Photochrome Camera Club

Just a reminder regarding our next field trip that will be on Saturday, May 1^st. 6:00 AM at the reserve.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Moss Beach
Tide Pool Photography Field Trip
6:00 AM Saturday May 1, 2010

Directions: You should probably leave San Francisco no later than 5:30 AM. The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve is located on the San Mateo County coast in Moss Beach. The entrance to the Reserve is at the western end of California Avenue off Cabrillo Highway (State Highway 1). Look for the large highway sign “California Avenue,” and the smaller sign “Marine Life Refuge,” just below it.

This will be a great time to catch the tide at -1.03 feet to photograph blue-green anemones, coralline algae, sea stars, crabs and many other animals including Harbor Seals lying on the beach. We will have a window of about three hours to photograph this seldom seen world. The area we will focus on is between Kelp Cove and Seal Cove. Pick up a map if available, outside the visitor center. Our meeting place will be right at the tide pools. There is ample parking at the reserve. Ranger Sarah will arrive at 7:30 AM to open the visitor center and restrooms. Be prepared for jagged slippery rocks and getting your feet wet. Sneakers may not be the best thing to wear. Ideally you should wear boots or something with tread, and don’t be afraid to get them wet. You might want to bring your macro lens, polarizer filter, tripod, microfiber cloth, diffuser of some sort, or an umbrella and a second set of clothes including shoes to change into if by chance you fall in a tide pool.

Ranger Sarah asked me to remind everyone of tide pool etiquette:

1.      Don’t step on any tide pool creatures.

2.      Don’t pick up or remove any animals from the tide pools or rocks.

3.      Stay at least 300 feet from Harbor Seals. If they lift their heads and look at you, then you are too close.

4.      Keep your voices down if you need to talk.

For more information log onto www.fitzgeraldreserve.org Also check out “Tide pool photography” by Stacy Boorn in the April 2008 Color News volume 63 issue 4 and “Tide pool photography tips” by Burr Preston in the June 2008 Color News volume 63 issue 6. Watch out for incoming tides. If you do, then let’s meet at Café Lucca around 10:00 AM. It’s located at 8455 Cabrillo Hwy in Montara about 1.5 miles north of the reserve.

We should come home with some wonderful images.

See you at the tide pools at 6:00 AM, (sunrise will be at 6:14 AM).

Gary Larsen

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