2020 has been a crazy year, full of uncertainty and chaos. We’ve all found moments where we can. I’ve relied on photography and travel to calm my senses. Both were difficult during the lockdown, but even during those moments I shot and traveled. Of course the travel was limited to about a couple square miles around my house and studio in San Diego. So when I was able to travel more broadly we hit the road to one of our favorite spots, the Northern California coast. It’s become our new go to spot. A once a year trek to continue our exploration. This year we hit the Lost Coast Trail up around Shelter Cove. It’s pretty remote, but accessible by car.

Photographically I wasn’t feeling the landscape photography I usually shoot on these road trips. Exploring the beaches I was seeing things smaller and more intimate - more abstract and symbolic. I was intrigued by the water, the shapes, the erosion and textures, and the plants and creatures seemingly living everywhere. There was beauty and tranquility everywhere I looked.

Given what we’ve gone through in 2020 and what surely will be a chaotic several weeks, if not months, I present to you several moments of visual zen. I hope they bring you the joy and peace I felt while discovering and creating them.

I had the pleasure of taking over the Wonderful Machine Instagram account for 3 days last week. I used the opportunity to feature some of my favorite and lesser known San Diego landmarks. I ended up posting about 36 images. Below are several of my favorites. To check out all the images visit the Wonderful Machine Instagram stream. To explore futher follow me on Instagram - @feriiiphoto

The southwestern most point in the continental United States. The western end of the US Mexico border fence. Great surf that day, BTW... — The southwestern most point in the continental United States. The western end of the US Mexico border fence. Great surf that day, BTW...

Chicano Park under the iconic Coronado Bay Bridge is one of my favorite under appreciated San Diego locales. This year the city officially recognized it as a skate park too.

Workers prep for the impending Apocalypse - adding mulch to the cliffs at Swami's to reduce erosion. SoCal is in a state of panic as we prepare for the potential of the greatest El Niño in the history of history this winter.

Sitting along the coast at the Northern most point of San Diego County just before the sprawl of The OC is the recently decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. Current negotiations center on who should pay for the shut down and where the spen… — Sitting along the coast at the Northern most point of San Diego County just before the sprawl of The OC is the recently decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. Current negotiations center on who should pay for the shut down and where the spent fuel rods should be stored. It's an icon on the I-5 drive between San Diego and LA.

Progress, always progress. In all my years in San Diego construction cranes have always been a fixture of the downtown skyline. The only exception to that was the first few years of the "Great Recession". All those cranes seemed to disappear one nig… — Progress, always progress. In all my years in San Diego construction cranes have always been a fixture of the downtown skyline. The only exception to that was the first few years of the "Great Recession". All those cranes seemed to disappear one night in early 2009. But as the economy has come roaring back, so has the progress….

The Mt Soledad cross sits atop the highest point in the posh San Diego neighborhood of La Jolla. The cross itself has undergone 2 "resurrections" and most recently a restoration. There have been 3 different crosses on the location since the original… — The Mt Soledad cross sits atop the highest point in the posh San Diego neighborhood of La Jolla. The cross itself has undergone 2 "resurrections" and most recently a restoration. There have been 3 different crosses on the location since the original was built I 1909. The current cross is embroiled in constant litigation as it sits on federal land, formerly city owned. Opponents argue for its removal based on the separation of Church and State. A Korean War Memorial was built directly under the cross as a way of appeasement. But numerous courts have ruled for its removal. At last check, the cross still stands…

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