Serenity finds you when you least expect it. One evening, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders, I drove to Little Corona Beach in search of solace and to take some sunset photographs. My second attempt to locate Little Corona’s Cliff Island proved unsuccessful, yet it resulted in capturing this memorable photograph. The desire to photograph Cliff Island has lingered on my bucket list for years. My initial attempt, six years ago from Crystal Cove in Newport Beach, fell short as I never made it far enough.

Armed with more information this time, and with favorable low tide conditions and a cloudy sky, I decided to try again. Accompanied by my daughter Violet, we ventured to Little Corona Beach on a Friday afternoon. As we navigated around the cliff of the main beach, I anticipated glimpsing Cliff Island on the other side, but it wasn’t there. Continuing our journey, we reached a different cliff, and still, I was unable to spot the elusive Cliff Island.

At this juncture, doubts crept in—perhaps nature had inflicted too much damage on Cliff Island, rendering it nonexistent or it was just farther than I believed. Regardless, with sunset approaching, I was determined not to miss the opportunity for a captivating sunset photograph. The low tide offered an array of captivating foreground options, and after carefully composing my shot, we sat in awe of the breathtaking sunset unfolding before us.