August 27 2014 One the most powerful Hurricanes ever and one of the most exciting intense and frustrating days i've ever had shooting waves
After watching the forecasts and weather reports endlessly and hearing all the chatter and predictions everyone was going nuts, including me
After checking and double checking and checking all my camera gear again and again I couldn't sleep and was wishing it was morning so i could leave and head down to the beach. It's about a 45 minute drive to the Wedge from my house and when i finally got going in the dark i could see waves at Huntington. Not super huge but hard to tell just how big it was. The roads were quiet and semi empty and i was pretty stoked to be finally on my way. Now i should tell you that driving for 45 minutes makes me crazy trying not to get a speeding ticket or rear end another car while i'm craning my neck to get glimpses of the waves off Pacific Coast HWY.
Now the crazy starts when i got to Newport Beach there's a turn to get to the balboa Peninsula. Usually there is almost no cars heading to the beach predawn - everyone is all heading out going to work - well there was an endless line of cars coming over the bridge! 10 minutes later i get to The Wedge and pulled up L street hoping for a parking place. It was street sweeper day and no way was i going to park illegally if i could help it. I got lucky and found a spot big enough for two cars and pulled in. Whew! made it!
The sun wasn't up yet and i ran down to the beach and climbed up on L tower lifeguard station. I took a few shots and was watching hundreds of people arrive - people were literally pouring out onto the beach from every direction!
The crowd was already 10 people or more deep lining the beach front at the peak so i decided to stay put on the tower. That was good/bad idea. The salt spray in the air was so thick that all my shots are washed out and flat looking. Hmmm, yeah that was a bummer but what else can i say? ; )