
“Over the Rainbow” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)
Hello! Hope everyone is having awesome weekends, and for those on the other side of the world, I hope your Monday is getting off to an amazing start.
I’ve been living in California for a little over three years (after moving here from New York), and I have to say – I love California! (Even though I miss my friends and family back east.) With 27 National Parks, 840 miles (1,350 km) of Pacific coastline, and countless mountains, valleys and hidden Mojave, Colorado and Great Basin desert treasures, there is an endless supply of beauty and adventure!
Here are ten photos I took of the Santa Cruz Island region – which lies between the Central Coast counties of Ventura and Santa Barbara. Have a great day! 🙂

“Strength in Numbers” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)

“The Days of Old” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)

“The Light Forever Shines” (Ventura County, CA)

“The Night Awaits” (Ventura Harbor, CA)

“Survival and Beauty” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)

“We Part in Sweet Sorrow” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)

“Paint the Sky” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)

“Across the Sky” (Ventura County, CA)

“My Dream of Peace” (Santa Cruz Island, CA)
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Categories: Inspiration, Photography
Tagged as: America, art, beauty, blogging, Cali, california, Channel Islands National Park, Colorado Desert, dreams, experiences, family, Great Basin Desert, happiness, ideas, images, imagination, inspiration, journey, Kevin Hotter, Kevin J. Hotter, life, Los Angeles, love, Mojave Desert, National Parks, nature, Nature Photography, nature photos, Pacific, Pacific Coast, Pacific Ocean, personal, Photography, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Island, self awareness, Southern California, Spring, Springtime, United States, universe, Ventura, West Coast, wisdom, writing
great snaps, Kevin. hey! I was just wondering , do you ever reference photography in your stand-up routines seeing it’s such a part of your life? and if so, how do you make it comedic?
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Hey John, thanks bud! Nah, I generally keep the photography separate. However – if something funny happens, like me falling into the ocean and losing my pants while taking a photo, I would certainly contemplate including that in my show. haha
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Wow these pictures are beautiful! I discovered your blog via World Traveller’s reboot! You have a new follower! I look forward to seeing more beautiful photos like this!
I see that you said you moved from New York to Cali. How was the transition for you? I would like to move from NYC about 3 years and have been trying to figure out where I would like to move. Staying on the east coast is my first choice though lol.
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Hey Brittany, nice to meet you! Thanks for the kind words. The transition has been great. Of course, I miss NY. A lot. But, I love living in California. 🙂 I’m gonna check out your blog!
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Nice to meet you as well! Yes I’m sure it’s nice over there! The weather is more my speed in Cali! And thanks for checking out my blog! Have a great weekend!
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Thanks -you too! 😎
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Reblogged this on Warrior Traveller and commented:
Good pics, good blog!
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Love the pictures! I’m camping Santa Cruz in a couple of weeks, and this got me officially excited!
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Thank you! That’s awesome. When I went, there were some campers on the boat with us. They looked pumped. Have a great time, and I look forward to seeing the photos on your blog!
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Appreciate it! Looking forward to posting 🙂
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These islands are the California Galapagos. Wonderful photos~
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Thank you, Cindy! 😎
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Kevin: Thanks for the like on my daughter’s, Butterfly in Flight on Elm Drive Images.
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Kevin: I like your Santa Cruz Island Image…looks like a neat place. Thanks for liking, my, Poll, on Elm Drive Images.
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Thank you Dan!! 😎
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Kevin: Thanks for your continuing interest in Elm Drive Images and my work.
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Hi, Kevin, your photos are stunning and some beautiful landscapes too! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Much appreciated. Best wishes, Iris
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Thanks, Iris! Great to meet you. 🙂
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You’re welcome! Thank you and nice to meet you too. 🙂
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Thanks for the, like, on Sunset through the Tree.
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Hi Kevin!!! I’ve been off WP lately and missed some of your posts! Love. Love. All the pics! Gorgeous ❤
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Hi Carisa! Great to see you! Thank you so much. Always nice to hear your positive comments and kind words. 😊
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Thank you for following me! I’m following you back 🙂
Awesome pictures!
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Thanks Roberta! Pleasure to meet you. 😎
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The pleasure is mine 🙂
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😊👍🏼
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Beautiful.
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👍🏼😎
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Kevin: Thank you for the like on my, Neighborhood Yard. Great set of images here, my friend.
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Thank you, Dan! 🙂
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Fav: The Light Forever Shines, though each is beautiful. Having lived/worked on both coasts I acknowledge missing SoCal. NYC, less so. 🙂 Glad you are appreciating the left coast.
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Hi Eric – thanks for the kind words. I actually moved to LA from NYC, so we share a similar experience. I am originally from the NY metro area. I love it out here in CA. Have a great day!
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So pretty!
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Indeed. Thanks Michele! 🙂
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You getting beautiful day by day
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Thanks Vishakha! 🙂
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Kevin for liking, Arty, the Brown Squirrel.
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WOW! So beautiful.. I always enjoy looking at your photos, You have been given an awesome talent.
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Thank you, Gay! That’s really nice of you to say. In this world, we hear and see so much negativity. It’s beautiful when people are kind to one another. Have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
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Thank you for the Santa Cruz pictures – I lived just south of Santa Cruz for several years- your photos capture the magic of the area.
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Hi Jean – thanks so much for your kind words! Have a wonderful day. 🙂
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Kevin: Thank you for your likes on Elm Drive Images.
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Love your post-editing!
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Thank you! And…I love that you love my post editing! 😎👍🏼
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🙂
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Verra nice, Kevin. Really loved ‘Strength in Numbers’ and ‘Days of Old’.
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Hi Elen! Thank you. 😎👍🏼
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Those photos sure have the wow factor. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you Cathy! Great meeting you!
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I’m always happy to find amazing photos!
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Such gorgeous pictures! You’re so lucky to have experienced this, nice post 🙂
https://heathermoors.wordpress.com
-Heather
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Hi! Thank you. I just took a look at your site. Nice work! 🙂
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Thanks so much! It means a lot 🙂
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These are some of your most beautiful photos to date! You certainly know how to capture a moment and then have the ability to name the photos so appropriately..Keep them coming, so enjoyable to view and see CA through your eyes😎
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Wow…thank you so much!! Always great to have your positive endorsement and to hear your kind words!! 🙂
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Beautiful! I love California too. My in-laws are the only people I know that hates California and I really can’t relate.
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Hi Angie! I can’t relate to that either! Well…at least you and I (and millions of others) appreciate the beauty of California. Thanks for the kind words, and have a wonderful week!
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I agree! Thanks, and you as well. I really appreciate the pictures and post. 🙂
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Absolutely gorgeous photos! What a lovely place 🙂
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It truly is an awesome place! Thanks so much for the kind words. Always great to hear from you!
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You’re very welcome. 🙂
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Stunning photos! What a beautiful area and fabulous coastline.
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Hi Cathy! It is quite beautiful. Thanks for the kind words, and for checking-in. 🙂
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Beautiful views, Kevin! You always got me with your photos….
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Erika! How are you? Really nice to hear from you. Thank you! Coming back to CA anytime soon?
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Thank you, I am fine, Kevin! Just damn busy. Starting a job in addition to my practice next week and lots of projects around. But I am really good! Unfortunately no visit planned yet. But I hope I can make it this year. I would let you know! 😉
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Thanks Kevin….your pics are great! They bring the sunshine and happiness and serenity right into MY room! Have an awesome week! Blessings, Barb xxxx
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Hi Barb! That’s awesome; what a thoughtful comment. Thank you so much. Have a great week!
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I can’t blame you to love California . For me of all the places I visited California is the best place in the world . Your pictures are really amazing color . Like them all. Thanks for sharing .
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Thanks Ledgardo! Always great to hear from you. And, thank you for sharing all your adventures on your blog. 👍🏼
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Beautiful pictures, Kevin. I absolutely think the central coast of California is the most beautiful region. For me the “heart” of it runs from San Luis Obispo south through Cambria to the seal beach at San Simeon. But others have their favorite places. I’m in Florida now, but my heart is in California. Love your pics. – Marty
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Hi Marty – thanks man! Yeah, I agree with you. Those are amazing places. My wife and I want to take our two very young kids to Cambria this summer. We went to Santa Barbara last weekend. Love it there. Thanks again for the kind words!
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So beautiful and love what you do with the photographs -paint the sky eh! I’m pulled into each and every one, mesmerising. Thank you for sharing your stunning Californian landscape. 😀
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Thank you so much Annika! Really nice of you to say such positive things about my photos! Have a spectacular week! 👍🏼☀️
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Thanx for sharing these, Kevin.
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Hi Arthur! Thanks man. Have a great Memorial Day! 👍🏼☀️
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Wow Kevin, you live in an amazing beautiful area 😀
Amazing photos – wow…
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Thank you Irene! Happy to see you blogging again! 😎😎
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Thank you Kevin, it is nice to be back after so long time.
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Love um! –MaryGo
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Hi Mary! Nice to hear from you. Thank you!! Have a great day! 😎
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Kevin, these are gorgeous! The way you saturate the colors? Love, love, love! When can I see these in an art show or exhibit?
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Wow, thanks Nikki! I think the Guggenheim wants to put these on display but I’m kinda too busy. Haha. Seriously though, thank you! And I hope one day I can display my photos to a huge audience. 👍😎☀️
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