Numerous surf photos exist of Steamer Lane, too many to count. Most of these are snapped from atop the cliff and bluff above the break zone, where a paved pedestrian walk meanders adjacent to a railing along the edge. It is a great place to watch and photograph surfing, and it is what makes the Lane such a fantastic spot to watch surf contests.

Of course, there are other places from which to release your shutter and capture an image of the action, and one of them is the subject of this column. Call it a lower perspective at Steamer Lane.

If you carefully descend the riprap that lines the cliff between the Point and the Indicator, you can get to sea level. At higher tides this is ill advised, since the waves will be pounding and surging in this area. However, at medium or low tides, you can position yourself at roughly the same elevation as the surfers themselves.

This angle is an interesting contrast to the usual places on the cliff. The height of the wave faces is more accurately portrayed, and the action comes straight at you. On the other hand, a wave in the foreground will block your view of a wave behind it, but this too can make for some interesting pictures.

Other perspectives are also possible, such as floating in the lineup and using a water cam to record the scene close-up. Perhaps that might be the subject of a future column about Steamer Lane. For now, enjoy these shots from a sunrise session in March 2010 at one of the most famous surf breaks on the West Coast.

CU Out There,

DogMan