Film Photography on Vacation | San Diego, California | Film Photographer

As I was thinking about how to share these photos, I decided that if no one else sees this, it is okay. As an artist, I feel like we want people to see what we create and that is where the sense of enjoyment comes from. But, in truth, we need to be comfortable with just doing things for us.

Practicing film photography on vacation is the best way for me to learn the art of film. It’s less pressure. I don’t have an audience in the moment. It allows me to tell a story through my lens. Allows artists to slow down in the moment. I just started this practice and I’m so glad I did!

When I arrived in San Diego, I knew I wanted to go for a nice walk. I had just been on a plane for 4 hours and by the time I got my rental car and checked into my airbnb, I was ready to walk! A week or so before, I did some research and wrote down a few must sees while in town so I had my list and went out to my first, Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve.

Torrey Pines State Natural Preserve

From the moment I drove into the park, I was stunned. Like, how could two of my favorite landscapes be right next to one another? There are the cliffs and there is the beach. If I lived in San Diego, I’d be here all the time.

Being here, I felt alone but also surrounded. It’s one of those feelings where things feel full but yet they also feel empty. I truly think it’s because the preserve is so large! You’ve got people hiking, running, cliff jumping and then you’ve got families running around in bathing suits enjoying their afternoon. It’s quite a magical experience.

I’ve always been inspired by my surroundings.

Lately, the way that the sun hits a surface, has inspired my artistic approach to life, to work, to everything. On one hand you have the warmth that it shares and the other is the shadows which sometimes reflect a cooling feeling.

I enjoy the lines that the sun forms. The way that the texture shows up differently in the sun versus in the shadow. It’s stunning in my eyes. If you’re not familiar, film photography has a natural grainy look to it. I think it shows up even more in the light. Film photography on vacation allows me to enjoy my time more.

La Jolla Cove

The next spot on my must see list was La Jolla Cove, the home of the sea lions and shores where you can go scuba diving! Multiple times throughout you visit you can be entertained by hundreds of marine life. It is a hoot to listen and observe the sea lions! If you’re not interested in the beachside, there is plenty of local shops and delicious restaurants! You will enjoy La Jolla either way!

Treat Yourself Every Once in a While

One of the best experiences I had while at La Jolla was the five course dinner from The Kitchen at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego. I had come across the opportunity while making my must see list and was like, “Do I really need to go to a five course dinner themed around melon?” Yes, yes I do! And I’m so glad I did.

The courses varied from a tomato melon salad with the creamiest feta cheese to a wagyu with a melon curry. I felt like a queen! Not only was it five courses but it was also five stars! While I was enjoying my meal, the sunset was setting and it was getting cooler. Other tables were being seated – it was fun to see other people out and about enjoying what La Jolla has to offer!

Balboa Park

Balboa Park is like a Disney World for the artistic person. With museums, parks, trails, and so much nature, you don’t want to miss this!

The Spanish Village Art Center has so much culture and I’d love it! It’s like you transported to a little Spanish town. So many artists with their little shops, lots of color, and beautiful design!

Balboa Park is also where we did wedding portraits for Cat and James. Cat and James are the reason why I came to San Diego – they got married! Honored to capture this new chapter in their lives.

So much beach, it was lovely!

On my last full day in San Diego, I went to breakfast and then went to the Sunset Cliff neighborhood to do some more sight seeing and to finish up a roll of film. Recently, I’ve been shooting a series of vintage cars in their natural habitat. San Diego had a lot of unique cars to capture; especially volkswagens!

When I saw the couple riding their bikes, I immediately captured it! I love the movement and the way it captures the lifestyle of Californian’s – a nice breezy bike ride. I also took in a lot of stunning architecture. The homes were full of detail, architectural lines, and beautiful landscaping.

Thanks for stopping by!

I love having a space to share my film photography on vacation! Can’t wait to share photos from my next adventure! Read about my previous one, here!

All shot on a Nikon N65 with Kodak Portrait 400. Developed by The Find Lab.