Keeping up with my series of posts about photography destinations not too far from the greater Sacramento area, I remind my followers to check out the South Yuba River State Park. I consider it a hidden gem for photography, particularly in the spring. Parking is limited, and the light is harsh, so get there early to get a space and good light!
Location and Parking
The entrance to the South Yuba River State Park, park headquarters and visitors center are on Pleasants Valley Road, off Highway 20, North of Nevada City. The address is Bridgeport, 17660 Pleasant Valley Rd. The park can be accessed from Highway 20 west of Grass Valley, or from Highway 49 north of Nevada City. From Sacramento, it is a 70-mile drive, mostly on highway 70N. As of now, parking is 5.00 U$ and can be paid with a credit-card. Always check the park’s official website before going. The region is prone to wildfires and things can change quickly.
Wildflower photographers will really enjoy the South Yuba River State Park. There is a native plants garden near the visitor’s center. In the spring, wildflowers abound, and the slopes on both sides of the river, where the sun hits more consistently, become covered in lupines and poppies. Although I have not taken landscape photos including the flowers there, because a partly cloudy day never happened on my visits, a quick google search revealed many examples. Below, some photos of wildflowers taken by me there:
Photography tips
A diffuser will come in handy for wildflower photography on a sunny day. Many flowers are on slopes, intermingled with grass. A flash might help to achieve separation by darkening the background, and a long macro lens is a plus and maybe a must.
When shooting macro wide open and without a tripod, take many photos of the same subject. The tiniest movement will change the focus point, and it may change it to somewhere you don’t want it. Taking several photos will ensure that at least one will be just like you envisioned. Also, to get a larger area in focus, try to keep the camera as parallel as possible to the main axis of your subject. For wildflower portraits, chose the ones that are relatively isolated from the vegetation, and pay attention to the background, which should not have anything bright shiny, for instance distracting rocks and sticks trying to steal the thunder.
A word of caution
There exists something known as a rattle snake. Rattle snakes are common along the riverbeds in California, they often lay on the rocks trying to warm up. When walking on rocks by the river, be aware of snakes. They can and will bite you if you step on them. Although the existence of snakes is no good reason to avoid the outdoors, it is a good reason to pay particularly close attention when hopping on rocky riverbeds.
Afterwards
The park is about 20 minutes from Nevada City, a Victorian town which, in and on itself, is worth a photography trip. Nevada City has awesome beer, food, and interesting stores to visit.
Wildflower prints
If you like my wildflower work, I have a small portfolio with prints and merchandise for here in my pixels website.
Resources: This official site has additional and updated information about the South Yuba River State Park.
Some information about the history of Bridgeport can be found here.
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Wall Art Wildflowers of California
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It is all about the light 
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