Point Arena Gallery
Point Arena , Stornetta Lands, Manchester State Beach
Point Arena, California is my artistic home. My first exhibition was held there and I am a member of the Coast Highway Artists Collective on Main Street. Just north on Highway 1 is the Point Arena Lighthouse and the Stornetta Public Lands where some of most rugged and beautiful coast in California can be found. Just south are the astonishing Pelican Bluffs where soaring cliffs and layered sandstone are on display. As you can see, the photographic possibilities are endless.
Low Tide Moonset, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
At the suggestion of Mark Hancock, the executive director of the Point Arena Light Keepers, I decided to shoot the full moon on a rare clear evening. That shot was not very successful and I was about to get in my truck and head home. When I came around to the main gate with the moon about to set, the sun about to rise and low tide at hand, I saw this stunning scene. Out came the tripod and a few hurried settings later, I got this image. It was not the shot I had in mind but I’ll take it.
At the suggestion of Mark Hancock, the executive director of the Point Arena Light Keepers, I decided to shoot the full moon on a rare clear evening. That shot was not very successful and I was about to get in my truck and head home. When I came around to the main gate with the moon about to set, the sun about to rise and low tide at hand, I saw this stunning scene. Out came the tripod and a few hurried settings later, I got this image. It was not the shot I had in mind but I’ll take it.
Winter’s Afterlight, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
I have spent entire days with a camera on a tripod at the entrance to the Point Arena Lighthouse grounds with nothing to show for the effort. On this day in January, a storm cleared just at sunset after raining all day. The sun was actually down and lit the clouds as you see here. I tried this one in Black & White but this was one time where color was the only choice.
I have spent entire days with a camera on a tripod at the entrance to the Point Arena Lighthouse grounds with nothing to show for the effort. On this day in January, a storm cleared just at sunset after raining all day. The sun was actually down and lit the clouds as you see here. I tried this one in Black & White but this was one time where color was the only choice.
Beacon on Blue, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
This was one of those days where the sky to the north of Point Arena was filled with the remnants of a storm right at sunset. The cliffs and rocks picked up the last orange rays of the sun but the afterlight was yet to come. This left the whole scene bathed in shades of blue and turquoise.
This was one of those days where the sky to the north of Point Arena was filled with the remnants of a storm right at sunset. The cliffs and rocks picked up the last orange rays of the sun but the afterlight was yet to come. This left the whole scene bathed in shades of blue and turquoise.
Thunderclap Noon, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
There is almost never any thunderstorm activity to the south of Point Arena Lighthouse. On this day, however, this remarkable cloud formation piled up over Gualala but left the Stornetta Lands in the clear. Typically, this is not a good location for shooting but the turquoise sea, wind-blown waves and low tide cliff made for this iconic shot.
There is almost never any thunderstorm activity to the south of Point Arena Lighthouse. On this day, however, this remarkable cloud formation piled up over Gualala but left the Stornetta Lands in the clear. Typically, this is not a good location for shooting but the turquoise sea, wind-blown waves and low tide cliff made for this iconic shot.
Message to Garcia, Garcia River Mouth, Stornetta Public Lands, CA
This image is a reshoot of an image I took in 2018 from the same location. It is taken from a small hill on the old Stornetta Ranch that forms the southern bank of the Garcia River about a mile from the Lighthouse. While I liked the original image, I caught better light and clouds on this day -- so much so that I renamed the photograph and it will now replace the old image in my portfolio. This image was awarded "Best Monochrome Photograph" at the Gualala Arts "Art in the Redwoods" in 2021.
This image is a reshoot of an image I took in 2018 from the same location. It is taken from a small hill on the old Stornetta Ranch that forms the southern bank of the Garcia River about a mile from the Lighthouse. While I liked the original image, I caught better light and clouds on this day -- so much so that I renamed the photograph and it will now replace the old image in my portfolio. This image was awarded "Best Monochrome Photograph" at the Gualala Arts "Art in the Redwoods" in 2021.
Twilight Afterburner, Stoneboro Beach, Manchester State Park, Manchester, CA
Sometimes, a planned shot goes exactly right. I knew the sun was going to set closely off Point Arena in March and hoped for a rare day with high clouds and a clear horizon. I got it and rushed to Stoneboro Beach in Manchester walking the last ½ mile over sand in 38° weather with 20 mph winds. Setting up in an abandoned driftwood fort for shelter, I got the full disk of the sun with Point Area in silhouette and spectacular color. This was one day where luck was the residue of design!
Sometimes, a planned shot goes exactly right. I knew the sun was going to set closely off Point Arena in March and hoped for a rare day with high clouds and a clear horizon. I got it and rushed to Stoneboro Beach in Manchester walking the last ½ mile over sand in 38° weather with 20 mph winds. Setting up in an abandoned driftwood fort for shelter, I got the full disk of the sun with Point Area in silhouette and spectacular color. This was one day where luck was the residue of design!
Cirrus and Northeast Cliffs, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
I got up before dawn to shoot the lighthouse with bad light and gray skies for several hours from a nearby beach. Disappointed, I came around this side of Point Arena on the adjacent headland and it was magic. The 11 am sun illuminated the rugged peninsula contours in strong contrast with the bright white of the lighthouse and the seafoam balancing the darker contrail-filled sky.
I got up before dawn to shoot the lighthouse with bad light and gray skies for several hours from a nearby beach. Disappointed, I came around this side of Point Arena on the adjacent headland and it was magic. The 11 am sun illuminated the rugged peninsula contours in strong contrast with the bright white of the lighthouse and the seafoam balancing the darker contrail-filled sky.
Dunes Day, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
Stoneboro Road in Manchester, CA leads to a ½ mile hike (seems longer) over the dunes to a beach across from Point Arena. Shooting there is often challenging because it tends to be windy and there is often no background in the sky for a shot of the Lighthouse. The sea, which can rage here, was quiet on this day but the puffy clouds and the green of the grass made a perfect frame for the image
Stoneboro Road in Manchester, CA leads to a ½ mile hike (seems longer) over the dunes to a beach across from Point Arena. Shooting there is often challenging because it tends to be windy and there is often no background in the sky for a shot of the Lighthouse. The sea, which can rage here, was quiet on this day but the puffy clouds and the green of the grass made a perfect frame for the image
Late Afternoon Traffic, Main Street, Highway 1, Point Arena, CA
Steve Oliff, cartoonist, local historian and musician, told me that there had not been a town overview shot of Point Arena for many years. I was intrigued. I was able to persuade Ariana Mazzucchi of Casari Ranch to allow me to shoot from her land on the South Bluffs. I eventually found this viewpoint above Highway 1 and after two trips on different days got good light and a fantastic sky. This photograph now hangs in the council chambers of Point Arena City Hall.
Steve Oliff, cartoonist, local historian and musician, told me that there had not been a town overview shot of Point Arena for many years. I was intrigued. I was able to persuade Ariana Mazzucchi of Casari Ranch to allow me to shoot from her land on the South Bluffs. I eventually found this viewpoint above Highway 1 and after two trips on different days got good light and a fantastic sky. This photograph now hangs in the council chambers of Point Arena City Hall.
New Year’s Brew, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
My wife and I took a New Year’s holiday at the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers cabins. It rained steadily for the first two days and then there was a brief break in the storm. Sheltering my camera under my raincoat, I ran to several different locations and found this view with the clouds framing the Lighthouse in an inverted V with just enough sun to provide incredible light and color.
My wife and I took a New Year’s holiday at the Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers cabins. It rained steadily for the first two days and then there was a brief break in the storm. Sheltering my camera under my raincoat, I ran to several different locations and found this view with the clouds framing the Lighthouse in an inverted V with just enough sun to provide incredible light and color.
The White Tower, Point Arena Lighthouse, Point Arena, CA
This image focuses on the faulted and layered northeast cliffs of Point Arena which do not have the folded structure apparent on the seaward side. The unique "candlestick" shape of the Lighthouse (designed and built by a smokestack company after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake) really stands out in this view.
This image focuses on the faulted and layered northeast cliffs of Point Arena which do not have the folded structure apparent on the seaward side. The unique "candlestick" shape of the Lighthouse (designed and built by a smokestack company after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake) really stands out in this view.