Out of about 280 exposures, I got maybe 10 that were this good. And maybe 20 more that were OK.

I can see why!

Woo! Nice photos, but a bit unsettling!

Happy New Year!

That second photo .. WOW!

I was very pleased (to say the least!) to have caught that one.

The glare was horrible; most of the time, I was shooting right into it. But that was the direction that the best waves were coming from.

I miss those CA waves

I'd heard that we were having high waves and that's why I went down.

We don't get them this high very often; in fact, it's rare here.

Needless to say, there were a lot of people there today!

I'm envious. Enjoy.

I did have a good time. I also got tired, lugging around my big 100 to 400mm Olympus lens!

But that lens really delivers, so I don't mind too much.

As I mentioned to HAB911, we rarely get waves this high. I'm really glad I made the effort to see and to catch some of them.

Spent the majority of my childhood in LA but have lived here in the North State for the better part of 41 years. Just wanted to complement your photos. I usually lurk and just admire but I wanted to ask you what region of California are you in?

I live in Southern CA, not far from LAX.

Those waves are insane, as are the people standing out at the end of the pier. I hope you didn't do that.

I want you to know that the ONLY reason I didn't get out to the end of the Pier is because my legs were getting tired and I still had to walk back to my car!

I got most of the way out, though. I wanted to get right on top of at least some of those waves . . . and I did.

Thanks so much!

just beautiful - well done!

Happy New Year to you and yours my dear CaliforniaPeggy 😀

Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

So how 'bout some pics of your surfboard, Peg!

Can't you just see me, at 80 years old, on a fucking surfboard???

Me either.

Glad you like the photos.

Your photography never ceases to astound and delight me.

I thought everyone was warned to stay away from the beach.

We have a fairly deep beach, and access was restricted onto it. Most people, like me, saw it from the Pier which is safely elevated over the waves.

There were lots of people up on the Pier! Many taking photos too.

And I saw a lifeguard riding a jetski while he looked for anyone in trouble in the water, but nobody was surfing here.

Hope you enjoyed the photos. My life was secure as I took them.

...on the shore. Beautiful!

There was a fair amount of that, but not bad. The surface lacy waves hiss as they hit the beach. I find it fascinating!

Glad you enjoyed!

The spray is like ocean snow in those photos. Love them.

Thanks for your observant remarks! It does look like that.

I especially like the second one!

It sure has that "wow" factor! I felt very lucky to have captured it.

But your skill is evident, too!

Some days I don't feel skilled at all! But that's just part of being human.

The colors are stunning. Thank you for posting these photos.

My skill thanks you, as does my PaintShopPro program and my ability to see what's good!

Sharing's in my blood.

But the second one is so dramatic and has great detail. Those waves look like they're made of spun sugar!

The things that you pointed out are the reasons I chose these 2 to post.

Per Jeff Spicoli:
All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.

Very cool quote too.

I didn't do that . . . since no such photo exists!



Glad you enjoyed!

Was like "the perfect storm". I saw the local news and they all made it out OK. One guy said he'd go again, not me...and I love roller coasters and scary rides.

I love to whale watch, but not when the sea looks like that!

Glad you like my photos!

lives to save them.

Nope, just nope! Some stupidity is just criminal IMHO. Thanks for posting the video.

ever seeing when I lived in L.A.!
Normal storm sized waves in the Atlantic, yes, but not the Pacific. It's always a thrill to capture something different, isn't it?
Thanks for sharing your beach trip with us.

Waves of this size and ferocity are truly rare here. I can't remember ever seeing waves of this size.

You bet I was thrilled!

Thank you for your lovely remarks! Sharing is in my DNA.

an unfair advantage in wave height!

Typical wave on Right hand shore:

The storms have changed all that.

The textures and palette of the first shot are crazy cool.

The movement is palpable in the second shot, and those glassy bottle-greens with a dusting then an avalanche of foam are hypnotic, stop-motion, capture the majesty and power of Mother Ocean.

Story ends, singing starts at the 2 minute mark.
🕊🩵💫🎶thatcrowwoman

And for the song. It's beautiful.

These are breathtaking! I'm going to try to paint them when I get back home. I love painting water better than almost anything...boats are great too! Thanks so much for posting these!!

Best of luck to you!

I had to post them--what good is beauty if nobody can see it?

Great pictures!

Just saying.

There are most likely many photos of curling waves that look a lot like mine.

Not sure what you're getting at. How about a clue?