Photos

PHOTOS: Paragliding Over Big Sur

Adventure photographer Chris Brinlee, Jr. got a bird's eye view of one of California's most beloved and iconic attractions—Big Sur. Brinlee captured stunning images from a unique perspective from a paraglider, part of a surprise expedition he set up for his girlfriend's birthday, he wrote on the blog Indefinitely Wild.

"While few places in the world match Big Sur's beauty, it is the journey there (whether you're traveling south from the Bay or north from Los Angeles) that attracts me most," Brinlee told weather.com. "Every drive I've ever taken on the Pacific Coast Highway has been perfect."

The couple met up with Brinlee's friend Cormac O'Brien, a certified tandem paragliding pilot, who took Brinlee's girlfriend, and then Brinlee, on a flight above Big Sur's mountains, trees and turquoise waves. Armed with a GoPro, Brinlee was able to catch some stunning shots of his flight.

(MORE: Best Outdoor Adventure in Every State)

"Normally to get such iconic views, one must backpack dozens of miles into the wilderness," Brinlee wrote on Indefinitely Wild.

The photographer has dabbled in portraiture, lifestyle photography and a handful of other genres, but none have been as inspiring to him as adventure photography.

"The Scout Motto says 'always be prepared.' That doesn't necessarily mean carry all of the gear that you could possibly need for any situation, but rather, be prepared for the situation that will most-likely be encoutered. Fortunately, with modern weather prediction science, it's much easier to plan accordingly for the adventure at hand," Brinlee said.

For more information, visit Brinlee's website and Instagram.