California's Central Coast
07, 08, 09 & 10 June 2023
How I Created These Pictures
Introduction
I made these photos on a trip I helped lead with Dave Wyman to California's Central Coast.
This was a real photo trip where we were outside from well before dawn until long after dark, shooting all day, every day. This wasn't a nerd-a-thon locked in a motel room fiddling on computers; we were outside hiking around the whole time.
Viewing top
Everyone's screens, from iPhones held vertically to computers with squinty 16:9 monitors, have different shapes. I can't make my differently-shaped shots fill everyone's screen at the same time.
On iPhone and iPad, everything changes size when you rotate between vertical and horizontal.
Click or tap any image to make it fit your screen. On Mac Safari, command ⌘ and + or - will change the size of the page or image, and command ⌘ and 0 brings it back to normal.
Turn up your screen brightness for best results.
These are 1,920 pixel-wide images; the originals are much higher resolution. These images will fill your screen horizontally, up to 1,920 pixels wide (3,840 pixels wide on Mac Retina displays). The vertical size will vary with how I cropped each image.
Enjoy!
07 June 2023, Wednesday top
We met the group in San Luis Obispo at 3PM and wandered downtown to the Mission San Luis Obispo:
Nap Time, Mission San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo, California, 4:14 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 at 14mm at f/4 hand-held at 1/2 second at Auto ISO 450 (LV 2.8), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
While in-camera stabilization works great with ultrawide lenses in the center, geometry makes it unable to do much in the corners. The corners are blurry due to camera motion hand-held at a half second; the Z 14-30mm f/4 is ultrasharp.
Golden Diamond at Luna Red, San Luis Obispo, California, 4:49 P.M. Nikon Z8 in square-crop mode, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 48 mm at f/5.6 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 64, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 12.6), as shot. More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Pier Liquor, Oceano, California, 7:43 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 57mm at f/5.6 handheld at 1/30 at Auto ISO 220 (LV 8¾), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
The New Pismo Beach Sign, Pismo Beach, California, 8:29 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 24 mm at wide-open at f/4 handheld at 1/8 at Auto ISO 220 (LV 5.9), HDR Merge (now in Luminar Neo) from one JPG shot. More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Harry's and the Pismo Sign, Pismo Beach, California, 8:35 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 63 mm wide-open at f/6 handheld at 1/8 at Auto ISO 500, -0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 5.9), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012) and Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
I cropped this to a square, the equivalent of a ZEISS 150mm f/4 SONNAR T✻ on HASSELBLAD 6×6.
Brad's Seafood and BBQ, Pismo Beach, California, 8:37 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 88 mm wide-open at f/6.3 handheld at 1/8 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 8.3), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
08 June 2023, Thursday top
We rose at dawn and headed out about 6 AM for the Irish Hills:
Morro Bay as Seen from the Irish Hills, San Luis Obispo, California, 6:37 A.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 200 mm wide-open at f/6.3 at 1/100 at Auto ISO 90 (LV 12.1, Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Barn, Irish Hills, San Luis Obispo, California, 7:27 A.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 92 mm wide-open at f/6.3 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 13.6), direct sunlight white balance, as shot. More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Aztec Calendar, Fat Cat's Cafe, Avila Beach, California, 9:20 A.M. Nikon Z8 in square-crop mode, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 32 mm (equivalent to a normal ZEISS 80mm f/2.8 PLANAR lens on HASSELBLAD 6×6), f/5.6 at 1/125 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 12.6), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Floating Boat, Avilia Bay, California, 10:51 A.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 105 mm wide open at f/6.3 at 1/200 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 13.6), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Fender L101166, Port San Luis, California, 10:59 A.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 115 mm wide-open at f/6.3 at 1/500 at Auto ISO 64 (LV 14.92), as shot. More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Yellow and Orange Fish Nets, Port San Luis, California, 11:00 A.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 160 mm at f/16 at 1/80 at Auto ISO 110 (LV 14.2), exactly as shot. More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
We headed over to Montaña de Oro and then back to town for dinner at the Farmer's Market. Here it is mostly cleaned up afterwards:
Higuerra Street after the Farmer's Market, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:29 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 41 mm at f/5 handheld at 1/8 at Auto ISO 1,250 (LV 4.0), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Wineman Hotel Sign at Night, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:29 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 100 mm wide-open at f/6.3 hand held at 1/13 at Auto ISO 500 (LV 6.7), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
I cropped this later to a square, the equivalent of a ZEISS SONNAR 250mm f/5.6 on HASSELBLAD 6×6.
I love the colors I get from my Nikons. I also love what I get from my Canons, while every other brand is a notch or more below. How to Get Great Color.
Old San Luis BBQ Co., Higuerra Street, San Luis Obispo, California, 9:31 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 28 mm wide-open at f/4.5 handheld at 1/13 at Auto ISO 1,100 (LV 4.6), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
Monterey Street under Moonlight, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:29 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 39 mm wide-open at f/5 hand held at 1/4 at Auto ISO 6,400 (LV ⅔), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger or fit-to-screen.
I love how I can shoot handheld under moonlight, even with my slow Z 24-200mm f/4~6.3 VR. See the glint off of the pole above the "E" in Monterey? That's moonlight!
With the Z 24-200's great stabilization, the Z8's built in stabilization and the Z8's great high ISO performance, there isn't anything I can't photograph hand held. f/2.8 lenses were for film.
If I wasn't so lazy I easily could pull the noise out of the sky. Tough; my website, my rules.
09 June 2023, Friday top
Today was mostly overcast. We went to Cayucos for brunch and the Farmer's Market, then Harmony and Ragged Point to see the elephant seals and San Simeon. I didn't snap anything particularly exciting as it was gray and my work is all about color — but I did get some awesome fresh kettle corn at the Farmer's Market.
We returned to San Luis Obispo, and our friend James needed to charge his Tesla. The Madonna Inn had superchargers, so we popped over there and checked it out for 30 minutes while his car recharged.
Nasturtium, Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:14 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 24 mm at f/4 handheld at 1/13 at Auto ISO 400, +1 stop exposure compensation (LV 5.7), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), otherwise as shot. bigger or fit-to-screen.
The Copper Cafe, Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:24 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 at 17 mm at f/4 hand held at 1/10 at Auto ISO 640, +0.3 stops exposure compensation (LV 4⅔), perspective correction and burning and dodging with adjustment layer masks in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo), split-toned the print. More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
The Bakery at the Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, California, 8:25 P.M. Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max 1× (6.9mm actual or 24mm eq.) camera at f/1.8 at 1/60 at Auto ISO 125 (LV 7¼). bigger or fit-to-screen.
Do you think these huge cakes are crazy? Then check out the steak house:
Alex Madonna's Gold Rush Steak House, Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:30 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 at 14 mm at f/4 hand held at 1/8 at Auto ISO 1,000, +0.7 stops exposure compensation (LV 3⅔), AUTO 2 white balance (3,030K), curves adjustment layer in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012) to correct crazy color from the red lighting, burning and dodging as curves adjustment layer masks, Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
I cropped this to a square, the equivalent of a ZEISS 38mm f/4.5 BIOGON on HASSELBLAD 6×6.
I've eaten here before and it was fantastic. Forget big-city steakhouses; cattle and ranching have always been a core part of the Madonna enterprises and the steaks are superb.
Staircase, Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:35 P.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 at 14 mm at f/4 handheld at 1/8 at Auto ISO 1,000, +1 stop exposure compensation (LV 3⅔), perspective correction in Photoshop CS6 (from 2012), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). More tech details. bigger or fit-to-screen.
I cropped this to a square, the equivalent of a ZEISS 38mm f/4.5 BIOGON on HASSELBLAD 6×6.
10 June 2023, Saturday top
Today we walked next door for breakfast:
Splash Cafe, San Luis Obispo, California, 8:10 A.M. Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 24-200mm VR at 86 mm at f/6.3 at 1/50 at Auto ISO 100, +0.3 stops exposure compensation (LV 11.0), Perfectly Clear (now sold as Radiant Photo). bigger or fit-to-screen.
After breakfast we headed to Oso Flaco Lake, then home through Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara.
Even though we only had one day of sun during this as part of California's catastrophic year of no sunshine in early 2023, we had a blast and I got some decent photos. Thanks for checking it out!
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