Just sharing some vibes from the beach yesterday evening. #centralcoast #getoutside #sunsetphotography #beachphotography

Last night's talk on local summer hikes was a success. Free stickers, donations, photos & video, Q&A — I'm glad the format works bc I'll change the topics seasonally. Thanks to @landconservancyslo for hosting, and everyone who came to learn about cool trails on the California Central Coast.

Tonight's the night. Come by to learn about four local hikes that are great for summer, plus other trails, warm weather tips … and maybe something a little extra ☕️ 7–8pm tonight, hosted by @lcslo at the Octagon Barn: 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, CA #slocounty #dayhiking

The city of Pismo Beach put on a big fireworks show over the pier for the Fourth of July. I ventured out to a high vantage point and got some good shots. I also got a lot of bad ones, almost 200 total. Luckily, persistence paid off — and I enjoyed a good show too.

We had a lot of fun at the bluffs walk at Montaña de Oro State Park with @weekend_hikers_and_beyond. Conditions were great for four easy miles, followed by dinner in nearby Los Osos. Thanks to @jenhen16 for organizing the hike. Good friends, good times. #centralcoast #dayhiking #getoutside

Learning to work with mixed media is testing my photo editing, printing, and painting skills. These are the most recent after several rounds of edit-print-paint, learning what adjustments to make based on how I mix watercolors, even as I learn to mix watercolors better. Each phase impacts the others

Last night's sunset was almost overcast, with only hints of sunlight. In spite of that, I waited long enough to get a few dramatic photos. #centralcoast #beachphotography #sunset

Hiking outdoors means choosing the best trails and planning ahead. I want to help you with both next week. Come learn about some great local hikes 7pm Tues, July 7 at the Octagon Barn in SLO. This is part of a series I’ll give in conjunction with @LCSLO who’s hosting the event. wehike.org/events

Chillin' after a long day of barking at seagulls in Morro Bay. #centracoast #morrobay #sealife

Experts at the Gallery suggested I try making bookmarks with my photos. I’m also aware that people prefer hand-made goods. So here’s a new experiment: B&W photos with watercolor paint. These are quick sketches with photos I happened to have. A promising first start.

Summer weather isn’t always about sunshine on the coast. “June gloom” can blanket our beaches with dense fog which may or may not burn off by lunchtime. But that can also lead to interesting photos if you keep an open mind and get out in spite of “bad” weather.

We had an amazing hike last weekend to celebrate the summer solstice. Perfect weather let us see all the way to the ocean 15 miles away. I'm really looking forward to getting more people on the trails with my new guide service, coming soon. #centralcoast #dayhiking #sunsetphotography #getoutside

Looking back at a few nighttime and low-light shots today. I captured this image at a beach bonfire in 2023.

How you crop a photo can change its story. Here: 1. Two people walking between the turbulent ocean and a calm pond 2. The reflected sun watches two people walking the beach 3. The sun reflects on two people walking a narrow strip of land 4. Two people and the sun reflecting in a pond

I’ve wrapped up my Photo Stream for May 2026. The month had landscapes, abstracts, products, food, and a few trips. Check it out: www.joephotos.art/2026/05/stre...

We live in an amazing world. Yesterday I was lucky enough to catch this refraction through glass at @galleryatmarinasquare. It only lasted a few minutes, and even if the same thing happens again, it never be quite the same. #explore #creativephotography #shotoniphone

My first kaleidoscope stickers arrived, and they look pretty good. Based on photos of real flowers, no AI, they’re available today on my Etsy store. www.etsy.com/shop/JoeGrem... To kick things off, I’ve marked the price for both 3" stickers and 2.25" magnets to $5 each. #stickers #gifts #flowers

When photographing a scene, I like to look beyond the obvious. Where can I put the camera for interesting angles? What if I align two subjects? What can I do with light and shadow as visual elements? With that in mind, I found these highlights at the beach last night.

Last week I visited the caves at Pismo Beach at low tide. Conventional wisdom says a good photo reveals details in both highlights and shadows, but I enjoyed contrasting gloom in the inky depths against the afternoon sky outside. #beachphoto #cavephotography

I’ve been heads-down working on a big project recently. It’s a lot to figure out, so this week I took a break to remind myself how fun pixels can be. Well, that’s turning into a new set of decorative stickers and magnets. Stay tuned.

I’ve added a new series of decorative canvas prints to my online store. As usual, they’re scenes from the California Central Coast, but include some new photos I haven’t posted before. Also new: I’m printing on canvas again. What’s your favorite? www.etsy.com/shop/JoeGrem...

A road to somewhere.

Happy Mother’s Day! May in Texas means onerous weather and late spring flowers. I’m getting to see both on a family visit, which includes a quick walk around a dry limestone creek bed where I found these views. #landscapephotography #southtexas

5x7 metal photo prints make great gifts. I had one of my photos printed for Mother’s Day on high-gloss aluminum that brings out the colors on an ultra-thin plate. Find products like this or request a custom piece: joephotos.art/shop #gifts #photography

Recently I’ve started learning to capture Morro Rock. Two of these are part of an experiment in which the rock is not the main subject. The third is yet another stunning sunset. You can see one of the better results in my April photo stream: joephotos.art/2026/04/stre...

Over the weekend I made a custom print. This photo of Pismo Pier at sunset works well as a 12x18" aluminum print, and sold along with three 3" hiking stickers. Many of the photos I take are available to decorate your home or office. Find your favorites and let’s talk. www.joephotos.art/photo-stream

I found many sand dollars at low tide after a windy day, though I don't know why so many washed up around Pismo Beach and Grover Beach. #centralcoast #oceanlife

The many moods of a Morro Bay otter. #naturephotography #otter #morrobay #centralcoast

Color harmonies are all around us. You can start building sets that feels cohesive by drawing on sources that already are, like photos. Here’s a glimpse of the technique I use to sample colors, then overlay tints, to create palettes in visual design design. #graphicdesign #colordesign

This is big. My 2" square stickers now come in 3" — and they fit the size well. These durable decals have a slight sheen thanks to their scratch- and weather-resistant coating, suitable for water bottles, mugs, laptops, and more. Get them for yourself or as gifts for hikers in your life.

Hello, blue sky. Last week I had the change to visit San Jose, CA. Mostly known for its tech scene, the city is also close to parks, trails, and natural scenery. Given that, no Adobe products were used in the creation of this image.

The first step in solving a problem is defining it, and over the years I’ve found that repetition is important to understanding. So: How can I process images more efficiently?

If you’re looking to improve your photography, try to capture interesting shadows. I found these of ice plants yesterday while walking the dunes near Pismo Beach, CA. #beachphotography #naturephotography #centralcoast #learnphotography

New infrared ocean photos at Pismo Beach. Long exposures give them characteristic streaks. If you like the look, then check out my “Morro Rock in Infrared” photo at Etsy. Canvas: www.etsy.com/listing/4490... Aluminum: www.etsy.com/listing/4490... #infrared #longexposure #centralcoast #etsyshop

1/5 Like design, photography requires a series of decisions. Yesterday evening I led a hike at Islay Hill and from the summit I had many photo opportunities. The first decision I made: What’s the subject? In this case, I caught a train passing nearby vineyards.

My experiments into infrared photography continue. There’s no single process for editing these photos. Each is its own challenge, and my goal now is to learn the principles through experimentation under different conditions. #infrared #landscapephotography #photoexperiment #centralcoast

Sunset last night at Vista del Mar overlook in Shell Beach, CA. #sunsetphotography #oceanphotography #centralcoast

Tomorrow afternoon is the reception for “Ocean’s Edge,” a photo exhibition. The show includes work by yours truly printed on aluminum. See the art. Meet the artists. Enjoy some cookies. Opening reception: 3–5pm April 11 601 Embarcadero, Suite 10 Morro Bay, CA 93442 www.galleryatmarinasquare.com

Velella Velella, a.k.a. By the Wind Sailors, are similar to jellyfish but live on the surface of the ocean, blown across the waves with their stiff “sails.” At sunset their translucent sails cast interesting shadows. #sunsetphotography #naturephotography #centralcoast

Sometimes sunset isn’t about the sun, but the world within its fading light. I waited until after the sun had set to catch this shot over the weekend. #centralcoast #sunsetphotography #getoutside

Come see beautiful images of nature’s artistry where land, sea, and sky intersect at “Ocean’s Edge,” a group photography show featuring local photographers (including myself). The reception is 3–5pm Saturday, April 11. 601 Embarcadero, ste. 10, Morro Bay, CA. More info: www.galleryatmarinasquare.com

Here's a look at the initial edits I made to sunset photos tonight. I'll often give myself an extra day to see each image anew, and color correct for CMYK if I plan to print on paper, canvas, or aluminum. #photoedit #sunsetphotography #centralcoast #timelapse #behindthescenes

On Sunday I led a hike at Pismo Preserve, where we enjoyed signs of spring. Fog made the morning a great time for macro photos, which work well under even lighting. I was lucky to catch a red-winged blackbird, especially since I only had my iPhone with me. #centralcoast #naturephotography

I wanted to make landscape stickers, but my usual printer only offered squares. That meant either cropping or wasting space. I invented a third solution: using the excess space to my advantage. Layout could make a home for titles if I got creative typography and color.

A few pics from playing with contrast yesterday. Images are still murky when I shoot in manual and expose for highlights, something I hope to figure out with practice. On the plus side, it was a fun evening walking the ocean bluffs.

I'm happy to announce new hike-themed stickers and coffee mugs are available at @makingslo, 751 Higuera, San Luis Obispo, CA, and also Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/JoeGrem... Each piece features a photo by yours truly to showcase the area's natural scenery. #hiking #swag #sanluisobispo #centralcoast

Last weekend I spent an evening at Oso Flaco Lake. What started as a nature walk turned into a low-light iPhone photography session. I'm exploring ways to take people on beautiful, personalized photo tours, including photo lessons, along the California Central Coast. Hit me up if you're interested.

The more I explore how far RAW files can go, the more I appreciate the power of image editors' curves feature. Editing a histogram reminds me of shooting in manual: powerful tools take time to study, practice, and understand. #photoediting #oldschool #landscapephotography

“Fifty years ago this month, March 1976, at 20 years old, is when my interest in type design began.”

The great Mark Simonson on … Mark Simonson. www.marksimonson.com/notebook/vie... #designers #TypeDesign #typography #memoirs #MeetTheCreators

Yesterday I caught some unusual waves. A sand bar and calm conditions let each round of ripples rebound from the shore and mingle with the next. I might choose a photo for next month's “Ocean's Edge” show at @galleryatmarinasquare. #centralcoast #oceanphotography #sunset