Unexpected Stillness on the South Bay Strand

Images and reflections from a quiet evening on assignment in Southern California

In the summer of 2019, I found myself on assignment for a short documentary on coyote conflict in Los Angeles as part of a collaborative project between UC Davis and UC Irvine. (Link to documentary here.) The focus was to track urban coyotes, study their roaming patterns, and better understand their impact on Southern California's dense patchwork of human life.

Most of my days were spent roaming through known habitats and conflict zones across Torrance, Palos Verdes, Redondo, and Hermosa Beach…Scouting, filming, and waiting. The nights were unpredictable. I was essentially on call, ready to jump at a moment's notice if a trap was triggered or a sighting was reported.

But in between the urgency of night calls and the stillness of day, I found some quiet moments. One evening in particular stands out.

The sun was setting over the South Bay Strand, and something in the air felt different. The ocean was still, and the breeze was soft. People moved slowly, almost as if the mood of the beach had synchronized with the temperature of the light. I wasn’t chasing coyotes that night. I was watching people. The way they paused, wandered, and stared into the horizon was a rare moment of harmony between human presence and the natural world.

What follows is a quiet set of images from that evening. Moody shadows stretch across the sand, the light softening every edge. Mood over message. Presence over action. I feel like these are the kind of moments that often get missed when you’re distracted by something else.

Closing Reflection:

Looking back, I’m not sure these photographs fully capture the feeling of that moment—the tension between solitude and presence. This strange peace settles in when you're looking for everything and nothing at the same time. But they come close.

If you’re curious about the larger project behind these images, the short documentary on urban coyote conflict in Southern California is now available to view. It offers a deeper look into the work, the research, and the unexpected intersections of wildlife and city life.

Watch the documentary below: