The harbor has been bustling this week with the arrival of boats from across Southern California for the start of the Channel Islands 500 today. With all the excitement of a high-performance race, crews have been busy with dockside preparations—checking gear, setting sails, and making final adjustments.

With a start later this afternoon, I decided to walk the docks early to see if any of my new neighbors had anything interesting to photograph. But with all the activity on the docks, it was the sunrise and a group of brown pelicans near the harbor entrance that ended up giving me what I was looking for today.

It’s funny how you can head out with a specific idea in mind, only for something unexpected to take control and lead you in an entirely different direction. It’s one of the things I love about photography—or any artistic pursuit, for that matter. The ideas you start with are easily replaced when something better comes along.

Embracing the unexpected is the hallmark of every good journey.