Bay Area Nature Photography

Mavericks is a big surfing location in California outside Pillar Point Harbor, just north of the town of Half Moon Bay and January happens to be the best time of year to visit for the Big waves! This January beach trip has been on the bucket list for a while now so it's time to make it happen.

Let's go experiment with trying to capture some curling ocean waves around and near Mavericks Beach. There are two potential parking locations and I am not sure which one to use just yet, so make sure you RSVP to get the exact updates. Maybe we will have time to relocate and do both angles.

Location City:
Half Moon Bay, CA

This event will occur regardless of bad weather, so prepare to raincoat yourself and have rain covers for your camera bag and equipment as necessary.

This is a practice session where we get together and help support each other's creative eye and practice our camera skills. This is not a class-type event or private lesson for beginners on how to use your cameras. Please have a basic understanding of the gear you have decided to purchase.
But, artistic collaboration and photography gear talk is highly welcomed and encouraged by all participants!!!

Please RSVP by the Respond by time window. This is when I will email out the event location and details within a few hours after or on the evening of the RSVP close time. Meeting location and event details are only provided to RSVP's via email for the safety of our members and their gear.

Please ensure your Meetup notifications for the group are turned ON so you don't miss these valuable emails with more event details.

This event is a fun FREE photography social session!

Tipping your host is welcome, to show appreciation for her time spent researching events and providing these image content opportunities.

Tips or donations to your organizer by
cash or the Pledge fundraising link, this section is found on the main page of our group at https://www.meetup.com/bay-area-nature-photography/

Or give directly to your host for volunteering her time by sending via Venmo at
https://venmo.com/u/AllShiva (last 4 digits of phone #9100)

Every donation helps as Meetup has been increasing their charges to Meetup organizers for hosting their groups each year, so this kind of support does help assure that more photography events will be planned in the future and it helps me avoid having to ask for membership fees.

WHAT TO BRING?
A telephoto lens or your longest-reaching focal lengths will do best for trying to get in on closer compositions of the ocean waves. I only own a 70-200mm, so I might do a lens rental for this adventure as I have a feeling a 400mm or 600mm might be more fun. Google says around 300mm will do fine but bring out and practice with what you got.

More importantly, come prepared for bad weather just incase.
Bring a raincoat for yourself and have rain covers for your camera bag and equipment as necessary. This could be risky bad weather conditions that could risk your equipment so come responsible and prepared, but because I said this it will probably be sunny LOL! But bad weather makes the greatest photography.

Also, you should also bring a tripod and you might want to bring a polarizer and your ND filters.

Pack water & snacks for yourself.

Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.
Please dress smart. Pack layers of clothing.

Check traffic conditions and give yourself enough time.
Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle.

Please do not bring your pets to these photo events.

LIABILITY & SAFETY WAIVER DISCLAIMER: All participants agree to assume 100% responsibility for their own safety, conduct, and well-being and recognize that possible hazards exist while participating in outdoor (or any other) activities, and agree to participate solely at their own risk.

By your RSVP "Yes" and voluntary participation in this event, you agree to enter into this liability waiver in which you hereby release any rights or claims to pursue any type of accident, injury or damages, whether bodily or to personal property, is the fault of the host, Shiva Sharifi. All participants release their right to any claim or fault of the organizer, any partners, associates or members and do hereby discharge now and forever any occurrence at the location(s), surrounding areas or traveling to and from location(s) on the day of this event.

I certify that I am physically fit, have no health-related reasons or problems that preclude my participation and have sufficiently prepared for the aforementioned activity or event.

By your RSVP “Yes” and/or attending any of our events, it shall be conclusively presumed that you understand and agree to this policy.

This event will happen regardless of bad weather.

RSVPs will be removed from the event/group for not having and maintaining a clear profile image of themselves without sunglasses for safety reasons. This will also make it much easier to find each other at the start of each event. Thank you!

- Shiva Sharifi
Find me on
https://www.instagram.com/allshivaadventures/

Visiting our local Bay Area Baylands is a recurring weekday activity I will try to schedule monthly at different trails and access points. These locations offer great opportunities for capturing waterfowl, nature up close as well as landscape photography, especially if the clouds are doing something interesting overhead.

This is a practice session where we get together and help support each other's creative eye and practice our camera skills. This is not a class-type event or private lesson for beginners on how to use your cameras. Please have a basic understanding of the gear you have decided to purchase.
But, artistic collaboration and photography gear talk is highly welcomed and encouraged by all participants!!!

Location City:
Mountain View, CA

Please RSVP by the Respond by time window. This is when I will email out the event location and details within a few hours after or on the evening of the RSVP close time. Meeting location and event details are only provided to RSVP's via email for the safety of our members and their gear.

Please ensure your Meetup notifications for the group are turned ON so you don't miss these valuable emails with more event details.

This event is a fun FREE photography social session!

Tipping your host is welcome, to show appreciation for her time spent researching events and providing these image content opportunities.

Tips or donations to your organizer by
cash or the Pledge fundraising link, this section is found on the main page of our group at https://www.meetup.com/bay-area-nature-photography/

Or give directly to your host for volunteering her time by sending via Venmo at
https://venmo.com/u/AllShiva (last 4 digits of phone #9100)

Every donation helps as Meetup has been increasing their charges to Meetup organizers for hosting their groups each year, so this kind of support does help assure that more photography events will be planned in the future and it helps me avoid having to ask for membership fees.

WHAT TO BRING?
Always recommend that you pack at least two types of lenses with you on these photo walks. Bring at least your main zoom or telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens with you. Of course, bring any of your other fun camera gear you wish to experiment with using on this day.

Pack water & snacks for yourself.

Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.
Please dress smart. Pack layers of clothing.

Check traffic conditions and give yourself enough time.
Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle.

Please do not bring your pets to these photo walk events.

This event will be rescheduled if it is raining.

LIABILITY & SAFETY WAIVER DISCLAIMER: All participants agree to assume 100% responsibility for their own safety, conduct, and well-being and recognize that possible hazards exist while participating in outdoor (or any other) activities, and agree to participate solely at their own risk.

By your RSVP "Yes" and voluntary participation in this event, you agree to enter into this liability waiver in which you hereby release any rights or claims to pursue any type of accident, injury or damages, whether bodily or to personal property, is the fault of the host, Shiva Sharifi. All participants release their right to any claim or fault of the organizer, any partners, associates or members and do hereby discharge now and forever any occurrence at the location(s), surrounding areas or traveling to and from location(s) on the day of this event.

I certify that I am physically fit, have no health-related reasons or problems that preclude my participation and have sufficiently prepared for the aforementioned activity or event.

By your RSVP “Yes” and/or attending any of our events, it shall be conclusively presumed that you understand and agree to this policy.

RSVPs will be removed from the event/group for not having and maintaining a clear profile image of themselves without sunglasses for safety reasons. This will also make it much easier to find each other at the start of each event. Thank you!

- Shiva Sharifi
Find me on
https://www.instagram.com/allshivaadventures/

Visiting our local Bay Area Baylands is a recurring activity I will try to schedule monthly at different trails and access points. These locations offer great chances & opportunities for capturing waterfowl, nature up close as well as landscape photography, especially if the clouds are doing something interesting overhead.

This is a practice session where we get together and help support each other's creative eye and practice our camera skills. This is not a class-type event or private lesson for beginners on how to use your cameras. Please have a basic understanding of the gear you have decided to purchase.
But, artistic collaboration and photography gear talk is highly welcomed and encouraged by all participants!!!

This location charges a Vehicle Entry Fee
A vehicle entry fee of $6 per vehicle is charged at entry

Location City:
Newark, CA

Please RSVP by the Respond by time window. This is when I will email out the event location and details within a few hours after or on the evening of the RSVP close time. Meeting location and event details are only provided to RSVP's via email for the safety of our members and their gear.

Please ensure your Meetup notifications for the group are turned ON so you don't miss these valuable emails with more event details.

This event is a fun FREE photography social session!

Tipping your host is welcome, to show appreciation for her time spent researching events and providing these image content opportunities.

Tips or donations to your organizer by
cash or the Pledge fundraising link, this section is found on the main page of our group at https://www.meetup.com/bay-area-nature-photography/

Or give directly to your host for volunteering her time by sending via Venmo at
https://venmo.com/u/AllShiva (last 4 digits of phone #9100)

Every donation helps as Meetup has been increasing their charges to Meetup organizers for hosting their groups each year, so this kind of support does help assure that more photography events will be planned in the future and it helps me avoid having to ask for membership fees.

WHAT TO BRING?
Always recommend that you pack at least two types of lenses with you on these photo walks. Bring at least your main zoom or telephoto lens and a wide-angle lens with you. Of course, bring any of your other fun camera gear you wish to experiment with using on this day.

Pack water & snacks for yourself.

Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.
Please dress smart. Pack layers of clothing.

Check traffic conditions and give yourself enough time.
Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle.

Please do not bring your pets to these photo walk events.

This event will be rescheduled if it is raining.

LIABILITY & SAFETY WAIVER DISCLAIMER: All participants agree to assume 100% responsibility for their own safety, conduct, and well-being and recognize that possible hazards exist while participating in outdoor (or any other) activities, and agree to participate solely at their own risk.

By your RSVP "Yes" and voluntary participation in this event, you agree to enter into this liability waiver in which you hereby release any rights or claims to pursue any type of accident, injury or damages, whether bodily or to personal property, is the fault of the host, Shiva Sharifi. All participants release their right to any claim or fault of the organizer, any partners, associates or members and do hereby discharge now and forever any occurrence at the location(s), surrounding areas or traveling to and from location(s) on the day of this event.

I certify that I am physically fit, have no health-related reasons or problems that preclude my participation and have sufficiently prepared for the aforementioned activity or event.

By your RSVP “Yes” and/or attending any of our events, it shall be conclusively presumed that you understand and agree to this policy.

RSVPs will be removed from the event/group for not having and maintaining a clear profile image of themselves without sunglasses for safety reasons. This will also make it much easier to find each other at the start of each event. Thank you!

- Shiva Sharifi
Find me on
https://www.instagram.com/allshivaadventures/

Let's get together for a lovely slow trail hike at Del Valley which should be wonderfully green this time of year. The hike is mostly flat with mild hills and is about 1.2 mile out and back trail so 2.4 miles in total. Pack a lunch or snacks for yourself as this trail has a nice picnic table area where we can take a rest stop. I hope to time our experience with the softer setting afternoon sunlight but also time our hike to be back to our vehicles right around sunset so we can do some final captures over the water. We will be slow hiking and giving ourselves time to go at a mellow pace and just watch the weather kind of landscape photography experience :)

This event may be rescheduled if it is severe rain, I do hope for a little bad weather so we have some beautiful clouds to capture.

This location charges a Vehicle Entry Fee
A vehicle entry fee of $6 per vehicle is charged at entry
Location City:
Livermore, CA

This is a practice session where we get together and help support each other's creative eye and practice our camera skills. This is not a class-type event or private lesson for beginners on how to use your cameras. Please have a basic understanding of the gear you have decided to purchase.
But, artistic collaboration and photography gear talk is highly welcomed and encouraged by all participants!!!

Please RSVP by the Respond by time window. This is when I will email out the event location and details within a few hours after or on the evening of the RSVP close time. Meeting location and event details are only provided to RSVP's via email for the safety of our members and their gear.

Please ensure your Meetup notifications for the group are turned ON so you don't miss these valuable emails with more event details.

This event has a $5 fundraising fee for organizing a photography social session and the location charges a vehicle entry fee of $6 per vehicle

Tips or donations to your organizer by
cash or the Pledge fundraising link, this section is found on the main page of our group at https://www.meetup.com/bay-area-nature-photography/

Or give directly to your host for volunteering her time by sending via Venmo at
https://venmo.com/u/AllShiva (last 4 digits of phone #9100)

Every donation helps as Meetup has been increasing their charges to Meetup organizers for hosting their groups each year, so this kind of support does help assure that more photography events will be planned in the future and it helps me avoid having to ask for membership fees.

WHAT TO BRING?
Pack your favorite camera gear but I definitely recommend more wider angle lens for landscape captures during this hike experience. You might want a light telephoto lens with you as well. It's all up to you what level of weight you want to carry around for a couple miles. Most important it to make sure you are carring a comfortable weight for yourself. Also pack a nice light picnic to bring with you on this experience. We will be doing a very slow hike and stopping at some picnic tables to rest and eat our packed meals.

Pack water & picnic sandwiches, snacks, etc. for yourself.

Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately.
Please dress smart. Pack layers of clothing.

Check traffic conditions and give yourself enough time.
Do not leave valuables visible in your vehicle.

Please do not bring your pets to these photo walk events.

This event may be rescheduled if it is severe rain, I do hope for a little bad weather so we have some beautiful clouds to capture.

LIABILITY & SAFETY WAIVER DISCLAIMER: All participants agree to assume 100% responsibility for their own safety, conduct, and well-being and recognize that possible hazards exist while participating in outdoor (or any other) activities, and agree to participate solely at their own risk.

By your RSVP "Yes" and voluntary participation in this event, you agree to enter into this liability waiver in which you hereby release any rights or claims to pursue any type of accident, injury or damages, whether bodily or to personal property, is the fault of Shiva Sharifi. All participants release their right to any claim or fault of the organizer, any partners, associates or members and do hereby discharge now and forever any occurrence at the location(s), surrounding areas or traveling to and from location(s) on the day of this event.

I certify that I am physically fit, have no health-related reasons or problems that preclude my participation and have sufficiently prepared for the aforementioned activity or event.

By your RSVP “Yes” and/or attending any of our events, it shall be conclusively presumed that you understand and agree to this policy.

RSVPs will be removed from the event/group for not having and maintaining a clear profile image of themselves without sunglasses for safety reasons. This will also make it much easier to find each other at the start of each event. Thank you!

- Shiva Sharifi
Find me on
https://www.instagram.com/allshivaadventures/