Pacific Moments 1, Dillon Beach, , Point Reyes, CASunset at Dillon Beach, CA—where the Pacific turned into a painter’s palette of gold, violet, and blue.
Captured during a trek to Point Reyes, this fleeting glow reminds us of nature’s artistry and the joy of being present in the moment.

There is something timeless about standing on the shoreline, watching the day dissolve into layers of color. At Dillon Beach, California, the Pacific put on a dazzling show - clouds brushed in purples and blues, the horizon glowing with molten gold, and the wet sand mirroring every shade in a painter’s palette. This photograph captures just a fleeting moment, a reminder of the splendor and rich textures nature so effortlessly creates at sunset. The scene becomes not just a landscape, but a natural graphic design - lines of waves, bands of color, and the sheen of reflected light.

We arrived here as part of a photography trek to nearby Point Reyes National Seashore, one of the most inspiring stretches of coast in California. The rugged cliffs and windswept beaches at Point Reyes are iconic, but Dillon Beach offered a quieter, more contemplative counterpoint. The shoot, however, came with a twist: in the middle of this unfolding drama of light and tide, we were abruptly asked to leave the state park, which has limited hours. Not so for the national parks. A surprise interruption, yes, but not one that dampened the spirit of the day.

In the end, the images - this one especially - remind me that photography is as much about being present as it is about planning. Dillon Beach left its own indelible impression. The glow across the sand, the rhythm of the surf, and the fleeting brilliance of the sunset - these are the gifts the camera helps us hold onto, even when the moment itself passes too quickly.