Point Lobos State Reserve on the Big Sur Coast south of Carmel is the quintessential California seaside location. Once the haunt of nearby residents Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, it’s rocky cliffs, cypress groves, pebbled beaches, and blue lagoons provide an enless variety of photographic opportunities.

As part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary its waters are home to abundant sea life including the endangered sea otter. And extensive trails wander through the rare groves of Monterey Cypress, which only occur here and in the nearby town of Monterey, and are the classic wind-swept symbol of the central California coast.

The City of Refuge (or Pu’uhonua o Honaunau) is one of my favorite spots on the Big Island of Hawaii. This tranquil national historic park is tucked away on the Kona coast not far from the spot where Captain Cook became the first European to land on the Islands and later met his fate.

Today it is a quiet palm lined beach and lagoon perfect for snorkeling or photography, but in ancient Hawaii it was both a favorite residence of the high chiefs and a safe haven for defeated warriors and those who had broken the kapu (ancient laws). It is also a sanctuary for the endangered green sea turtles that feed in the shallow cove and frequent the sandy beach to rest.

June 8th is World Oceans Day – a chance to celebrate the bodies of water that make up 70% of our planet and provide us with food, recreation and place to rejuvenate the spirit. As home to an estimated 230,000 marine species, our oceans are a vast wilderness with ecosystems critically linked with our own. Unfortunately many of the earth’s inhabitants never see or experience our oceans, yet our impact through pollution and over-fishing has taken its toll.

Organizations such as the The Ocean Project provide a great opportunity to get directly involved in protecting the future of our oceans through personal and community involvement. Working with zoos, aquariums, and conservation groups, they sponsor beach cleanups, educational programs, art contests, film festivals, sustainable seafood events, and other activities which help to raise consciousness of how our lives depend on the oceans and what we can do to keep them healthy long into the future.

Horsetail Falls, Yosemite National Park, California

Every February something special happens in Yosemite Valley if the conditions are right. At some point during the month the setting sun aligns perfectly with the canyon walls to the west for several evenings creating a longer than usual glow on the granite walls. And if the winter snow pack is substantial and the temperature warms enough to start the spring runoff, a wonderful cascade forms on the southeast side of El Capitan aptly named Horsetail Falls.

Of course all of this along with the rest of Yosemite’s splendor would be enough to satisfy anyone visiting the valley this time of year. But in addition (as if mother nature is trying to outdo herself) for only a few minutes each evening the alignment of the sun also illuminates the falls from behind creating a brief firefall that is truely amazing. When I made this image several years ago, the sky had been rather drab all day and as the magic time approached it looked as if nothing would happen. Then suddenly the clouds parted to the west, the falls began to glow and I had only moments to make a couple of exposures before the light was gone.

As a landscape photographer I spend a fair amount of time on the road each year often traveling hundreds of miles to remote locations. So it struck a chord when it was recently suggested within the online community of photographers to showcase images of those great scenes that are close to home – essentially in our backyard.

I’m fortunate to have a national park in my backyard and, although it’s 12 miles offshore in the Pacific Ocean and I don’t make it out there as often as I’d like, I do get to see it most every day. Channel Islands National Park is made up of five of the eight Channel Islands with Santa Cruz shown here being the largest. The islands are rich in Native American culture and wildlife and are a divers paradise, but even from afar they make a wonderful setting for a classic Southern California sunset.

I consider this more of a public service announcement than anything (insert wink here).

On the mainland the season is finally in full swing with brightly colored leaves, a crisp change in the air, and perhaps even a touch of snow at the higher elevations. But things in our 50th state haven’t changed much at all since last season, or the season before – in fact, they haven’t changed much in years. The temperature is still a constant 82 degrees, with light trade winds gently blowing the coconut palms. Dolphin frolic close to shore and the golden sun sets into the azure sea most every evening.

So while we’re all excited about the new look in the rest of the country, let’s not forget some things (and places) never change. And in the case of Hawaii, that’s just fine!

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, which stretches from San Francisco to Cambria California, is the largest preserve in the nation and one of the richest marine environments in the world. Migrating grey whales, sea otters and elephant seals are just some of the protected wildlife that can be experienced along this magnificent stretch of coastline.

This image was made at Sand Dollar Beach on the Big Sur coast in Los Padres National Forest. It is one of the most rugged and scenic areas on the Pacific and a favorite location for photographers, surfers and beach combers alike.  A 17mm wide angle lens was used to frame the half-mile cove and Santa Lucia Mountains beyond, and a split neutral density filter balanced the exposure between the sunset and flowers.