HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA or SURF CITY is a fabulous place to take pictures 

Photographing Sunsets: Photographs of sunsets in Huntington Beach are fairly simple to take with the correct lighting and some strategic framing. Sunrises and sunsets are different every day of the year and the spectrum of colors can change each day as well as each minute during the last phases of the sunset. There's nothing as relaxing and inspiring as taking a picture of the sun setting over the world-famous Huntington Beach Pier. This pier has been the landmark and centerpiece of Huntington Beach for over 100 years since it was first built in 1904.  There are some homes along Pacific Coast Highway with spectacular sunset views. For a $4 to 5 million dollar house with a view, check this out.

For photographers and travelers in Huntington Beach, there are some great photo labs to develop your film in an hour but none in the Main Street downtown region. Disposable film cameras and film are sold in shops along the street, however. Stores where we've seen film include Beach Island, Zack's Concessions, Surf City Deli and Surf City Store. Film processing is available nearby at Seacliff Shopping Center at Albertson's or at EJ's Photo at 5 Points Plaza. For our business needs, we have converted primarily to digital and travel with a Dell notebook computer and a Western Digital 250 Gig hard drive. The two combined fit in a suitcase easily and still allow room for clothing. 

Sunsets during the Huntington Beach summer range from 7 to 8 p.m. In October before Daylight Savings Time, the sunsets occur at around 6 p.m. There's a good 20 minute window of opportunity to take photos before the sun is out of view. Even after it has disappeared, the sky can put on a show of colors. And finally, if you stay longer, the lights of the pier come on and believe it or not, you can still get some awesome photos from the south side of the pier.

About the photographer: Debbie Stock is an award winning photographer, webmaster and press/public relations professional in Huntington Beach, California. She has provided photos to State of California Visitor Guides, six Huntington Beach Visitor Guides and calendars, postcards, brochures, newspapers, magazines and more. Her most recent credit is an international award for her team efforts in building the Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau website, which she worked on for two years. You can contact her at 714.847.3277 or send mail to California Travel News, PO Box 947, Sunset Beach, CA 90742. Stock's photos are all copyrighted and may not be used for other websites or publishing purposes per the U. S. Copyright Act.