Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach is a wild, windswept stretch of Big Sur coastline famous for Keyhole Arch, a large sea stack with a naturally eroded opening that frames the Pacific beyond. The arch is the main subject here, and you will want to position yourself low on the sand at the waterline to capture reflections in the wet sand as waves wash in, or use a longer exposure to smooth the surf around the base of the rock. Around the winter solstice, the setting sun aligns directly with the keyhole and sends a dramatic beam of purple and gold light through the opening onto the beach, making it one of the most sought-after seasonal shots on the California coast. A wide angle lens works well for environmental compositions, while a short telephoto lets you compress the arch against the sky. The beach requires a short walk from a small fee parking area off Sycamore Canyon Road. (Big Sur, California, United States)
