February 8, 2011
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PhotoPost: San Clemente Pier 1
I wanted to post my Mike’s Video Blog containing footage shot at San Clemente Pier on January 22nd, but I’ve been spending long days at work and socializing or entertaining on weekends, so haven’t been able to make enough time to work on the video. In fact, I said I was “back” blogging, and haven’t been able to make the time to spend on Xanga. So herewith, without further ado, a selection of photos taken on a summery Saturday when 2/3 of the U.S. was shoveling itself out from under raging blizzards and snowstorms.
Usually I take photographs of landscapes and architecture. Some of those photos will be featured in a future PhotoPost. The complete selection of 240 photos can, as usual, be found on my Webshots Gallery in the folder titled: San Clemente Pier and Environs. The selection in this PhotoPost will be a bit different for me. I took a number of photos with people in them. Here, a pedestrian walks along the overpass above the railroad tracks.
Above, a surfer walks along the beach besides some lifeguard stations “in storage” for the winter.
A volleyball game in progress. In the video, (when I find the time to finish it) you’ll see that one of the guys spikes the ball, which comes close to me on the walkway. I attempt to hit it back, but am holding the camera too, and miss relaying the ball back to them.
Here a mother is adjusting her camera, which cannot be seen in this photo and is on a tripod in front of her, to snap photos of her son, who is probably experiencing the ocean for the very first time.
A surfer returns to the beach after catching some waves. This shot has been cropped. In the original photo, the surfer is much farther away.
A family of bicyclists pedals past one of the local eateries alongside the pier, with a lifeguard jeep parked out in front.
This guy really looks determined not to “wipeout”.
There were lots of folks out and about, walking, and wheeling along the San Clemente Pier.
This is the best of about half a dozen shots I took of this loving couple from the other side of the pier, looking out at the surfers in the water.
I love this shot. I wanted to get both the pigeons and the guy with the cane in the shot, along with some water to show that we’re pretty far along on our pier walk.
Back on shore, I caught one of the many dogwalkers with his best friend.
How can I possibly present shots of people at the beach without a “beach bunny.” This gal is wearing a tee over her bikini, but she’s about to throw a pass. Notice the guy with the gray hair enjoying the show.
I shot quite a few photos before I got this one, with the ball framed behind these exercise bars. By the way, none of these photos were “staged”. I shot them randomly while walking along the beach and the pier.
My latest Xanga profile picture (#81, for anyone counting.) was shot by Liz this past weekend at the Queen Mary in Long Beach at the shop next to the Russian submarine, the “Scorpion.” I’m modeling a Russian Navy cap. (One of the few hats I’m wearing on Xanga that I don’t own.)
Edit: 2/08/11 6:30 am pdt. I thought I’d add a couple more photos. This one doesn’t have anybody in it, but the owner of the surfboard is in the photo below. I just like the composition of this shot showing the board, the sea, and the pier in the distance.
This photo would have come out a lot better if it were in focus. I honestly don’t know what happened. At this resolution, it isn’t that bad. This is one instance where I DID ask the subject for a smile as I snapped the photo.
And just for fun, here’s the full photo from which I got my latest Xanga profile pic. (Since I just don’t have enough photos of myself on my blog, you understand.) MFN/ppf
Posted: February 07, 2011 6:06 PM
Comments (22)
I’m not a beach person, but I can’t wait for summer, since I was probably one of those people digging out of the snow when you took these pictures. I’ve never been to California, but a lot of these summery scenes look familiar to me, like they’d belong here in Jersey in the warmer months. All these people look like they were having a great day.
Thanks for the taste of summer.
Fun shots, here
I really like how you framed the ball in that last one–very cool! Thanks for sharing, Mike 
Strange winter, It feels like summer during the day.
I guess you maybe getting a girl? When you socialize more it tends to happen….
Absolutely beautiful photos. I love the sea and spend a lot of my free time island hopping or at the the beach and these photos really made my day!
Love the new PPic!
What beautiful photos! They make my winter night seem a bit warmer!
Hope you are doing well, Mike!
HUGS!
Good eye, Mike. You know I’m not always the kind to sit through a whole photopost, but there are some compelling pictures here. I like the surfer, wheelchair guy, cane man, happy couple, puppy, and hot chick. Basically all of the last half of this batch. Thanks for sharing!
Ay ay captain! There doesn’t seem to be enough beach bunny pictures…j/k
Awesome shots. They are really good.
The beach looks rockier than usual, but you had a good day. I love the surfboard shot, and the first, traintracks shot!
Preparing for ice/snow storm #2 today~ so your warm shots will be a bit of a respite for me this week! Thank you~
I’m drawn most to the shot of the board leaning on the sign. Really like the lighting and the way it’s framed out tells a story all on its own.
I’m amused by the Russian sailor’s cap. When I was last in Russia – toward the end of the Soviet era, the people were trying to get rid of everything soviet – pins, medals, uniform parts – I traded a bunch of cheap pins for really nice commemorative CCCP pins.
Incidentally, when I was in China twenty years ago, I bought a “Mao hat” – one of those green worker’s hats they all used to wear. I’m still using it the few times I really work up a sweat – it’s far the best work hat I’ve ever owned [I did take the red star off]
great photos as usual, and the last is my favourite! =) made me smile =)
Fantastic photos! I did have some of your photos as a friend on Webshots, but when I changed computers, none of the albums I had saved got transferred, so I basically had to start over. I would like to look your photos up again in Webshots, but I’ll need the name you use there. I think it’s great you’re socializing. BTW: My son-in-law is a photographer & works for a photography store chain. He took a great photo of my grandson doing a handstand — on a snowy hill, yet! I put it on my blog. I haven’t had time to do a new blog, so it’s still up. ~~Blessings ‘n Cheers
Been a while since I saw your pic blogs! I love your pic
You look lively, my dearest friend.
“All Aboard! This train will leave for a beautiful far away virtual place where the sun is shining and it is not cold” Thanks for the trip.
Great angles U got their Mike the first picture at railway is awesome even the surfer and waves got crisp flicked does your camera support wide shot great for such environments.
All the pictures were great, but that bikini shot was especially enjoyable! Great job, MIke!!
I have a vid of me playing my new mandolin if you would like to see it.
I love your new profile photo, very jaunty! Hey, cool coincidence, I just posted a little video of the local pier here, from the other day, it’s called Ruby Pier (Oceanside Pier). Very, very different, very different population! Trippy photos!
oh yeah, ps, happy Valentines day!
@leaflesstree - what does that mean, “Not a beach person.” does not compute.
@Diva_Jyoti_3 - Dear Allison. Coincidentally, my next photo expedition will be to Oceanside, sort of a “bookend” series of photographs to these, since Oceanside and San Clemente are at either end of the 17 mile stretch of beach which fronts Pendleton. To answer your question to Turquoise @leaflesstree - While there are beaches in New Jersey, (I believe the regional dialect would identify the waterfront as ”the Jersey shore”) you can live in a state rimmed by an ocean and still not be a “beach person”. I always like to point out the seeming inconsistency that when I was young, and lived in Glendora, at the foot of the San Gabriel mountains, I would drive 50 miles to get to the beach, and spent a lot of time there. In 1975 I moved to Torrance, and then in 1982 to Hermosa Beach, only four blocks from the ocean, and hardly spent any time at all on the sand. A “beach person” spends a lot of time at the beach (or the shore). The only time I go to the beach nowadays is for photography. I think the last time I lay out on the sand in swimming trunks and took a dip in the Pacific was in the early 90s. Of course now I do spend a lot of time sunning myself and taking swims, but it’s at the Park Pool, and not “at the beach”. So I do sport a nice healthy tan most of the year. I do consider myself a “beach person” however. Also, it has to be pointed out that here in SoCal, you’ll find people on the sand in January, just like in this post. It’s pretty cold up in Jersey this time of year!
@baldmike2004 - I never lived very close to the beach, so that might be why. You are correct, however, in that we never refer to the oceanside as the beach but as the Shore. And it is far too cold for beaches right now, even though we have at least gotten above freezing (at last!)