Best spots for photos in California, United States

California is known for its abundance of beautiful landscapes, making it one of the most popular destinations for photographers. From sweeping coastlines to towering mountains and rolling hills, the Golden State offers a variety of photogenic locations to capture memorable images.

The Pacific Coast Highway is arguably the most iconic route in California, with sweeping ocean views and a plethora of picturesque spots to capture stunning photos. From the iconic Bixby Bridge near Big Sur to the charming beach towns of Santa Cruz and Monterey, the PCH is perfect for taking postcard-worthy photographs.

Yosemite National Park is another must-see destination for photographers. The park is home to some of the most jaw-dropping landscapes in the world, with towering waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, and lush forests. The park also offers a range of activities for shutterbugs, from hikes and camping to wildlife viewing.

The Mojave Desert is another great place for photos. The vast desert landscape is a photographer’s dream, with dramatic rock formations, hidden canyons, and desolate sand dunes. For those looking for a more urban feel, the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco offer plenty of photographic opportunities, from bustling city streets to iconic landmarks.

The redwoods of Northern California are some of the most awe-inspiring sights in the state. Photographers have the opportunity to capture the majesty of these ancient trees, while also exploring the surrounding nature trails and beaches.

California’s wine country is also a great spot for photos. With rolling hills, lush vineyards, and pastoral scenes, it’s easy to find the perfect backdrop for your photos. Along the way, you can also take in the charming towns and boutique wineries.

Finally, Joshua Tree National Park is a great place for photographers to explore. The park offers sweeping desert views, spectacular rock formations, and plenty of opportunities for camping and hiking.

No matter what type of photos you’re looking to capture, California offers plenty of great locations. From its stunning coastlines to its towering mountains and lush forests, the Golden State is a photographer’s paradise.

Read more

Found
?
potential photo locations in California...

You're seeing ? out of ? hotspots
because you have filters applied.

Click here to remove filters

Search Visible Area

Curated

Keywords: bay, bridge, francisco, san, city, island, buena, baybridge, lights, skyline, yerba, treasure, high, resolution, panorama, oaklandsan, sunrise, port, blue, robert, syms

Sunset/SunriseLandscapeNatureWater/CoastalArchitectureCity/UrbanPanoramicTransport (Cars, Trains)

Curated

Keywords: san, francisco, skyline, back, potrerohill, they, say, city, project, puppy, japanese, shibainu, shibaken, 52weeksfordogs, fox, trot, high, 37/52, elevated, highway, curve

City/Urban

Curated

Keywords: street, lombard, san, francisco, hill, francisco's, flower, power, sfrancisco, russian, 'what's, up, doc', first, sunlight, bay, tortuous, lombard!, crookedest, st, full

City/Urban

Curated

Keywords: francisco, san, bay, bridge, panorama, port, high, resolution, island, city, lights, yerba, sunrise, downtown, oaklandsan, buena, heart, left, californiaef, california, baybridge

Sunset/SunriseArchitectureCity/UrbanPanoramic

Curated

Keywords: mono, lake, dreaming, explosion, color, out, world, amazing, tufa, towers, morning, summer, shot, thunderhead, monoscape

Curated

Keywords: san, fernando, valley, view, degree, porter, ranch, overlook, porterranch, sanfernandovalley, mountains, nature, viewingspot, reseda, landscape, palisadepark, palisades, park, northridge, path, bluff

LandscapeNature

Curated

Keywords: rock, canyon, red, cliffs, mojave, park, state, ricardo, desert, south, crevices, rocks, redrockcanyon, road, scenic, panography, sundaydrive, ca14, hipstamatic, landscape, kirbymiller

LandscapeCity/Urban

Curated

Keywords: concert, hall, disney, walt, losangeles, waltdisneyconcerthall, gehry, frankgehry, architecture, concerthall, building, angeles, los, waltdisney, reflection, photomatix, city, modern, high, dynamic, hill

ArchitectureCity/Urban

Curated

Panorama at Shark Fin Cove

Keywords: cove, fin, shark, seascape, ocean, beach, sunset, coast, sharkfincove, sea, landscape, wave, pacific, santacruz, sand, water, surf, davenport, northerncalifornia, waves, cliffs

Sunset/SunriseWater/Coastal

Curated

Keywords: sunset, bridge, bixby, big, sur, ocean, pacific, pacificocean, creek, sept, '04, archives, water, fog, coast, waves, sea, seascape, monterey, dusk, highway1

Sunset/SunriseWater/CoastalArchitecture

Curated

Keywords: lagos, dos, walkway, east, panorama, bridge, inside, pan, tunnel, bamboo, pic, corona, doslagos, celebrate, vacant, palm, empty, tree, alone, holidays, lights

ArchitecturePanoramic

Curated

Keywords: hill, sunset, barn, december, milpitas, old, bliss, ★★★★☆, field, grass, clear, windows, rolling, windowsxp, wallpaper

Sunset/SunriseLandscape

Curated

Keywords: tunnel, dam, hoover, hooverdam, nevada, bouldercity, hooovah, tour, concrete, tunnels, digital, hydroelectric, lakemead, vent, power, gate, shadow, river, colorado, canyon, blackcanyon

Water/Coastal

Curated

Keywords: los, angeles, belmont, tunnel, ca, 2000, history, abandoned, underground, subway, graffiti, losangeles, buried, graf, transport, ishootfilm, gone, urbanexploration, interurban, toluca, redcar

Abandoned

Curated

Keywords: pier, beach, water, sea, ocean, old, abandoned, sand, coast, danielle, pacific, cliff, architecture, bluehour, sun, cruz, sunset, davenport, pelican, sfbas, decay

Sunset/SunriseWater/Coastal

Curated

Keywords: palace, fine, arts, francisco, san, dusk, long, columns, water, reflection, night, twilight, artssan, greek, palaceoffinearts, bay, marina, city, masterpiece, study, tplringexcellence

Architecture

Curated

Keywords: griffith, los, angeles, observatory, downtown, city, losangeles, observatorio, blue, sunset, cityscape, lights, lightroom, view, explore, ciel, panorama, ville, skyline, griffithparkobservatory, color

Sunset/SunriseCity/Urban

Curated

Keywords: alabama, hills, lone, ranger, canyon, march, star, landscape, lonepine, alabamahills, weathered, sentinels, few, trails, tup, anawesomeshot, colorphotoaward, aplusphoto, theunforgettablepictures, goldstaraward, tup2

LandscapeNatureAstrophotography

Curated

Keywords: fire, valley, wave, firewave, zebrawave, nevada, giant, candy, cane, vrksasana, sunset, sandstone, overton, valleyoffire, landscape, rock, park, southwest, state, stripes, american

Sunset/SunriseLandscapeNature

  • Autumn Wave
    Autumn Wave
  • Fire Wave Sunset
    Fire Wave Sunset
  • Fiery Climax
    Fiery Climax
  • Fire Wave
    Fire Wave
  • Sunset On The Wave
    Sunset On The Wave
  • Desert with sky
    Desert with sky
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
  • Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
    Fire Wave Trail, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (USA) - June 2016
Curated

Keywords: sunset, san, francisco, ocean, seascape, ruins, sutrobaths, cliffhouse, apparitions, dusk, sutro, baths, whipped, cream, cloud, water, pool, rock, landscape, scenery, pacific

Sunset/SunriseNatureWater/CoastalPeople/PortraitsAstrophotography

Curated

Keywords: natural, seascape, nature, landscape, arch, bridges, state, park, beach, coast, rocks, waves, cove, shoreline, rocky, coastal, jimpattersonphotography, jimpattersonphotographycom, end, times, sunset

Sunset/SunriseWater/Coastal

Curated

Keywords: garrapata, big, sur, surf, bigsur, succulent, echeveria, dudleya, sea, seascape, beach, landscape, carmel, garrapatastatepark, carmelbythesea, californialandscape, montereypeninsula, californiaseascape, seascapephotography, old, friends:

NatureWater/Coastal

Curated

Keywords: beach, hole, wall, davenport, santa, cruz, ocean, pacific, seascape, landscape, explored, sunset, reflection, glow, sea, sunrise, santacruz, wave, pantherbeach, holeinthewallbeach, tempest

Curated

Keywords: beach, garrapata, big, sur, coast, state, calla, highway, pacific, stream, valley, surf, monterey, wildflowers, lillies, carmel, lilies, park, perfect, along, tokina1116

Water/Coastal

Curated

Keywords: davenport, beach, sunset, seascape, ocean, landscape, rocks, waves, pacific, jimpattersonphotography, jimpattersonphotographycom, storm, sea, coast, shoreline, rocky, coastal, shore, coastline, wall, hole

Curated

Keywords: lake, nevada, bonsai, tahoe, rock, laketahoe, bonsairock, study, nature, water, landscape, sunset, rocks, scenic, milk, natural, tripod, shore, gitzo, tribute, our

Curated

Keywords: yosemite, glacier, point, national, park, halfdome, valley, falls, sunset, pine, shade, viewing, upper, vernal, lower, half, dome

Curated

Keywords: alamo, square, painted, francisco, san, ladies, victorian, houses, lady'ssan, ladie, old, franciso, united, states, america, view, sfo, six, sisters, california, usa

ArchitectureCity/UrbanAbandoned