Luis Ortega is a San Diego based photographer and film photographer. Follow Luis on Instagram for more beautiful images of Southern California life.
Six-tenths of a mile. The vast majority of what I shoot happens in this small yet magical stretch of Pacific coastline. There are other beaches. There are other surf breaks. But this particular one is home. I went to middle school not too far away, I swam competitively down the street (something I hated in the moment but can now appreciate), and I can’t stop coming back.
Summer might offer up the rare south swell, a surfer's delight, but I mainly go during this time of year to people watch, for a handful of reasons.
For one, the combination of open sand and miniature cliffs leads people to set up differently every time. Some groups may choose to tuck in between rock formations, others prefer to soak up the sun on top. It lets the same spots present themselves in fresh ways every day.
There are also a few choice sandbars that allow an excellent shorebreak to womp in. I grew up playing in the waves and love seeing other kids have the same sort of fun I had. There's also the simple reality that there’s only a single, overused porta-potty and no parking lot. Maybe it’s mean, but it keeps the beach from ever getting too crowded.
