Driving Big Sur: Nepenthe Photo

Photographer’s Note

When we drive Big Sur, I like to stop at Nepenthe for a late meal. “Nepenthe was expected to be just a roadside sandwich stand,” according to Thunderbird Boogie, "However, Rowan Maiden, a red bearded brilliant young architect and disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, came into the picture with an economical, yet daring, redwood and glass design that exemplified the best of California's indoor/outdoor life-style. It subtly framed the awesome view of Big Sur's south coast.” I was surprised to read that, I’ve never thought much about the building. I stop for the food and view. So I went looking for a picture of the building, The only one I found is one of mine and it’s not very good. The source for the quote includes a very interesting interactive map.

We always drive straight through Big Sur from Ventura or Morro Bay to Monterey or Santa Cruz, however as Xuaxo pointed out, I think 150 miles is a less than a half-day trip but people from Europe might disagree. By the time you reach Nepenthe from the Cliff House or Carpinteria, you will have traveled about 200 Miles/332K for the day or 100 miles/161K from your lunch at Morro Bay. You really might like to stop somewhere around here; so here is a link to lodging in the area. It includes both rooms and campsites. From Nepenthe to Morro Bay is about 60 miles/96K further.

Last month there was a charity bike ride to support “Trips for Kids” that cycled Big Sur’s 92 miles/150k in one day and spent the next day cycling back via another route.

This is the most scenic section of the drive with lots of TE photos of the area. pnphan has a great misty shot that is quite typical of the area, Darrasin has an awesome sunset Shot. This spring photo was my first TE post. Nagual shows the more typical brown view of the same Big Creek Bridge that I posted in the spring. We always say that southern California has about 15 minutes of green in the spring.

In additions to the maps in the first two links above, there’s one in the WS as well.

nels, delkoo, isabib, ribeiroantonio, Gerrit, pablominto, nwoehnl, ALIRIZA, sabyasachi1212, bakes888, Henryk_Bilor, imrek, elmec, Davidwh, pboehringer, Scharan, john_c, jmdaoudal, cunejo200, xuaxo, josepmarin, Emile, scobert has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

nels (2455) 2006-10-28 15:18

amazing view pat, very peaceful and tranquil scene love the strong colours in the forground nice dof

adrian

anesugur (17120) 2006-10-28 15:31

Hi Patricia,
What a wonderful place.
Very good POV and nice warm colors.
Very well seen and done.
Congratulations. Uğur

delkoo (35058) 2006-10-28 15:59

hi patricia
beautiful place to relax and read a book
while admiring the landscape, there are many bald people or almost bald person on this photograph!!! weather perhaps.

cheers
didier

isabib (1951) 2006-10-28 18:53

Hi Patricia,

What a view. I like how you included the people on the scene. Makes the whole picture and view more interesting. TFS!

ribeiroantonio (22060) 2006-10-29 1:16

First, many thanks for the detailed touring guide you offer with your note. It is beautifully done.
Your photo is also very beautiful and the place you show today looks the perfect place to relax after a long drive. The scenery is so good that we may even forget how bad the coffee is!!!
Antonio

Gerrit (36615) 2006-10-29 2:28

Hi Patricia.
Fantastic place for a bite. The view is unbelievable.
Regards, Gerrit

pablominto (41700) 2006-10-29 3:39

Hello Pat,
I like the way you let us see the same as they do..!
This coast line has a beauty of its own, where the huge American continent meets the vast Pacific...
Good point of view, lovely colours and fine details... The square format works well here!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

gunbud (28325) 2006-10-29 7:28

Hi Pat,
What a great place for a snack. Love the soft light on the distant hills.
Regards, Tom

nwoehnl (120) 2006-10-29 8:23

Hi Pat - a nice add to your Big Sur series, with good lighting and a vivid color pallette. The deep DOF was certainly called for here to illustrate the beauty of the coastal scenery, and I like how your viewpoint puts us almost in the same position as the folks on the terrace. Amazing notes, too, very rich in documentary value.

darrasin (2860) 2006-10-29 10:12

Hello Pat! Thanks for more of this great information. The view here really is great, and the way you shot this allows us to appreciate it as well as experience it as the man in the green shirt did. Nice work!

Regards,
Doug

feather (50588) 2006-10-29 10:38

Another great addition to what must be the best travelogue on here. You should go into the travel business. Once again I've enjoyed exploring your links.
This shot is very well composed with the inclusion of the people. We want to be there with them. Keep up the good work
(I've sent you an e-mail)
Kath

ALIRIZA (16197) 2006-10-29 13:24

Hi Patricia,
A fantastic photo with a great POV. Details, composition and natural colors(beautiful green and blue tones) are marvelous.
Best regards my friends...
Ali Rıza

lestans (15550) 2006-10-29 17:40

Ciao Pat!!

I notice that everybody are looking to Big Sur view, and ebjoy it!! This place is quite beautiful, I had been there in 2001 during my first tour in California.

I like your composition, I like the table and people in the bottom. It is really difficult to describe such a gorgeous place, in fact I have no pictures of it, I only enjoyed my eyes!
Brava!!

Livia

sabyasachi1212 (19546) 2006-10-30 0:57

Hi Patricia,
The 6x6 format may not be the most popular around, it can sometimes be very effective as you have shown use here. Excellent view of the coast and your informative and exhaustive note puts this place in a whole new perspective.
With Greetings from India
Sabyasachi

[2]

lucski (3676) 2006-10-30 3:36

Hi Patricia
This is realy nice place and realy good photo, colours, details and sharp are very well. Great composition too.
TFS lukasz

bakes888 (18353) 2006-10-30 4:51

Hi Pat. This looks like a fantastic place for a lunch stop, or any other kind of stop for that matter. You have captured the view and the eatery well, it’s good to see the human element as it adds context I think. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers, Paul.

lukas (2027) 2006-10-30 7:31

Hi Pat
This is an excellent view with good saturated colours and a nice frame. A great place to be for relaxing i suppose...
Greetings from Brussels.
Luc

kurekpit (401) 2006-10-30 10:19

Hi Patricia
Another nice picture,good colours and very interesting note,realy good place to relax
Best regards

* Piotr *

elmec (12194) 2006-10-30 16:10

Hello Patricia!
Lovely holidas climates once again!
I like the countryside there!
Best regards!

Davidwh (3654) 2006-10-30 16:50

Hi Pat,
When I get the chance (and the cash!) to have a lengthy visit of your homeland i must take in some of the sites you have displayed in your images.Your notes are always so informative and interesting...they just make you want to get up and go! A lovely landscape...i like the over the shoulder view (shame his legs are cut off!).Always a pleasur...take care.
Regards, David

pboehringer (770) 2006-10-30 20:04

Good capture of the people not only enjoying the great view but also the warm afternoon sun.
Cheers, Peter

Angshu (34253) 2006-10-30 22:32

Hi Pat
The view is amazing from there & your POV makes me feel that I'm looking at the beautiful landscape from a vantage position. Colours are lovely and I like the little touch of framing with the leaves on the right. Well done yet again
Regards
Angshu

imrek (4) 2006-10-31 4:07

HI Patricia,
a beautyful view, i like how the image is framed with brances and clouds...the pov is well choosen!!!
regards,
imre

rosaline (0) 2006-10-31 5:55

Hi Pat
Stunning view. I've heard of the Big Sur. One day I will be able to visit and drive along it. Good scene and nice colouring. Great shot.
Aubrey

Henryk_Bilor (20375) 2006-10-31 6:14

Hi PAtricia
Beautiful view at the mountains at the bay. Good composition and framing and very nice colours.
Regards

john_c (24635) 2006-10-31 10:47

Hi Patricia,
Well composed with a superb view of the coastline. I like the way the light is bathing the people in warmth and their obvious enjoyment of both the food and the vista. An interesting point about the architecture of the building. Good clarity of detail. Well captured, Pat.
John

jmdaoudal (82) 2006-10-31 11:35

There is a great balance in and the square format is delivering a message about grandiose landscapes in coastal California.
That a good comosition built around a man looking at and the quality is great.
Thanks for the note.
Jean Michel

Scharan (13955) 2006-10-31 20:24

Olá Patricia
Que belo cenário, composição linda e agradável de se ver; cores ótimas, o vermelho das cadeiras quebra os tons de verde e azul que predominam. Parabéns, amei.
Grande abraço,
Vera.

ahmetgedikli (22249) 2006-11-01 15:19

Hi Pat,
This is a great shot the colours are superb. Very good POV too... Well done,
greetings.
Ahmet

izmirli (3367) 2006-11-02 2:49

merhaba dear patricia
beautiful panoramic picture.very good landscape and composition.well done.
best regards.
gürkan akçakır.

cunejo200 (7243) 2006-11-02 22:13

Hi Pat,
I read your Note about an upcoming TE meeting in CA. I do hope others will have a chance to drive this guide you are giving us. Well captured with nice colors. Best wishes. Danilo

RADEEH (2772) 2006-11-03 11:55

The warm colours and the evening light are brillantly captured. The PoV allows us to enjoy the beauty of the place in a better way. Congratulations and TFS

xuaxo (5917) 2006-11-04 9:35

Hi Pat
Beautiful landscape and a nice place to rest, it seems so. As you included the people in foreground, it shows very well what we can expect here.
F

josepmarin (34295) 2006-11-09 10:50

Hi Pat,
This high POV gives us an image with great depth and an angle that catches a really beautiful coastline. This place meets very nice and agreeable to sit down to eating enjoying great panoramic this one. If in addition there's a beautiful day it must be fantastic.
The people give life and dynamism to this scene, which is very well illuminated and has beautiful colors. I like to see these green leaves in foreground.
It is a great work.
Friendly regards,
Josep

Emile (20177) 2006-11-19 0:52

Hola Patricia.
Beautiful landscape, love the colors and sharpness. Your POV is very good and the people add a nice touch to your shot. Great perspective and depth.
Well done.
TFS.

scobert (5333) 2008-05-01 19:49

Hi Pat,
This has to be one of the top vistas on the planet! I am tired from working too hard and for saving up all my annual leave for this Summer. I could walk right into the frame, take in a deep breath of freah air, look at the fabulous scenery, prop my feet up and take a relaxing nap. A great shot of this amazing place!
Stan