KeyHole Arch | Pfeiffer Beach

For photographers like myself, Keyhole Arch is an alluring muse with creative possibilities that are endlessly captivating and inspiring. On the outskirts of Big Sur, California, on Pfeiffer Beach, you’ll find Keyhole Arch. A solitary rock outcropping that's a geological wonder. There is a natural archway in the middle of the rock. From the beach, you can look through and see the Pacific. The arch is a portal for incoming light and waves and evokes thoughts of wonder and mysticism. At certain times of the year, the sun sets directly behind the archway and shines through, creating magical photographic opportunities.  As a photographer, I am perennially drawn to the unlimited creative potential of such locales, returning frequently to savor new interpretations and perspectives. On this particular visit, access to the beach was limited, and all day everybody had been turned away due to a flood. We patiently sat in line waiting to get into the park and watched all the vehicles ahead of us