Carmel-by-the-Sea: Through the Lens of Aaron Chang

MISSION RANCH
This historic ranch sits on 22 acres with spectacular views of the point. Longtime Carmel Resident and former mayor, Clint Eastwood, rescued this historic
landmark from developers and renovated the property. The Mission Ranch Inn embodies the grace and charm of Carmel.

49



PACIFIC GREEN

This photo captures the crystal clear water
moving towards the white sandy beaches
ahead, releasing its beautiful energy in the
cool shallows of the shore.

To watch Aaron’s video about this image,
visit: AaronChang.com/Pacific-Green-Blog

51

7TH HOLE
One of the most iconic holes in the game of golf, the 7th hole at Pebble Beach is beyond beautiful.

52

CARMEL EMBERS
The setting sun paints the sea in fiery orange tones during low tide at Carmel Beach on a peaceful evening.

53

54

CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH
The beachfront at Carmel Meadows wraps
down the coast between Carmel River State

Beach and Monastery Beach.

BIG SUR COAST
The rustic majesty and grandeur
is captured in this afternoon
photo of the Big Sur Coastline.
Cypress trees on rock islands are
touched by the mist from the
crashing waves.

55

MAVERICKS LEFT
Brazilian surfer, Lucas ‘Chumbo’ Chianca, charges a left at Mavericks near Half Moon Bay.

56

MAVERICKS

The first substantial swell of the winter season produces a flawless 20’ left barrel at Mavericks. Mavericks is considered one the
most formidable big wave surfing breaks in the world. To watch Aaron’s video, visit: AaronChang.com/Mavericks-Blog

57

CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH
A painter captures the natural beauty around the Carmel River lagoon. This bird sanctuary
is the perfect inspiration for the plein air painters of Carmel.

58

59

WHITE WATER HORSES
Exploding white water creates a joyful dance of ocean energy. Water droplets are
captured in time, creating wonder-filled shapes in motion.

60

ZEN TREE
A singular cypress tree sculpted by offshore winds over time is surrounded by the
soft white sand of Carmel Beach, inviting quiet contemplation.

61

POINT LOBOS COLORS
On the Cypress Grove trail near the northwest point of the park, the foliage takes on a unique orange color from an algae called Trentepohlia
which turns a bright orange from carotene, a pigment that also occurs in carrots.

62

PELICANS
This is one of California’s endangered species success stories. Pelicans hover over the waves during a morning flight.

63

WHALER’S COVE, POINT LOBOS
This view, taken from Granite Point looks south across Whaler’s Cove and focuses on Cannery Point, home to a
whaling station and abalone cannery in operation between 1862 and 1879. .

64

65

LOVE RS P O I N T, PAC IF I C GROV E
Waves crash against the rocks at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, creating a wild, rustic scene of great beauty.
People enjoy the walking path along this place, where otters eat and play at sunrise and sunset.

66

AWAKENING

Aaron captures the iconic
cypress in Point Lobos

Reserve, aptly named ‘Old
Veteran’, alone and clinging to
the rock wall of Cypress Cove.

The tree has been carbon
dated to 1000 years old.

67

CYPRESS TREE SUNSET
This majestic Cypress tree lives at the southern end of Carmel Beach and is witness to countless beautiful sunsets.

68

CARMEL BUBBLES

A wave launches overhead as light beams pierce the crisp clear water on a sunny September day, highlighting the delicate bubbles traveling up
the face of the breaking wave. Photo by Aaron’s son, Saxon Chang. To see his collection, go to: SaxonChang.com.

69

PACIFIC GROVE RAINBOWS
A double rainbow lights up over Pacific Grove Marine Gardens Park in the early morning light.

70

SANDPIPERS
The simple beauty of a bird in flight is a wonder to behold when frozen in time at 1/2000th of a second.

71

29TH STREET
The sun sparkles through the
spray of an epic California wave.
To see Aaron’s story behind this shot,
go to his behind-the-scenes video:
AaronChang.com/ Wave-Trio

72

73

AZURE SEA PALO CORONA RANCH WILDLIFE
Cool, clean water spills into Bluefish Cove in Point Lobos Reserve, a popular diving spot
named for the huge schools of blue rockfish that live in the waters offshore. Deer, Red Tail Hawks and Mountain Lions can be seen in
this popular Carmel Valley park.
74

75

OSPREY
A California osprey spreads its wings. Majestic and beautiful, this sea hawk is captured taking flight.

76

BIG SUR RANCH 77
This abstract of the Big Sur Ranch coastline features a set of 10-foot waves breaking against the green pastures of the
ranch, capturing the feeling of the clean water and the wide open pastures that roll right to the beach. To see Aaron’s video
about this photograph, go to: AaronChang.com/big-sur-ranch-blog

78

MONASTERY BEACH
Also known as San Jose Creek
Beach, this beach sits just below
the Carmelite Monastery and is
a popular spot for scuba divers.

79

CARMEL RIVER STATE BEACH
This beautiful cove is among the many breathtaking views to be seen from Carmel’s Scenic Road.

80

INDIGO WATER

This golden wave gets its glow from
a sunrise on a crisp winter day. Using

a camera in a water housing, Aaron
shot this photo while swimming
inside the breaking waves.

81

CARDIFF DELIGHT
Two surfers run out for the last wave
of the day, under a rare and dramatic tropical summer sunset.
To see Aaron’s Endless Summer video and collection: AaronChang.com/Endless-Summer-Blog

82

PORTRAIT OF A SEAGULL
The subtle beauty of a resting seagull is captured in this intimate portrait.

83

OTTERS
A mother Otter feeds on her haul of mussels, delicately balanced on her belly, while her pup suckles its mother’s milk.

84

LIGHT AND SHADOW

On a certain swell, with the right tide, the left at Carmel Point can look much like an
Indonesian point break wave.

85

GENESIS WATER TRIPTYCH
Whitewater splashes over the rocks, separating the waves into tiny droplets, creating a rainbow halo of beauty and light.

86

87



NISENE MARKS FOREST
Shot in the forest of magestic Redwood trees while the sun rises and where the air smells earthy and fresh..

BLUE VELVET
The moon slinks over the ridge in the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in this masterpiece of light and shadows.
To see Aaron’s video about this shot, visit: AaronChang.com/Blue-Velvet

89

PIPER RUN
A lone sandpiper makes a hasty retreat in the pre-dawn hours at Carmel Beach, escaping the incoming shore break.

SUNRISE SOUTH BEACH
Parallel cypress trees greet the morning sun, both shaped by the same elements of rustic wind and sea air

over a century of growth and survival. The peaks of Point Lobos are visible in the background.

90

91

CARMEL BEACH AERIAL
Local standout surfer, Jonny Craft, boosts a small, but perfectly executed, aerial to end a flawless ride at Carmel beach.

92

SUBLIME
An arcing wave from a beautiful late summer south swell. Like a crystal sculpture, the water
is frozen in time, forever immortalized in the photograph.

93

PEBBLE BEACH
The existence and location of the original Pebble Beach, located just below the west end of the Lodge, is a little known gem.
Above this beach, the original Pebble Beach Lodge was completed in 1909.

94

SAPPHIRE SWELL
Cloud cover filters the final light of a setting sun, transforming the ocean into an inspiring scene of deep blue jewel tones.
To see Aaron’s video story behind this shot, go to: AaronChang.com/Sapphire-Swell-Blog

95

CARMEL BEACH STAIRS
A rustic wooden stairway provides access to the southern end of Carmel Beach. A favorite place for locals making beach bonfires on warm summer nights.

96

CORTES BANK PARSONS
San Clemente resident, Mike Parsons, rides a 67-foot wave breaking in the open ocean 100 miles due west of San Diego. This wave was awarded “Wave of the Year” in 2001.

97

CARMEL RIVER BEACH SUNSET
The sky is painted hues of orange, yellow and plum at the Carmel River State Beach after sunset.
Cypress trees are silhouetted on the point.

98