Balancing Surf and Sunrise: A Morning at San Onofre
Chasing waves at dawn has definitely worked against my practice of golden hour photography. Instead of clipping my camera onto a tripod, I’m usually waxing my board and shoving myself into a wetsuit. On our recent trip to Southern California, though, I was determined to make time for both.
Carloads of surfers loaded down with longboards begin lining up well before the gates to San Onofre Surfing Beach open at 6 AM. There is a specific energy waiting in that line with engines idling, coffee steaming in cup holders, and people climbing out to stretch or wax their boards. The moment the gate swings open, the beach comes alive. Within minutes, surfers are crossing the stony shoreline, paddling out into the cool, pre-dawn waves.
For this trip’s digital setup, I kept my kit versatile and compact:
Sony a7CR: This summer, this compact high-resolution body has essentially replaced my Sony a7R V because it gives me all the detail I need without the bulk of a traditional full-frame camera.
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM II: My go-to workhorse for wider coastal scenes and capturing shoreline culture.
Sony FE 70-200mm f/4 G II: Essential for pulling distant surfers into the frame and compressing the morning layers over the water. This updated telephoto provides excellent image quality in a smaller package, keeping my backpack lighter.
Viltrox 26mm f/2.8: A pancake prime that turns the camera into an easy, walk-around point-and-shoot.
PolarPro Shortstache Everyday Filter: A combination polarizer and mist filter that cuts harsh glare off the water while introducing a subtle bloom to the highlights, giving the digital files a soft, film-like diffusion. This is a new filter to me and I’m still debating if I like the effect.
When I wasn’t paddling for waves, I was wandering the beach and the parking lot, checking out the classic cars, the variety of boards, and the unique atmosphere that only a surf beach in California creates.
