Shhhh! This SoCal spot is the best-kept secret for magical winter sunset photos

I think I've found the best-kept secret for winter sunset photos in all of Southern California — it's at the top of the new sand berms at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach, and you can get some spectacular backlit shots that show off all those purple, pink and orange hues in all their glory.

Time it right, and it will look like the sun is setting on you, just for you.

Some say the best time to catch a SoCal winter sunset is before the winter solstice, which this year falls on Dec. 21. But sand berms will remain up until late winter, early spring. Now, all you have to do is make a plan to get out there and make your own photo magic.

Here's the backstory

Last month, heavy machinery was used to create sand berms stretching seven or eight feet high along Bolsa Chica State Beach. California State Parks Superintendent Kevin Pearsall told me the berms are a bit of an experiment to see if they can protect the coastline from the kind of costly flooding and storm damage that forced the closure of Pacific Coast Highway at times over for the last two winters.

Berms are typically created each winter, but never this high, Pearsall said. You'll also find sand berms at other beaches up and down the coast. But I think that extra height, combined with the southwest alignment of Bolsa Chica's shoreline, are the secret to the best winter sunset photos that I've ever seen.

I mean, just check this out:

A nearly-perfect family portrait.

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Courtesy Rene Lynch

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Let's start with why our winter sunsets are so great

Something enchanting happens each winter that jaded Southern Californians can sometimes fail to notice. It's a perfect kind of alchemy that leads so particularly pretty sunrises and sunsets.

Cloudy winter skies refract the sun’s rays as it dips. A “mirage” effect is created by overlapping inversion layers of cold air and hot … and the result is a riot of pinks and oranges and purples that make you marvel at the mysteries of the universe.

Ah, Southern California, I never, ever tire of your beauty.

But those dramatic sunsets come and go in an instant. So if you want to capture the best backlit winter sunset photos at the sand berms at Bolsa Chica or any other beach, here are some tips for making photo magic happen.

Here, my husband and my dog are standing on the bike path at Bolsa Chica. This photo, and the photo at the top, were taken just minutes apart. It just goes to show that a few minutes, and the right angle, can change everything.

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Rene Lynch

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Keep an eye on the clock

You want to know exactly when the sun is setting before you head out to take your perfect sunset photo. (The weather app on your smartphone should do it.) You want to be in place and ready to go well before the sun really starts dropping. Leave yourself plenty of time to deal with end-of-day traffic and parking. Plan for time to hit the bathroom and then walk over to the sand and so on. I would suggest planning to arrive 20 to 30 minutes before sunset.

Watch your feet

Climbing up the steep sand berms to pose for your sunset photo will be a bit of a struggle. I suggest sturdy footwear, such as sneakers. And take it slow. If mobility is an issue for anyone in your party, you can travel south to the flat outcropping that is the Huntington Beach Pier. There, you can also get great backlit sunset photos.

Who will take the photos?

You could try and do it all yourself if you have a tripod and you feel confident in your ability to line yourself up perfectly with the camera. (If you go that route, Climb the sand berm and leave a marker, like a t-shirt, in the sand. Then line up the camera. Going back and forth between the top of the sand berm and a tripod will take time, so plan accordingly.)

Another option is to pair up with a friend: One evening, they take your photo. Another evening, you take theirs. You could try to get in two photo shoots in one evening but it might be hard to cram in two sunset sessions. At the very least, you will need to move quickly. Again, plan accordingly.

Stage the photo ahead of time

I know I keep repeating myself, but you will only have a few minutes to get the perfect backlit shot. So plan in advance: How do you want the photo to look? If you are doing a family shot, do you want adults in the middle and kids on the ends? Or kids in the middle? Do you want to face the photographer? Or do you want to face the water, looking off into the distance. After you get some traditional shots maybe you want to try a few shots where everyone agrees to jump up in the air on the photographer's count? Just let everyone know what the plan is in advance so you can move quickly from shot to shot.

Take lots and lots of photos

This tip comes from Claire Muranaka, who is the public relations coordinator for Visit Huntington Beach, which has lots of helpful info about planning a trip to Surf City. Muranaka said her camera roll is filled with hundreds of sunset photos — a perk of the job. She said she encourages people to take way more photos than they think they should because the colors of the sunset change so quickly that you never know what you're going to get until after you check the photo roll.

Ugh. Those pants. That waist pack... but my husband's legs sure look good!

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Courtesy Rene Lynch

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Think about your silhouettes

I discovered this photo spot when I was walking along the beach last week with my husband and dog. We ran into a friend who was riding his bike along the beach. He encouraged us to climb to the top of the berms while he took our photos. Honestly, I didn't expect much at all, just an opportunity for a family photo at the beach. While at the top, my friend kept waving my husband and I this way and that, encouraging us to switch positions again and again.

It wasn't until I actually climbed down that I noticed there were a handful of other people also posing along the sand berms up and down the beach. And when I finally looked at my friend's camera, I was gobsmacked. These photos were amazing.

Except ... I couldn't help but notice that my baggy hiking pants and waist pack weren't exactly doing me any favors in a backlit photo. So, take a tip from me. Avoid baggy clothing and toss that fanny pack off to the side before taking any photos!

I surely will, next time. My husband and I are planning to go back this week.

Our friend has agreed to meet us for a second photo shoot.

And if you think you've got a better place for a winter sunset photo, please email me and let me know about.