FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (33.2mm, f/8, 1/680 sec, ISO200)
At the end of the trip we decided to visit our favourite small town on the coast. So we are back on the beach for one more time.
On our very first trip to the USA in 2010 we came here because the place has been recommended to us by a nice french lady who used to work in the tourist information. So instead of Santa Barbara we stayed here on the campground at the beach (in our RV).
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/8, 1/1250 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/8, 1/350 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/5.6, 1/1700 sec, ISO200)
I decided to take only two lenses for my walk on the beach. The Fuji XF 16-55/2.8 WR which was my main lens during the trip. I think I shot nearly 70% of all images with it. And the Fuji XF 90/2 WR which is such a fantastic lens. I had classical beach portraits in mind but since I saw the two curlews up close I had to take their picture too.
The 16-55 and the 90 are an extremely powerful combination. The are both optically excellent, fast and robust. And the images have a sharpness and clarity that clearly separates them from images taken with i.e. the 18-55 and the 55-200. Once you got used to it there is no way to go back.
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/5.6, 1/600 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/5.6, 1/1400 sec, ISO200)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/8, 1/900 sec, ISO200)
But back to the beach. We love this beach and if we ever should decide to move to California we want to have a house here. Just imagine to look out of your window and the only thing you see is the beach and the Pacific ocean. It doesn’t get any better.
I can’t complain. We life in a beautiful house just outside of Vienna, Austria. Sometimes we have deer in the garden and a little more than half an hours drive gets us into the centre of Vienna. So we got nature and an attractive city just around the corner. But of course there is no sunny beach and no ocean. So on a dark winters day, like today, I think about this little town on the beach.
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (90mm, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO400)
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (50mm, f/8, 1/500 sec, ISO1600)
There is a second set of images that includes the sunset. Because it would be criminal to be here and not watch the sunset at the sea. And in October the sunset comes fast.
It’s tricky to find the best time of the year for such a trip. Obviously if you can you should avoid July and August but that leaves you with either May, June or September, October. Spring has the advantage that the days are almost endless but the light is rather ugly. Autumn means perfect light but rather short days.
So for photography the decision is clear: autumn but there is another advantage too. You have something to look forward to and when everybody returns back to work you go on vacation. When you get back it’s only a little over two months before Christmas.
FUJIFILM X-Pro2 (16mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO250)