Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts

If you are looking for more remote and dramatic places to photograph, this is the place!

It takes 2 hours to drive from Petaluma (in Sonoma County) to the Sonoma-Mendocino border, so start times can be earlier. The usual destination this far north are the Point Arena Lighthouse and Bowling Ball Beach in Southern Mendocino County. Along the way, there are several great places in Sonoma County, and we often make stops in that county too. The Sonoma County-only workshops range between Bodega Bay and The Sea Ranch. These workshops emphasize coastal areas, as well as mountains, hills, forests, and misty scenes.

The Seasons

Fall

In the early part of fall is the mildest weather along the coast. The chances for great sunsets are relatively high.

Winter

We take chances when shooting in this season, there can be heavy showers (it's happened during workshops). But, dealing with this inconvenience gives us some of the most dramatic results. Sunsets can be spectacular.

Spring

Spring here is a relative term, the weather can often be cool and windy with chances of rain, but the landscape is beautiful. Skies are usually clear in the afternoon since summer fog has not arrived.

Summer

It almost never rains, but the weather can vary between bright and sunny to foggy.