![\"big_sur_131103__SM38329\"](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/big_sur_131103__SM38329.jpg\" "\\"big_sur_131103__SM38329\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nAlso that same day I caught a surfer catching a wave. \u00a0The surf was definitely up.<\/p>\n
We start the workshop Monday in San Simeon at the southern end of the Big Sur coast.\u00a0 To get it off to a good start we photographed sunset at the southern end of the impressive Big Sur headlands.\u00a0 And we were treated to some equally impressive light.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Tuesday was a travel day as we worked our way up the coast to the village of Big Sur with some great stops along the way.\u00a0 The first was a favorite of mine \u2013 Salmon Falls hidden back in off the road.\u00a0 You\u2019ll pass by and never notice it.\u00a0 But once you find it you will always want to stop there.<\/p>\n Following Salmon Falls we continued up the coast to Sand Dollar Beach,\u00a0 We caught it at high tide and it was breathtaking.\u00a0 The weather forecast was for clear skies at sunset so we changed the itinerary and headed for Pfeiffer Beach.\u00a0 At this time of year the rays of the setting sun shine through the tunnel, making for some spectacular photographs.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t decide which one to share with you so you get two.<\/p>\n But the show wasn\u2019t over.\u00a0 Day two after the new moon placed a small sliver of the moon suspended above Pfeiffer\u2019s famous rock.<\/p>\n Wednesday morning we were back at Pfeiffer Beach for sunrise (yes, we visited it twice; it\u2019s that good).\u00a0 As the sun came up we had some nice clouds out over the Pacific.<\/p>\n And later on in the morning there was some awesome surf with a wave crashing through the tunnel while another huge wave obliterated a rock in the distance.\u00a0 It took a while to get the sea to cooperate but patience paid off.<\/p>\n Thursday was our last day and we left Big Sur for the Monterey area.\u00a0 We got an early start and reveled in sunrise above Point Sur and its lighthouse.<\/p>\n North of Big Sur is Bixby Bridge.\u00a0 Everyone stops at Bixby Bridge and we were no exception.\u00a0 The first stop was from Hurricane Point, one of the most popular viewpoints for the bridge.\u00a0 What was unusual about this morning was the exceptional clarity up the coast with little areas of mist where the canyons came down to the sea.<\/p>\n But there are other views of Bixby Bridge that are not that common.\u00a0 And this morning the sun came out at just the right time to turn a good photograph into a great one.<\/p>\n Up the Old Coast road a few miles are redwood groves.\u00a0 The thing that fascinated me on this morning was the play of light on the bark of one tree in particular.\u00a0 Here\u2019s an example.<\/p>\n The Old Coast road has stretches that are not for the faint of heart.\u00a0 But as far up as we went it was driveable\u00a0and very rewarding.<\/p>\n The next stop was the calla lilies near Rocky Point.\u00a0 There were a few in bloom but not nearly as many as one can find later in the year.<\/p>\n The surf was thundering down on the beach.\u00a0 On the way back to the car I got this heroic photograph of the group.<\/p>\n After Rocky Point we stopped at the south end of Garrapata State Park.\u00a0 There is a peninsula I like that juts out and on the north side we were blown away by the most incredible surf I have ever seen.\u00a0 It\u2019s not possible to describe the exhilaration you feel when you witness this unbelievable display of Mother Nature\u2019s power.<\/p>\n We took our official workshop portrait in the picnic area at Point Lobos.\u00a0 Somehow we managed to put on happy faces that mask the fact that we were starting to drag.<\/p>\n OK, so here\u2019s the grand finale I promised you up at the top.\u00a0 The workshop ended as it began, with a gorgeous sunset in a beautiful place with fantastic golden hour light.<\/p>\n Sitting in my hotel room the morning after I\u2019m sad the workshop is over.\u00a0 We had some fantastic light which always makes for some great photography.\u00a0 But for me a workshop is a lot more than photography classes and shooting in locations that I love.\u00a0 The food was terrific and that adds to the overall enjoyment.\u00a0 But the greatest joy comes from spending four days with eager, enthusiastic, passionate and fun people.\u00a0 And by that standard this workshop could not be beat.<\/p>\n Go ahead and share this post on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or with your friends.\u00a0 And we always enjoy hearing from you so please leave a comment.<\/p>\n Join me on an upcoming workshop.\u00a0 Click here for more details.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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