Sombrio Beach
Sombrio Beach is a wild, windswept stretch of coastline along the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, where old-growth forest meets a dramatic rocky shore piled with driftwood and backed by sea stacks rising from the surf. The driftwood logs scattered across the beach make excellent foreground elements, and you can use them to frame the ocean and sea stacks in the middle distance. Overcast days are ideal here since the soft, diffused light brings out the deep greens of the forest and the texture of the wet stones without harsh shadows. Early morning visits reward you with mist hanging in the trees and fewer people on the beach. A wide-angle lens works well for capturing the full sweep of the scene. The beach is accessible via a short trail from a parking lot off Highway 14, with a moderate descent down wooden stairs to reach the shore. (Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada)
