Insights and musings about photography and the creative process

Blog Ken Lee Blog Ken Lee

The Santa Barbara Backcountry in Spring

Read my blog to see photographs & stories from our latest photography trip to the Santa Barbara backcountry. Sign-up for our next trip!

Santa Barbara Backcountry MeetUp Recap

Vineyards and mustard blooms make a photogenic combination

Some were scared off by the possibility of rain. Some people just aren’t into camping (something I struggle to comprehend). And I’m sure many others thought I was exaggerating just how spectacular the Santa Barbara backcountry looks at this time of year. Fair enough, but the brave souls who made it to our MeetUp group’s Santa Barbara Backcountry & Night Photography event last weekend were rewarded with a lush landscape in its absolute prime.

Proof
I’m giving up trying to describe in words how picturesque this area is in early Spring.  I’m just not that good of a writer. So here are the pictures.

The Area
The area in question is essentially the Santa Ynez valley and its surroundings. If you’ve ever visited Santa Barbara’s wine country, you’ve been here. The main thoroughfare is Hwy 154 which branches off Hwy 101 in Santa Barbara before rejoining the 101 about 35 miles northwest. Cachuma Lake County Park, where our group stayed, is smack in the middle of the valley and makes a great base of operations. There are a handful of cabins and yurts in addition to hundreds of campsites at the lake. Make reservations, especially if you want a cabin or yurt. Many other lodging options from motels, B&B’s, and even a Vegas-style casino/hotel are available in nearby towns of Santa Ynez, Solvang, Buellton, and Los Olivos.

Now, that's a photographer!

Go Now
You still have about a month of prime conditions left. But at some point in April, depending on how much more rain the valley receives, those emerald hills will become beige and brown. It’s still beautiful but nobody will mistake your photos for Ireland.

Photography Guide
This visit inspired me to put together a Santa Barbara Backcountry Photo Guide. It will include maps, photo locations, places to stay, and other points of interest to photographers. It will be available as a free download here on the artofseeing.com website. It’s still a week or two away from completion but if you want to be notified when it is available, just sign up to receive updates.

Read More
Photo of the Day Ken Lee Photo of the Day Ken Lee

Photo of the Day: Rush Hour

Three fiery steeds gallop into the fading light of dusk. Motion blur and the graceful curve of...

Three fiery steeds gallop into the fading light of dusk. Motion blur and the graceful curve of powerful neck muscles effectively convey the speed and strength of these magnificent beasts. Do you see the third horse in this image?

Read More
Photo of the Day Ken Lee Photo of the Day Ken Lee

Photo of the Day: Ta Prohm Tentacles

Made famous by Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider film,  many of the ruins of Angkor (Cambodia's historic Khmer empire), have been...

Made famous by Angelina Jolie's Tomb Raider film,  many of the ruins of Angkor (Cambodia's historic Khmer empire), have been 'reclaimed' from the jungle, but much of Ta Prohm has been left as discovered by modern archeologists to showcase how quickly and completely nature obscures evidence of past civilizations.
Recently , new laser technology has revealed the existence of vast cities that have been long since completely swallowed by the jungle.

Read More