Beauty and Carnage after the Storm

New Year Day in Santa Cruz

The year started out with a perfectly sunny and gorgeous day here at the top of the Monterey Bay. I headed down to the San Lorenzo river mouth, to see what had washed up and was amazed by what I found. The sheer force of the flooded river brought a wild tangle of driftwood and trash to the shoreline.

Puddles, Textures, and Color

While the shoreline was a havoc of debris, some puddles had remained closer to the Boardwalk providing the perfect opportunity for some reflections. Even when it is closed, the Boardwalk is an epicenter of fun, emanating joy with the cacophony of colors. There were also some amazing textures left behind in the sand, showing how strong the wind and waters were.

You Can’t Outdo the Ocean

Never to be outshined, the waves were perhaps the most beautiful things I saw as I explored Main Beach. I used my long lens to capture some of them breaking with the Lighthouse in the background. Flocks of birds were enjoying the surf, and they made the photos that much cooler.

Prints from this series are available! Email jakejthomasphoto@gmail.com to purchase your print, today!

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