I’ve been doing photography for quite a number of years, since 2015 actually (I know, you’d think I’d be better by now!), and I don’t have a single image of the ocean in my portfolio. Living in the landlocked province of Saskatchewan, while frequently visiting the landlocked Canadian Rockies, leaves pretty much zero opportunity to photograph the ocean. I’ve seen lots of it, just never with a camera in hand.
So when we planned a trip down the US West Coast in the summer of 2026, I was looking forward to losing my ocean photography virginity.
Our first stop was Natural Bridges in southern Oregon. It’s a simple roadside stop in an absolutely stunning location. I had the camera ready to go, but I wasn’t aware before visiting that the image I wanted from that location was actually off-trail and could be quite dangerous. A quick Google search later confirmed that several people had died there while pursuing the perfect Instagram shot, so I decided to pass on my first opportunity for an “ocean vista” photograph. The next stop was the Redwoods. Close to the ocean, yes, but my photography focus was obviously on the gigantic trees and the dramatic light and conditions.
Eventually, we made it down to Carmel-by-the-Sea, our destination for the road trip and a chance to visit family. We spent a couple of days there without really experiencing the ocean until we decided to take a drive down the coast towards Big Sur. Conditions were cold and overcast, and I wasn’t really expecting to create anything meaningful. I was just out for a pleasant drive. We made it just past Bixby Bridge before deciding to turn around and head home.
As we were turning around, I spotted this scene and immediately jumped out of the vehicle. I loved its simplicity and the way the light was interacting with the ocean. The marine layer softened the horizon, giving the scene an almost ethereal quality. And just like that, after all these years, I finally had my first official “ocean” image on the website.
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