Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz, California 2006
There has been no shortage of praise for the majesty and wonder of the Northern California coastline. Australian born artist Francis McComas (1875-1938) described Point Lobos as the “greatest meeting of land and water in the world” whilst novelist Henry Miller (1891-1980) proclaimed that “It was here in Big Sur that I first learned to say ‘amen.’
At once both epic and sublime, the Northern California coast is a truly remarkable place and at any given opportunity, when I lived in San Francisco, I would jump into my Mini Cooper and head south on Highway 1 towards Big Sur or north to the windswept Point Reyes or rugged and spectacular Mendocino coast.
It was on one of these trips, this time to Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz, that I shot one of my favorite photographs which I have titled, somewhat unimaginatively, “The Birds” (pictured above).
Natural Bridges State Beach is yet another example of a geological wonder on the Northern California coastline. As well as a hotspot for annual Monarch butterfly migrations, this state park features a stunning natural bridge on the beach which was formed over a million years ago. The bridge is awe-inspiring and offers sanctuary for a host of bird life including cormorants and brown pelicans.
I took this shot on a stormy fall afternoon back in 2006. I noticed a large group of pelicans, perhaps 150 or more, perched on the top of the bridge. This in itself was a great subject to photograph, but then it happened. En masse, the pelicans began to take flight and started to circle around and around. I excitedly tried to shoot this stunning and magnificent sight, focusing on the birds, but at the same time making sure that I had captured the natural bridge and the shadow that it was casting on the beach.
When I look back at that photograph, I am very happy with the end result. For me the pelicans have a pterodactyl-like quality, which reinforces the primordial nature of the Pacific coastline. Loftiness aside, I am struck by the importance of the role that serendipity played in creating this image. What were the odds of witnessing this awe-inspiring scene with camera in hand? Well, I’ll take it, and I look forward longingly to the next opportunity I have to explore this magnificent part of the world.
