DAY 1  |  SAN FRANCISCO
From your early afternoon flight into San Francisco airport we will head to our overnight accommodations close to the Golden Gate Park and the Pacific Ocean. We’ll then venture back out mid to late afternoon for photographic subjects including surfers, Golden Gate Bridge, Baker Beach and Alamo Square at twilight . . . the classic Victorian row house and city skyline composition.
SAN FRANCISCO, 1 night

DAYS 2 and 3  |  MONTEREY PENINSULA
If you’re up to it, first light on the Golden Gate bridge this morning. Following breakfast, some more city features in the form of cable cars and the infamous zigzag of Lombard Street. We’ll follow the San Mateo coast road to Santa Cruz, shooting as we go, and head for the picturesque lighthouse there and more. We’ll then move on to our Pacific Grove accommodations and head to rugged Point Pinos for our first Pacific Ocean sunset.
On day 3 we’ll work both Fisherman and Municipal wharves, and additional highlights throughout the day will be Cannery Row, Lover’s Point, Point Pinos, Seventeen Mile Drive, Carmel Mission, Sea Lions, Cormorants and a Carmel Beach sunset.
PACIFIC GROVE, 2 nights

DAY 4  |  To CAMBRIA via the BIG SUR
Following the coast southwards today you’ll find that the Point Lobos State Reserve has plenty of photographic potential to explore prior to our ‘cruising’ of the Big Sur coastline. We’ll have the remainder of the day to compose both long and wide angle classics, and we’ll find ourselves in Cambria for the night.
CAMBRIA, 1 night

DAYS 5, 6 and 7  |  DEATH VALLEY NP
Cambria is a town that takes pride in it’s stately Pines and British connections, so we’ll delve into each, and look for Sea Otters and Sea Lions on the shoreline before moving down to Morro Bay to frame the sea stack there. Then inland through the Temblor Range to Bakersfield, where just beyond, we’ll head into the Walker Canyon and Pass for various stops including Isabella Lake. We’ll then traverse pass and desert on our way to Death Valley National Monument, where the warm late light will get us in the right frame of mind for our photography there.
On days 6 and 7 we’ll rise early for first light on the colorful dunes and hope that the record temperature of 134°f is just a July phenomenon! It is also the lowest point in the lower 48 States at 282 feet below sea level.
FURNACE CREEK, 3 nights

DAYS 8 and 9  |  SEQUOIA NP
We’ll retread some of our steps of day 6 as we return west and weave our way through lesser traveled roads of Tulare County. There will be plenty to shoot as we climb sharply to almost 6,000 feet for our 2 night stay in Sequoia National Park.
On day 10 the early light will again be worth pursuing, and following breakfast a trip to Moro Rock will be a memorable excursion. An afternoon amble on the Crescent Meadow Trail will yield images of Sequoia trees and bark, fungi, ferns and more.
SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARK, 2 nights