Cooped Up? Get Uncooped.

My previous photo series probably gave the impression of a vast, beautiful beach upon which one could frolic and splash in playful waves. This is a false impression. First of all, the series depicts three beaches that are part of Point Reyes National Seashore: North Beach, South Beach, and Drake's Beach. None of them are really fun-in-the-sun, let's-play-beach-volleyball-style beaches.

 North has a particularly ominous reputation because the shape of the sea bottom creates a vicious undertow. Add to that a seasonal population of large great white sharks and a propensity for forming rip currents and sneaker waves, and you get a beach that's beautiful but potentially deadly. Very few people venture into the water.

• California
• beach
• sea
• ocean
• surf
• sharks
• wildlife
• sun
• summer
• vacation