Azusa Gravel Tower
June 14th 2026
Today was one of the hotter days I've spent shooting at the Gravel Tower, but getting there early meant beating most of the crowds and regulars up the canyon. I spent more time shooting from the tower itself, working on stacking riders together in the frame and capturing multiple bikes in a single shot to better showcase the flow of the road.
I also spent plenty of time at my favorite spot near the "Chains Required" turnout. The summer heat made itself known, and I found myself rotating between standing in the sun to get the shots I wanted and retreating back into the shade of the tower to cool off. It was a good balance between staying comfortable and staying ready for the next group of riders.
One thing I noticed today was that I came home with fewer photos than usual. Part of that was being more selective with what I shot, but it was also a result of having a clearer vision of the images I wanted to create. Fewer frames meant less sorting later, and it allowed me to complete all of my edits in a single day while still coming away with a collection of images I was happy with.
