady surf at Windansea Beach in La Jolla. I never get tired of this patch of coast.

A gentle sunset along the coast of Davenport, California.

I have been to Natural Bridges in Santa Cruz, California exactly once. Does it get any better than this?

Low tide reveals an almost alien landscape. Little sea creatures nestle into these nooks and crannies along the San Diego's coastline.

At Swami's Beach in Encinitas, there is a large rock along the shore. Doesn't it look like a sea monster that crawled out of the surf to rest its head in a shallow pool?

High tide at Windansea Beach in La Jolla brings a temporary display of waterfalls cascading down the rocks.

Twilight begins along the rocky shores of La Jolla, California.

The sun makes a brief appearance on an ominously cloudy evening in La Jolla.

I'd finished up a early morning shoot and was packing up to leave. Then, a burst of pink scattered across the sky. I perched on the cliffside and snatched this shot.

The waters around Bird Rock turn to glass at low tide. Unusual streaking clouds reflected in the calm waters, pointing the way to the sunset.

The clouds stream out toward the horizon, chasing the sun. Another beautiful sunset in La Jolla, California.

A lone swimmer amid the cliffs, rocks and surf of Santa Cruz's beaches.

The beaches around Scripps Pier are excellent at low tide. Long stretches of beach, tide pools, and on a cloudy day... reflections!

Even gray days are beautiful in their own way. The rippling overlay of clouds reminds me of oil paintings.

The ocean's swirling patterns and the sky's brilliant palette are briefly joined by the setting sun. Another captivating evening in La Jolla, California.

A picture perfect ending to the day along La Jolla Shores, California.

The base of Bird Rock rises from the ocean floor at low tide on a cloudy, ominous evening.

The sky erupted in pinks and oranges moments before the sun sunk below the horizon in Ocean Beach.

The deep sandy beaches north of Scripps Pier in San Diego reflect puffy clouds at low tide.

A gentle tide rolls in on a cloudy winter evening in La Jolla, California.

Oh, to live in one of the homes overlooking Windansea Beach. I could get used to seeing this day after day.

The sun hid behind this lone patch of clouds until just before sunset. Then, the cliffs were lit up, the clouds got color... for a brief moment all was aligned on the beach.