I got out and over to Ocean Beach a few days ago. Since it was a work day I had to leave early to beat the traffic. I arrived about 6:00 AM, it was cool but not cold with a little fog still hanging in the air.
FYI: Ocean Beach is the big beach in the San Francisco area. It starts at the Cliff House Restaurant ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_House ), and what used to be the Sutro Baths (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutro_Baths (when I was a kid, I went ice skating where the huge swimming pool once was)), running southward for 8 miles ending near the San Francisco Zoo.
Zoo on right, ocean behind me.
It's not obvious but the ocean was a foaming cauldron.
I didn't go to the beach with the intention of shooting surfers, but shortly after I arrived they started coming. These guys are a combination of crazy and super athletes. People drown in these waters regularly. Even on calm days this place can be treacherous.
These poor guys struggled out against the waves for 20 minutes just to get our chest deep.
Then there were the guys down the beach, fishing.
Eventually, the surfers caught a wave and got short rides.
As the sun came up, more surfers arrived.
Last shot from the parking lot before leaving.
Thought I'd throw this shot from Fort Funston in too -- it's a few miles further south near the town of Pacifica.
This is a favorite place of hang gliders. They walk out on the bark, to the lower left, and jump off the this cliff with their gliders. No one was there this day since the wind was down to 0.
