There is a patch of old So Cal coast where time is forgotten and development was left behind. It is raw; it is natural; it is called the Tijuana Sloughs. It also happens to be a great place to spend a day with your camera.

The Sloughs is part of a 1072-acre wetland surrounding the area where the Tijuana River meets the sea. A wildlife refuge was established here in 1980 and is comprised of beach, salt flats and fresh water tributaries. My concept of the Sloughs, though, also includes the stretch of sand and surf all the way to the border fence.

There are some days where one can walk for miles south of the last house in Imperial Beach and not see a soul. Other days, intrepid surfers have made the journey on foot to find superb deep-water breaks. This is the land where pelicans cruise and plovers scramble to their own beat, uninterrupted by cars, bikes, or dogs. It is how I imagine much of Southern California must have looked like decades ago.

I first visited the Sloughs when I was shooting a small group of surfers. The vistas were phenomenal with Los Coronados Islands rising up out of the sea to make a gorgeous background. Since then, I have been back many times, especially at low tide. Shooting this area provides a mixture of large expanse and intimate details. A long lens for the wildlife is essential, while a wide angle lens for the expanse and the details is helpful. It is a place to go slow and enjoy the sights and sounds, while experimenting with your photographic eye. Give it a try; I guarantee you will feel rejuvenated!