New England Light on San Diego Bay
San Diego’s morning marine layer is a familiar September weather phenomenon along the Southern California coast. While the Bay can be socked in with severely limited visibility, bright golden sunlight heats the hills and arroyos less than a mile to the east.
On this morning, I was struck by how similar the light at the Embarcadero was to the light at my favorite coastal haunts in New England. In this flat light, the topsail schooner Californian’s hull, masts and spars popped out from the grayness in a way I haven’t seen outside of Stonington, Mystic and Essex in ten years. Made me want to catch the next flight East for more. I knew this particular quality of light wouldn’t last long, so I moved quickly to find a composition that captures some of the power of opposites in this Southern California mecca for sun-seekers.
Topsail Schooner Californian and Bow of Raptor - Morning Overcast
The 145-foot topsail schooner Californian is a replica of a mid-19th-century revenue cutter, launched in celebration of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 2003, she was designated the official tall ship of the State of California.
In the foreground is the freshly painted bow of the Seattle-based work vessel Raptor. The US Navy-style standard stockless anchor adds a compelling visual accent that echoes the serious purpose of the schooner’s clean lines and powerful rig.
Nikon D5 with Nikkor 28-300mm lens (at 48mm) ISO 100, f/8.0 at 1/250 of a second.