After what seemed like weeks of feeling congested, dizzy and downright confused I decided I needed to get out of the house. The thermometer was reaching 80 degrees that Sunday afternoon and I wasn’t going to waste another weekend in my cavernous office again. I grabbed my camera bag, dragged my 13 year old out of bed (note time: 12:30 pm and headed to the beach.

I grew up in a small city just a few miles from the beach and it wasn’t uncommon for the ocean breeze to make its way down the canyon to our home. As a child I couldn’t imagine NOT living close to the beach.

(that’s me on the left.. sand boobs? really?)

The summers spent hiking down 1000 steps weighted down by towels and chairs like a pack mule seemed normal to me. Everyone within 20 miles of the coast in Southern California spent their entire summer (and most of Fall, Winter and Spring for that matter) on the sand. What else were you going to do? We had two alternatives to the beach … Skateway or the mall, that’s it. You can only skate and suck down Icees for so long, the beach never gets old in fact the beach grows up with you. When you are in middle school all of the sudden the bikinis your mom buys for you become are more important than God just about the same time you start to wonder if those deep fried burritos from the snack shop are really the best choice.  Don’t even get me started about the beach and high school we all know what goes on down there. Some things are lost at the beach, swept out with the tides never to be seen again. I’m not talking about sand toys either.

Anyways.

Fast forward 100 years and I am about 30-40 minutes doorstep to shoreline and I find that I hardly ever go. I don’t know why. Wait yes I do, toll roads, traffic, parking, parking meters and then staking out that little 10 foot by 10 foot plot of sand in front of and behind a million other Californians who thought it better to take a half day and head to the beach.

When the temps start climbing I will always opt for a day poolside sans the sand. I didn’t raise any surfers and my four year old is a little OCD about sand filled bathing suits so we save the beach for “special occasions” or out of town visitors, heck when I go there I feel like an out of town visitor and I regret that. There is something very cathartic about the salt air and the sound of crashing waves.

Dressed head to toe in my black workout wear (see I even dress like a visitor) we approached the beach BIG camera in hand. I got a few glancing looks (that’s what happens when you whip out a big camera in public) and within minutes they all went back to whatever it was they were doing. It was hazy but few clouds and the tide was low the perfect opportunity to walk along the shoreline. I gave my son my back up camera and let him shoot with a couple different lenses. I posted a few of his photos before on the modchik (underwater photos) he has a great eye and as you’ll see below he took some great shots that day. I’m so grateful to share in this hobby, its not easy for this mother to find some common ground with a teenage boy. I’ll never master COD (Call of Duty for those of you living under a rock.. or without teenage sons… or husbands… or brothers). I’m happy anyday I can a.) get him outside and b). fire up that brilliant right side of the brain of his.

Here are a few images that day produced. Enjoy and try not to dwell too much on the fact that it’s January here and were digging ourselves out of sand instead of snow.  We also pay almost $4/gal for gas and I can touch my neighbors house with a broomstick.

From my bathroom.

photo by Lydon

(SOOC) I am in love with this photo he took … had no clue.

by Lydon

by Lydon

and hey thanks for making it all the way down to the end for that you get in on a little secret…

I have a new gig over on OC Family starting today. Check it out… more photography tips!