San Pedro
San Pedro is home to the Port of Los Angeles, a major international seaport, and a working harbor district with diverse architecture and waterfront subjects.
San Pedro occupies the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, where the Port of Los Angeles meets a cluster of lighthouses, a preserved battleship, and Art Deco landmarks. Fort MacArthur Museum at Battery Osgood-Farley documents 1914-1974 harbor defense, while West Harbor replaces the historic Ports O' Call on the LA Waterfront.
San Pedro Coastal Photography Highlights
Point Fermin Lighthouse, constructed in 1874, anchors the San Pedro waterfront and offers a historic subject for coastal photography. Nearby, the Korean Bell of Friendship, presented in 1976 and designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument No. 187 in 1978, provides an ornate architectural counterpoint elevated above the harbor. Photographers drawn to the area's military heritage can also frame the working port, which served as the U.S. Navy Battle Fleet home port from 1919 to 1940.
Best Photo Spots
Here are 6 photo spots in San Pedro, featuring beaches, parks, waterfronts, a historic downtown, and a street.
Cabrillo Beach
Photographs of This Location
San Pedro's Historic Architecture and Museums
The Art Deco Warner Grand Theatre, opened in 1931 in San Pedro's Historic Downtown, serves as a focal point for architectural photography. The Los Angeles Maritime Museum, dedicated to the maritime history of the Port of Los Angeles, sits on the harbor waterfront. A short distance away, the Fort MacArthur Museum occupies the historic Battery Osgood-Farley, preserving the installations that guarded the Los Angeles harbor from 1914 to 1974.
Practical Information
Red Car trolley; The San Pedro bus route is a loop, so visitors can use the same 19th St stop for their return trip.; Free trolleys Thursday–Sunday
Grocery and shops are located on Western Avenue, 0.3 miles south of the bus stop.
Sat, Sun & Holidays 10am-Sunset; 6am-8pm daily; Friday–Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Free
Tipps fürs Shooting
- A short but dramatic composition can be found on 28th Street where the road climbs at a 33.3% angle for about 50 feet.
- Photographers should not climb on the fences around Pt. Fermin Park, as it is very dangerous outside them.
- The Warner Grand Theatre is especially photogenic at night with its neon glowing.
- Harbor Breeze Cruises runs whale watching and harbor cruises from West Harbor on Fridays through Mondays.
- Walking the promenade from Berth 84 Park to Berth 77 Park is a recommended way to see the open West Harbor waterfront.
When to Shoot
Best Time to Photograph
1:24 PM - 1:49 PM
1:49 PM - 2:49 PM
12:34 AM - 1:34 AM
1:34 AM - 1:59 AM
Beste Jahreszeit
Clear days
Vermeiden
winter (Jan–Mar)
| Monat | Sonnenaufgang | Sonnenuntergang | Tageslicht |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:57 | 17:07 | 10h 10m |
| Feb | 06:37 | 17:37 | 11h 0m |
| Mar | 07:03 | 19:01 | 11h 57m |
| Apr | 06:22 | 19:24 | 13h 2m |
| May | 05:52 | 19:47 | 13h 55m |
| Jun | 05:42 | 20:05 | 14h 23m |
| Jul | 05:53 | 20:04 | 14h 10m |
| Aug | 06:15 | 19:39 | 13h 24m |
| Sep | 06:36 | 18:59 | 12h 22m |
| Oct | 06:58 | 18:19 | 11h 20m |
| Nov | 06:25 | 16:49 | 10h 24m |
| Dec | 06:50 | 16:46 | 9h 55m |
What to Expect During Your Session
In San Pedro, dry summers—July averages just 0.03 inches of precipitation—make Point Fermin Park and the Korean Friendship Bell reliable spots to photograph Catalina Island on clear days. The Vincent Thomas Bridge and the Warner Grand Theatre both reward night shoots, with the bridge's thousands of blue solar-powered LEDs and the theatre's neon exterior providing two separate after-dark subjects. On the first Thursday of each month downtown galleries stay open from 5 to 9 p.m., and free harbor boat tours depart from 600 Sampson Way at the Downtown Harbor.
Each summer, the Shakespeare by the Sea Festival is held at Point Fermin Park, providing staged scenes with the lighthouse and ocean as a backdrop.
The 1st Thursday Art Walk in downtown San Pedro begins at 5 p.m. and galleries, shops and restaurants stay open until 9 p.m.
The Port of Los Angeles runs free harbor boat tours that depart from Downtown Harbor at 600 Sampson Way, San Pedro, CA 90731.
Getting There
Access & Transit
- Barrierefrei
- Fixed-route LADOT buses, including DASH San Pedro and Commuter Express 142, are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps.
- Öffentliche Verkehrsmittel
- Commuter Express 142; DASH San Pedro
- Fußläufig
- From Western Av/19th St, walk west on 19th St/Morse Dr, turn right at Mantis Av and left at Cumbre Dr to reach the park.
- Fahrradfreundlich
- West Harbor offers Surrey bike rentals as a way to explore the waterfront and surrounding area on wheels.