So yesterday I decided to chase those iconic Secret Swing shots everyone raves about online. Figured it’d be straightforward. Boy, was I wrong.
Getting There Ain’t No Walk in the Park
First off, finding the dang thing is half the battle. Drove to La Jolla Cove parking thinking it was close. Nope. Ended up wandering along residential streets for ages, sweating buckets under the sun. Finally spotted the tiny, unmarked dirt trail leading down the cliff. Steep as heck, loose rocks everywhere – almost ate dirt twice before even seeing the swing.
The Swing Reality Check
Let me tell you, photos lie. The rope swing hangs over a serious drop. Chipped wood seat, frayed ropes… felt sketchy just looking at it. Plus, it never stops moving! Setting up shots with that sucker swaying in the wind? Pure frustration. I spent 20 minutes just trying to get it still enough to frame anything.
Gear Drama & Tourist Traffic
Brought my trusty DSLR with a 24-70mm lens, thinking that’d cover it. Wrong again. Needed wider angles for the ocean backdrop, so switched to my 16-35mm halfway. Swapped lenses while perched on a tiny ledge, praying not to drop anything. And tourists? Groups kept crowding the spot, hopping on the swing before I could click. Had to wait for awkward lulls, smiling through clenched teeth. Pro tip: Show up at dawn or forget solitude.
Sunset Gamble & Camera Settings
Stuck around for golden hour, betting on killer light. Dialed in settings on the fly:
- Set aperture around f/8 to get cliff details sharp while keeping the swing decent
- Bumped ISO to 400 as light faded, keeping shutter speed fast enough to avoid blur
- Metered off the sky to avoid blown-out highlights, underexposing the subject slightly
Got my keeper shot just as the sun dipped. Barely caught it – swing in motion, silhouette outlined by that pink/purple sky glow, legs dangling into the canyon shadows. Raw luck met quick fingers.
Final Thoughts? Worth It, But…
Got a killer shot after 4 hours of sweat, sand everywhere, and minor sunburn. Looks epic online. Reality? Exhausting. Would I do it again? Maybe. Bring water, grippy shoes, infinite patience, and accept the chaos. Instagram vs. real life? Night and day.