Happy Fall! Now that we have officially entered the autumn season, it’s probably time to start posting my favorite fall foliage images. When I sat down to write this today, however, I found myself going for the most quintessentially summer image I could drum up, and what is more in line with summer than a roller coaster and Ferris wheel on the California coast? I guess I’m not ready to let go of summer yet!
I shot this image on a morning stroll on Santa Monica Pier. While it’s hard to pass up the glitzy lights and of the hubbub of activity of the pier at night, the morning is my favorite time of day to visit. Prior to the opening of the gift shops, restaurants, arcades, and amusement park rides, the pier is eerily quiet. Fisherman can be seen dotted along the pier’s edge, a couple sits quietly on a bench overlooking the beach and coastline as it fades away into the distance, and sea gulls fly smoothly overhead as people slowly arrive to awaken the pier and transition it from its night-time slumber into the new day. Without all of the commotion, it’s possible to really appreciate the nostalgia of the pier and notice details that could easily be overlooked with large crowds wandering around.
Santa Monica is, at its core, a fun place so I really wanted to create a fun image. As I walked slowly down the pier, camera in hand, I was immediately struck by the bright red and orange roller coaster track against the crisp blue sky. With the help of my trusty polarizing filter (by far my favorite photographic tool), I was able to capitalize on the beautiful shade of blue. I shot the image at an angle, something I don’t often do, in an effort to make the eye swirl around the frame from the curvy lines of the roller coaster track to the round Ferris wheel with its angled spokes and back again. When I look at this image, I am immediately transported to the carefree Santa Monica Pier and can feel the California sun and ocean breeze hit my face. Even though the pier is definitely entertaining when it is in full swing, I love visiting in the early hours when everything is quiet and still (or as quiet as things can be in LA!) and would highly recommend that you do the same. Thanks for reading!
Camera: Nikon d610 – Aperture: f/6.3 – Shutter Speed: 1/160 – ISO: 200
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