santa clarita: a sleep-deprived photographer's dump of a day

okay, so i'm perched on this weird concrete step that's probably been here since the 70s, looking out at a sea of dry grass and distant mountains. i'm in santa clarita, and the sky is doing that thing where it's all gray and feels like it's about to dump rain but then it just stays gray. the temperature's sitting at 10.33°c, but it feels like 9.4°c, which is basically that damp chill that seeps into your bones. humidity's at 76% so everything feels like it's wrapped in a cold, wet blanket. pressure's 1018 hpa-my weather app says that's normal, but i'm no meteorologist. i just know my camera's sensor doesn't like sudden changes, so i'm babying it.

i got here because i saw a cryptic listing that just had two numbers: 5333944 and 1840021864. no address, no street name, just those digits. i thought maybe it was some kind of treasure map for photographers. turned out it's the tax lot and assessor's parcel number for this abandoned lot near the highway. not exactly glamorous, but the light was interesting.

the lot itself is a mess of cracked soil, broken glass, and a lone Palo Verde tree that looks like it's survived a dozen wildfires. i set up my gear-a Nikon Z6 with a 24-70mm f/2.8, my trusty tripod that's seen too many airports-and tried to catch the low clouds rolling over the ridges. the light was flat, but then a sliver of sun broke through and lit up the hillside for about 30 seconds. i barely got the shot before it went back to gloom.

if you're ever in the area, you should check out the views from the highway. i found an aerial perspective of the highway snaking through the mountains that totally captures the vibe (see below).

that's when i noticed the map coordinates pinned me at 34.4175,-118.4964. i dropped a pin exactly here:

those numbers put me right in the middle of nowhere, but the satellite view shows a Metrolink station a couple miles east. i might head there later if the rain holds off.

i've been shooting for hours, and the damp is getting into my lenses. i keep wiping the front element, and my camera bag smells like wet dog. i'm considering calling it a day, but there's this thing about santa clarita: the light at golden hour can be magical, even on a cloudy day like this. the clouds act like a giant softbox, and the mountains get this eerie greenish tint that's perfect for moody landscapes.

i overheard some gossip at the gas station mini-mart. an old guy with a battered Stetson told me, 'you see that hill over there? they say a ghost horse still runs those trails, especially when the fog rolls in.' i asked why, and he just winked. 'lost his rider in the Great Flood of '38.' then a woman behind me warned about the parking tickets near the Metrolink-apparently the enforcement drones are ruthless. i decided not to park there.

i needed caffeine, so i trekked to a coffee shop called 'The Grind' on Main Street. according to Yelp, it's a solid 4.5 stars with decent espresso and a decent vibe. the barista was a former grad student who now does wildlife photography on the weekends. we talked about the best spots to shoot the local condors. i left a Yelp review for The Grind because i'm a good citizen like that.

the neighbors here are weirdly diverse. if you get bored, Los Angeles and Ventura are just a short drive away. i've done that before-drove to LA for a gig, shot a concert downtown, then drove back in the rain. it's doable, but the 14 freeway can be a nightmare. i'd rather stay local and explore the Santa Clara River trail.

the weather's been consistent: temp_min 9.6°c, temp_max 11°c, so it's not going to swing wildly. i'm okay with that. humidity's still high, so my clothes feel like they're made of seaweed. whatever.

here's another view of the ridge line-i love how the clouds cling to the peaks.

and then the classic California sky-blue holes puncturing the clouds over the green hills.

sometimes it's easy to forget you're in a state that's basically on fire half the year.

i'm probably going to stick around for the sunset, if it happens. the forecast says clear skies later? lol. i'll believe it when i see it.

if you're planning a trip here, check out the TripAdvisor page for Santa Clarita attractions. there's a weird old west movie set that's supposed to be haunted, and a water park that's open in summer. i'm more into the off-season grittiness. also, AllTrails has some great hikes around the Santa Clarita area. i've done the Riverview Trail; it's muddy but rewarding.

i also read on the Santa Clarita Valley Signal that the city council is considering banning street art in the downtown area. as a photographer, i appreciate the murals-they add color to an otherwise beige landscape. maybe i'll do a series on the ones that survive.

anyway, my hands are numb from the cold, my back hurts from carrying the gear, and i'm pretty sure i stepped in something weird. but i got some keepers. that's the life. messy, unpredictable, and kind of awesome.

i'll post the photos soon, maybe with the story of the ghost horse. until then, keep your lenses clean and your batteries charged.

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