Rise of the Silver Surfer - Oceanside, California

Rise of the Silver Surfer, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Another glorious day ends, along with my series on warm winter days in my hometown of San Diego, California. I hope you guys enjoyed it.

I’ll be posting more photos of San Diego in the future, but at the moment I have so many other photos to share with you guys from my globe trekking journeys.

Here is a photograph I took of Marvel Comics superhero The Silver Surfer at Oceanside Beach. How cool is that?

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With a population of over 1.3 million, San Diego is the eight largest city in the country and the second largest city on the West Coast. Blessed with pristine beaches, diverse cultures, world renown tourist attractions, a strong military presence and near perfect climate it has been declared, "America's Finest City."

San Diego is considered the birthplace of California. Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo landed in San Diego's Point Loma area in 1542, claiming the area for Spain. In 1972 former mayor Pete Wilson gave the city the nickname, "America's Finest City."

Bordered in the North by Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, The Pacific Ocean in the West, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in the East and Tijuana, Mexico in the South, San Diego stands alone as an American paradise.

And yes, San Diego is so cool that The Silver Surfer surfs at our beaches.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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What famous 1980s movie was filmed nearby the Oceanside Pier?

What famous 1980s movie was filmed nearby the Oceanside Pier?, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Maverick: I feel the need...
Maverick, Goose: ...the need for speed!

Charlie: Excuse me, Lieutenant. Is there something wrong?
Maverick: Yes ma'am, the data on the MiG is inaccurate.
Charlie: How's that, Lieutenant?
Maverick: Well, I just happened to see a MiG 28 do a...
Goose: We!
Maverick: Uh, sorry, Goose. *We* happened to see a MiG 28 do a 4g negative dive.
Charlie: Where did you see this?
Maverick: Uh, that's classified.
Charlie: It's what?
Maverick: It's classified. I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

If you haven’t guessed it already those quotes are from the 1986 classic film “Top Gun” starring Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, Anthony Edwards as Lieutenant (junior grade) Nick "Goose" Bradshaw and Kelly McGillis as Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood. Top Gun was filmed mainly around San Diego and established Tom Cruise as a Hollywood superstar.

“Charlie’s House” or the “Top Gun House” is located at 102 Pacific Street in Oceanside, California, just walking distance from where I photographed this pier. The house sits on a prime location with a million dollar oceanfront view.

In the movie Maverick (Tom Cruise) rides up from a hill in his motorcycle to the front of Charlie’s (Kelly McGillis) house for a dinner date.

Here’s a link of that scene from Top Gun of the seaside house with a golden sunset and palm trees in the background.

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Measuring a distance of 1,954 feet, The Oceanside Pier is the longest overwater pier in Southern California. The pier is a popular fishing spot for locals and located at the end of it is a 50’s style diner called Ruby’s Diner.

Technical notes:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera
Canon EF 17-40mm f4L lens
Manfrotto Tripod
Maniac Photographer

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Still figuring out Google +
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Lunar Eclipses and Beautiful Beach Sunsets

Lunar Eclipses and Beautiful Beach Sunsets, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I’m lazy.

I didn't photograph the lunar eclipse this past Saturday morning. Yes, I missed a rare celestial phenomenon: a total lunar eclipse when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, throwing the moon into shadow. On top of that I had the best seat in the house being here on the West Coast.

I did get up at 4:37 AM and witnessed the start of the lunar eclipse and I planned to get back out at 6:06 AM to photograph the total lunar eclipse when the moon would be engulfed in a bright red glow.

I went back to sleep.

I'll leave the lunar eclipse to Twilight movie fans and early risers. I'll take a sunset anytime.

Since returning to the West Coast and after two winters in Wisconsin, I decided to spend my time photographing sunsets at the beach. So later that day I headed down to Oceanside Pier and photographed your typical California sunset beach scene.

Surfer in the frame: check!

Pier: check!

Amazing color in the sky: check!

The next lunar eclipse to be seen in the U.S. will be on April 15, 2014. I’ll probably be sleeping in on that one too. Besides my taxes will be due on that day and Uncle Sam can be very unforgiving.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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