Top Beach Spots & Events to Photograph in San Diego

Cabrillo Tidal Pools / Point Loma

Mission Beach by Belmont Park

10 Great Beach Area Spots
in San Diego For Photos


Photography has become an extremely popular past time for many Americans and San Diegans.
The cost of digital camera pricing has gone way down in past years and many people now have become amateur photographersand enjoy taking pictures. (and the low cost of developing them.)
San Diego is filled with beautiful beaches and great places to bring a camera and take pictures. If you are an amatuer photographer and enjoy going out and taking pictures by the beach and coastline, you will want to know where some of the best spots are for this summer.
Sean Callahan, photographer from SoCal Beaches Magazine, picks the top 10 places to bring your camera and visit in San Diego for summer 2007 below.


Here are his top picks for great pictures by the beaches in San Diego.




1. Cabrillo National Monument Point Loma
The most scenic place for photos in San Diego and Southern California is Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma.This area encompasses amazing views of downtown San Diego, San Diego Bay in addition to some of the best coastal sceneryand tidal pools in the area. Cabrillo offers a wide range of hiking trailsand historic landmarks (like the first San Diego lighthouse)that makes it a one of a kind location. It is also one of the only coastal areas that does not have private development and has a multitudeof shots that can be taken from scenic shots of downtown to historic buildings and tidal pools at low tide. Check the tidal schedules for best times to visit.2. The Ocean Beach PierThe Ocean Beach Pier in Ocean Beach is another great spot to take pictures. If you have a camera with a short zoom (3-1 is most common) then being close to birds and surfers will give you some great opportunities to get close. The Ocean Beach Pierhas a great surf break right next to the pier and it is a common home to resting pelicans who also dive for fish right off the sides of the pier.
Find a Hotel or Motel in Ocean Beach click hereor call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a reservation expert







3. Encinitas Meditation Gardens
The Encinitas Meditation Gardens in Encinitas offer a wide variety of subjects to shoot including unique plants and shrubbery and also coy ponds and scenic coastal views 150 feet about the ocean. When you visit the meditation gardensmake sure you walk next door to Swami's Surf Park and catch some of the best local surfers at one of the most popular surf breaks in the area






4. Visit Mission Beach / Mission Bay
Mission Beach and Mission Bay have the most beautiful beaches and parks in the world. Enjoy a host of places and subjects to shoot including beautiful parks and palm trees in Belmont Park or aerial shots from the top of The Giant Dipper Roller Coaster. Other great spots and popular subjects include shots at The Wave Houseon a 10 foot man made wave machine and along the boardwalk areas. If you get to the beach early there is a good chance you will also see dolphins swimming just off shore...
Find a hotel in Mission Beach and/or Mission Bay click here
or call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a reservation expert



5. The Childrens Pool, La Jolla
This spot along the La Jolla coastline draws an estimated 80,000 visitors per month who come to walk along the beautiful coastal cliffs and beach that surround this area. Well known for having harbor seals and also some of the most scenic walking trails in San Diego. Make sure you walk over to La Jolla Coveand Shell Beach right next door when you are done visiting the seals.
Find an Oceanfront Hotel in La Jolla click hereor call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a La Jolla area hotel expert







6. The Sea Shell Shop / Cave Store in La Jolla
For $4.00 adults can take a walk 120 steps down to La Jolla Cove from the old Shell Shop right above La Jolla Cove. The cave was dug out and the because of a unique opening at the mouth was named "Sunny Jim Cave" after a World War1 cartoon character. This place is loaded with history and great shots from the bottom and along some of the stairs going up and down. Right out front is "Bird Rock" and also a great place to take pictures of Pelicans.
Find Hotels, Motels and Oceanfront Places to Stay in La Jolla click here
or call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a local area hotel expert



7. Mornings and Sunsets on The Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach
This spot is great for photos in the morning and also in the vening at sunset. In the mornings you can see and photograph schools of dolphins if you are a little lucky and at nigth it is one of the best places to watch a beautiful sunset. Built in 1925 and located in the center of Pacific Beach, it is also a great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner when you are done taking photos.
Find a hotel or motel on the beach in Pacific Beach click here
or call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a reservation expert




8. The Imperial Beach Sand Castle Contest- Imperial Beach July 27, 28 & 29 2007
This is a one day opportunity to catch some of the best sandcastle sculptorsin the world. With the sandcastles being done by noon there is only 4 hours to take photos before the tides restore the beach to being flat. This is the largest event for amatuer photographers in Southern California and the largest sandcastle competition in the country. Sunday is the day of the sand castle building...
Find a hotel in Imperial Beach click here or call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a local area expert and book by phone


9. CoronadoCoronado is another great place to bring your camera. You have the Coronado Ferry that docks on one side of the island with great shots of downtown San Diego. On the other side of the island you to have the Hotel Del Coronado with its grand architecture and views and also the Silver Strand State Beach, rated one of the top 10 beaches in the USA with miles of beach and coatline. Both spots in Coronado are worthy of getting some great shots.
Click Here to Find a Coronado Area Hotel
or call 1-800-679-7707 and speak to a Hotel Del and Coronado area
hotel expert



10. See The Beaches by Helicopter
One of the best and funnest way to see San Diego's coastal views and take photos is by helicopter. Many helicopter companies are willing to swimg around both sides of a beach if you decide to split the cost and rent a ride with a friend or two. Make sure you check out Mission Beach and Mission Bay and try to book a helicopter at least 72 hours in advance.
Weekends and special events like the Mission Bay Thunderboat Races are also popular times to rent a helicopter so make sure you book as far in advance as possible.

11. One bonus spot: Rosarito Beach Mexico
If you are looking for another great place for photos check out Rosarito Mexico.You have Calafia and one of the oldest Missions on the west coast in addition to Fox Studios.Great shots can also be taken horseback riding and of some of the very unique architecture and people.Rosarito also has some great tidal pools to the very north and south if you walk the beaches during low tide
These are 10 great places for amatuer photographers to visit this summer and the best part is that most of these places are free or cost very little to visit.
Enjoy these spots and add some great and memorable to your photo collections!







Sean
http://www.socalbeachmag.net/

San Diego, Orange County & Los Angeles Beach Hotels
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Find a Hotel, Motel or Resort To Stay at in San Diego, Orange County or Los Angeles Area Beaches click here Or Call 1-800-679-7707 to speak to a reservation expert




Get ready for some great photos from some of these upcoming beach events....

"Covering The Beaches of Southern California"

welcome to my blog..

this blog is an ongoing journal of my photos and experiences covering
the beaches of Southern California.

i love the beach...the beaches of Southern California also are my favorites since they have such a wide variety of vibes and also sights and things to do. All the beaches of California are super nice but for me i try to cover the ones from Malibu to Rosarito Mexico since they are the ones that i spend the most time at.....

i actually live in Mission Beach and think it is by far the BEST BEACH on the planet for a host of reasons....mainly because it is located on a 3 1/2 mile strip of sand with Mission Bay on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.

This gives it double the amount of boardwalk and beach space that most areas have plus Mission Bay is over 4,000 acres of park and wetlands that are used for boating, jetskiiing, biking etc....

Most beach locations you visit anywhere else in Southern California and once you leave the beach and walk one block inland you are in the concrete jungle with very little park or recreatuion areas left...

I like to shoot just about everything and anything and am equally happy shooting trees or flowers as i am shooting classic cars and swimsuit models.....it is all part of the Southern California beach life and therefore i treat it all the same because every part of it helps showcase the natural beauty of the area.....

being that i moved out here from Minnesota about 20 years ago i still remember the first time i crossed over the Mission Bay Bridge into Mission Beach....there was more color than my eyes had every absorbed in every direction.....Mission Bay was a clear blue with about 50+ sails and sailboats in the water surrounded by the greenest grass and most majestic palm trees you have ever seen.....mixed all around that was a beachfront roller coaster rising up about 6 stories high and a host of shops, bikers, rollerbladers, kids and happy smiling faces.......it was an amazing sight and still is everytime i come home in that direction .....as a photographer i learn to see things in a way where i am always grateful....i love shooting visitors on the beach because fo the look of euphoria as their feet touch the water etc....it is all good and a great reminder that i live in a spot where many people plan a year out just to stay a week........Mission Beach is awesome and i am super grateful to have been here as long as i have.......

anyway there is never a dull moment when you live and cover the beaches for a hobby and living.........

there are some upcoming events that i will say you will want to bookmark.....

first on Saturday July 28th there is a huge party and beach bash at The Wave House in Mission Beach...the best part is that Promo Models Inc. is hosting the party and also providing a swimsuit contest that will send 1o girls to Mexico for an all expense paid, in addition to a modeling contract worth up to $40,000 and a lot of free gear including shirts, hats etc..from other Bikini Event sponsors. SoCal Beaches Magazine is one of the sponsors of the events and I will be there with my incredibly wonderful girlfriend Karin to enjoy the fun and get some good shots to post on our www.missionbeachonline.com website and www.socalbeachmag.net website.

on Saturday July 29th there will be The Imperial Beach Sand Castle contest. This is one of my 2 favorite events to cover at the beach......there will be over 40 teams competing in pro and amatuer divisions making sandcastles and at Noon the judging begins and the sandcastles are showcased for about 4 hours before the high tide comes and restores the beach to a flat place.

over 50,000 people attend this event and the reason it is by far one of my favorites is because
1. it is ON THE BEACH and is fun for kids, a date, families, photographers etc...
2. there is great music and food along with a street fair
3. Imperial Beach is an awesome place and this event always gets me down there to appreciate all the work that has been done to upgrade this area and clean it up a bit

the other must attend event every summer is The AVP pro beach volleyball tour...here is a group of people who really get it when it comes to creating an action packed fun event that takes place on the sand and provides something for everyone....

first of all the AVP is loaded with some of the most beautful female athletes on the planet so for the male population there is complete happiness and awe just standing and watching but add in some incredible talented digs, spikes and diving bodies and you have a "man paradise".

the mens teams make the women happy, plus these guys are some serious players smashing spikes at nearly 70 mph to the opposing player on the other side of the net....they play tough and often do a lot of yelling and screaming with traveling fan bases that like to "rib" or tease other players and really add some intrigue and excitement to the game.

now add in some great live music, some super fun in between game events between fans in the main court area, the entertainment and comedy from announcer Chris "Geeter" McGee anouncing player like Phil Dalhausser as "The Thin Beast" and you are ready to join the AVP cult...which basically means if they are playing anywhere close in Southern California i will be there and you will too because the action and fun is contagious and the volleys and plays these athletes make are unbelieveable.........i am blogging now while watching the finals on NBC...thanks NBC for standing up and putting this event on LIVE TV....i am so sick of seeing poker or fishing when there are real sports out there with athletes showing physical skills and not "mental" ones....

WOW Phil Dalhausser is right now doing a live interview in between matches for NBC while i am typing this...the AVP also makes the athletes super accessible so little kids can easily get autographs and the sponsors provide tons of free give-aways for kids so they can walk home with a nice grab bag of goodies...

The AVP caters it's enviroment for kids and they do an awesome job every year.....

Leonard Armato is the AVP CEO and he has done an amazing job creating momentum and a fast growing fan base........his wife by the way is the incredible Holly McPeak who is the 2nd all time winningest women player, with 72 tournament wins, and one of the biggest role models to ever hit the beach or represent beach volleyball...also throw in that she is in her early 40's (like me) and looks amazing, is in great shape and is a great Mom having fun and interacting with her step sons Anthony and Elio.

The AVP is all class, and it is an event that I always mark on the calendar and attend.......due to an intensive 2 day conference i had to attend this weekend i could not get to Long Beach but I will be in Manhattan Beach when the AVP wraps up their 2007 Southern California tour locations for 2007 on August 9th thru 12th.

If you like the beach, you will love The AVP!

Stay tuned for more fun this summer at the beach and check out my latest posts and links on our www.myspace.com/socalbeachesmagazine and also http://www.socalbeachmag.net/ websites

see you at the beach!