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California Cruisin'

A compilation album pulled from several road trips, spanning both space and time (2017—2023). I explored the state's different microclimates and subcultures through the lens of my camera. From the sea to sand dunes and mountains to metropolis', it's hard to take a bad photo in a place where golden hour seems to last forever.

Surfer riding a wave

The official lifestyle perk of Southern California.

Huntington Beach Lifeguard Stand
Ocean texture
Sun backlighting some green plants
Concrete Surfboard sculptures
Sunglasses stand
Floral shirts for sale
Surfer ornaments in a window

Surf City

Huntington Beach Main Street
A surfer scouts for waves at Scripps Pier
Scripps Pier from the cliffs above

Ripples. La Jolla, CA.

Green plant leaves turn gold at sunset
Bird of Paradise flower
Laguna Beacfh lifeguard stand
Mosaic art of a peacock in Santa Barbara
Teal blue aloe plant in a garden

Spring blooms

Stand-up paddleboarder out on the ocean
Cliffs along the beach in Santa Barbara
Spanish style building in California
Sign for Historic San Buena Ventura
Small terraced courtyard with shops in Ventura
Seals hanging out on a buoy off the coast of California
Boat masts reflect in the harbor
Underneath Scripps Pier in La Jolla

Vanishing Point

Moonrise over Ventura Boardwalk

Moonrise over the Ventura coast and Channel Islands

Country road in Ojai, California

Ojai Valley. Horses, farming and wine.

Ojai Post Office
Funky looking cactus in California
Overlooking Ojai farmlands
Airstream camper

Caravan Outpost.

The moon hangs small over a water tower
Spring blooms in downtown Ojai
Flowering vines hang over a taco shop
Motos in a shop in downtown Ventura

Take the long way home.

Long road blazing through the desert
General Store in Panamint Springs

Last stop for gas.

Ridges of sand and rock formations in Death Valley

Death Valley National Park

Sign for Badwater Basin
People walk out on the boardwalk at the lowest point in Death Valley
Three hikers traverse the dunes at Mesquite Flats
Sun setting behind the sand dunes at Mesquite Flats
Sand dunes in Death Valley National Park

Dunescape.

Nate stands on the ridge of a large sand dune

In a sea of sand.

View from Zabriskie Point just before sunrise

Zabriskie Point

Blurry photo of the sky
The galaxy rises behind our camp setup

Seeing/capturing the galaxy for the first time.

Abandoned School bus along a desert highway
View climbing out of the valley to Onion Valley Campground

Climbing out from below sea level

A van treks through the dirt at the Alabama Hills
Fresh Jerky at a gas station
Dirt Road Travels
Barbeque joint in Lone Pine California
A van travels along a dirt road

From Badwater Basin (-282') to the base of Mt. Whitney (14,505') in just a few hours drive.

Alabama Hills rock field
Sunrise at Onion Valley campground

Kings Canyon National Park

Yellow wildflower meadow
A tunnel into Yosemite National Park
Girl overlooks the entry to Yosemite

Entering Yosemite

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First light over Bridalveil Falls

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El Cap

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The Mist Trail up to Vernal Falls

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2,425' waterfall, tallest in North America.

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Proof of completion

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A view into Yosemite Valley
Yosemite Falls reflection

The Upper Falls

Roadside Farmers Market

Farmlands of the San Joaquin Valley. West of Yosemite towards Monterey Bay.

Sign for avocados for sale
Sign for garlic ice cream
Wildflowers on a sand dune near Monterey Bay

Wildflowers on small dunes

Deer amonf wildflowers
White and pink wildflowers
Coastal wildflowers in California
A red mustang travels over the Bixby Canyon bridge

Highway 1, the great American road trip.

A blue cove in Big Sur
Giant indigo wildflowers
Point Sur Lighthouse in the distance
Overlooking the Big Sur coast
Foggy coast of Big Sur
Lone purple wildflower on a cliff

Swaths of fog come and go.

colorful wildflowers in a rolling meadow

Swaths of color pop in the sun.

McWay Falls overlook

McWay Falls

Monterey Marina

Civilization pit stop

Houseboat
Fisherman woodcarving in Monterey
Tropical cocktail in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz Beach
Capitola colorful hotel
A path leading into the woods

Into the woods

The tops of giant redwood trees
Girl walks through the redwood forest

Land of giants

Boulder Creek sign
Lumber Yard deep in the redwoods
Sign for Wild Roots market
Sun shines through the tall redwood trees
Close up texture of redwood bark
Trees fallen down in a redwood forest
Giant Sequoia tree
Lone Cypress at Pebble Beach

The Lone Cypress. Circa 1750.

Top of Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco Streets
People sitting in the park in front of the Painted Ladies
The Golden Gate Bridge in the fog

Into the fog

A red hippy bus on the streets of San Francisco
Retro store in Haight-Ashbury district
Looking at Coit Tower in the distance
The Golden Gate Bridge at golden hour
Red flowers
City streets of Sausalito

Sausalito—California's version of Gloucester.

Looking up at a tall palm tree
Houseboat in Sausalito harbor

Houseboats and fishing harbors

Fishing boat in San Francisco Bay
The edge of the bay in Sausalito
Fountain in a sunny park
Los Angeles skyline through the trees

Los Angeles

Hollywood Sign up on the hill
Mid-century modern house facade

Mid-century modern

Huge bird flies over the hills of Los Angeles
Surfing enters the water at Newport Pier
Two surfers getting ready to enter the water at Newport Pier
Palm tree silhouettes at sunset
A rose from the Rose Parade float

Pasadena Tournament of Roses.

A rose parade float the night before
The Rose Bowl stadium sign

"The Grandaddy of them all."

Bands playing on the field before the Rose Bowl
Confetti on the field at the Rose Bowl
Golden hour over the LA skyline
Los Angeles lights up at sunset
LA skyline as night falls around it

Nightfall.

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(c) 2024 Nick Gianetti

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