Sometimes I forget how spoiled I was that even though we lived on the east coast, I could regularly photograph sunrise and sunset. Sunsets were always much more tranquil, though, usually just me, my camera, and maybe a few birds. Sunsets on a California beach are a whole different ballgame! Even with the sun dipping below the horizon at close to 9 pm, the beaches are still packed with families and groups, soaking up every last ray of sunlight.

We visited Pismo Beach for sunset after spending the day touring an olive oil production facility in Paso Robles. As we approached the beach, the clouds began to thicken and I began to worry that I wouldn’t get the sunset I was hoping for. Fortunately, in Cali, things are never what they seem and the clouds and fog only made the sunset sky more interesting.

First we stopped at a spot just north of Pismo in the tiny coastal town of Shell Beach. Just off the coast of Margo Dodd Park sits a group of sea stacks that are known to be covered with pelicans. The big, clumsy birds were so fun to watch as they vied for position on the rock.

After leaving the park, we made our way to the Pismo Beach pier. Piers have always been a favorite subject of mine and I was missing photographing them. This pier was unlike any on the east coast, a wide boardwalk open to the public and covered with tourists. Surfers fought for the best ride just to the side of the pier, and children chased seagulls along the shoreline.

It was almost like being home. Almost.