The Gems of Oregon workshop was different this year. I was feeling apprehensive as the date approached. With eight major wild fires burning in the area, the conditions were going to be challenging to say the least. Smoke-filled air not only makes photography difficult but poses a health risk. I was paying particularly close attention to air quality warnings in the areas we would be traveling through and photographing in. Some areas looked fine but others posed a problem, especially for the workshop’s final days.
We met Wednesday afternoon as planned in Crescent City on the Northern California coast. The air was clear and fresh. With a very productive orientation and instructional session, we were off to a good start. Thursday we were to journey up the spectacular southern Oregon coast and we were ready. The weather forecast was favorable and there were no air quality warnings.
It was still overcast when we made our first stop at Harris Beach in Blanding, OR. The overcast made black and white photography especially fitting.
Figure 1: The thing that stopped me for this photograph was the stream running into the ocean. I would have prefered the stream to be more prominent but that put the rest of the image out of balance. So this is what I ended up with.
The next stop was Lone Ranch at the start of the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Byway. Lone Ranch is rich with photographic opportunities and as it was still overcast, my favorite photograph also got rendered in black and white.
Figure 2: Lone Ranch provides a wonderful array of sea stacks and rocks. What I like about this composition is the foreground that carries you with stepping-stones to the sea stack in the distance.
At Natural Bridge the sun came out while we were there. It started out good and just got better and better until the sunlight was brilliant.
Figure 3: Natural Bridge is always a joy, especially in light like this. There’s really only one composition here as this shot is from the viewing area and the trees limit where you can stand. The key was to eliminate distracting elements on the borders.
Be sure you see both arches. This has always been a favorite of mine, especially in light like this.
While at the arches, a ranger came by and talked with us. He told us about Thunder Rock Cove just up the road and was very enthusiastic. So, we gave it a try and were glad we did. There were more sea stacks with arches.
Figure 4: The challenge with this photograph is the time of day and the light. With morning light the cliff face was still in deep shadow. Fortunately, Lightroom was able to bring out the detail.
But my favorite was the wonderful view up the coast.
Figure 5: Looking up the coast with the light at my back produced this pleasant scene. The sea was calm and I chose a moment when there was just a thin line of surf on the beach below. Delicate!
We had lunch at the Barnacle Bistro in Gold Beach. With a name like that, how could you pass it by. Fair warning, however. While their hamburgers are excellent, they’re big enough to easily feed two. Maybe more.
Next stop was Port Orford. Battle Rock is one of those places where the Native Americans came into conflict with settlers in 1851. A small group of settlers were dropped off by Captain William Techenor who left them there while he went for supplies. The native Qua-to-mah tribe was not pleased with the intruders and attacked. The settlers took refuge on the rock that gets its name from the ensuing battle. You can read the full story here.
Figure 6: There aren’t many unique viewpoints for Battle Rock. This was the one that best told the story of the conflict that took place here. I darkened the foreground so as to emphasize the rock.
This year we made it out to Cape Blanco and the lighthouse that stands on it. The wind is usually very strong there, so strong that I feared it would rip the door off of my car. But this time the wind was calm, and we made it to the lighthouse. I found an especially exciting viewpoint with the sun shining through the Fresnel lens housing.
Figure 7: This was the first time photographing the lighthouse. I got some shots that emphasized the strength of the tower. But this one best tells of the vital role it plays in the safety of mariners.
That was the last stop before we reached Face Rock in Bandon Beach. As good as the day had been, this turned out to be an even better climax. We arrived about an hour and a half before sunset and stayed a good 45 minutes after, so long that when we finally gave in to hunger, all the restaurants in Bandon were closed. We had to drive to Coos Bay in order to find a McDonald’s that was open. You can tell how desperate we were. Here is a collection of the Bandon Beach photographs.
Figure 8: I continue to get drawn to scenes like this at Bandon Beach. It captures a peaceful mood. The trick is an interesting foreground that includes reflections and patterns in the surf.
Figure 9: The glow of the setting sun around the sea stack is what makes this photograph interesting. The composition in the background is important but so is the pattern in the foreground surf.
Figure 10: Long after the sun went down and most of the people had left, the light was still magnificent and getting even better. I underexposed this to capture the twilight mood.
Figure 11: This is my favorite from the sunset at Bandon Beach. This is my kind of moment. It conveys a sense of complete peace and tranquility.
None of us were sad to be late for dinner.
The following day we moved inland and cut it short because of the smoke. We made a couple of stops and then retreated to our hotel to learn about a Lightroom workflow which was more relevant to my companions.
The final day was to be the grand finale with Crater Lake as our destination. I planned a couple of stops before continuing to Crater Lake, places we missed the prior day. The first stop was Mill Creek Falls. We were fortunate in that it was gushing.
Figure 12: First impression of Mill Creek Falls? Outstanding! Actually, this was taken when I was scouting and the air was filled with orange smoke. White balance in Lightroom gave it a more natural look.
The air was free of smoke when we arrived. We were lucky so far,
The next stop was another Natural Bridge but this time on the Rogue River. Actually, the river disappears into a lava tube and comes out 200 feet downstream. It’s impressive to say the least.
Figure 13: Natural Bridge is a magical place. The morning light was extreme, so I shot HDR to capture the full dynamic range. The shutter speed was fast enough to eliminate blur in the water. Personal choice.
Look closely and you can see the cave-like hole the water is coming out of.
I couldn’t resist an abstract of the patterns in the water. So here is one of my favorites.
Figure 14: It was hard to resist making an abstract of the patterns in the water. And the light set off even more details. It was just a matter of waiting for an interesting moment.
At last, we’re off to Crater Lake. But just as we’re leaving Natural Bridge the air is filling with smoke. Maybe we can get to Crater Lake before the smoke does. Off we go.
When we arrived, that lake was clear but in no time the smoke followed us in and took over. Was this going to be a total bust? “We have to photograph Wizard Island no matter what. I’ll take you to Discovery Point,” I informed my friends. We grabbed a few photographs from the parking area and then went a short way up the rim trail to a wonderful viewpoint. Well, it’s wonderful if you like to see a lot of smoky haze. Still, it’s worth looking for something and here’s one that I found.
Figure 15: The inspiration for this photograph came out of the blue. In an instant it came together – the remnants of a tree and a volcano lurking in the haze. What a story.
Talk about telling a story. The root remnants of a long-gone tree with Wizard Island, a volcano in its own right, lurking in the mist behind it. Wow, I couldn’t have asked for more. But there was still more to discover.
The south rim of the crater was wrapped in a mystical mood.
Figure 16: This scene with the towering pines and the south rim of the crater receding into the haze caught my imagination. The noble pines contrasted against the jagged rim mostly hiding in the smoke created mixed feelings.
“We have to get to Phantom Ship,” I called, so back to the car and around to the other side of the rim. The smoke was denser when we arrived, and we could just barely make out the small, eroded remnants of a volcano emerging from the water that looks like it was designed for Disneyland. I decided to go for it and create something totally different, totally unique.
Figure 17: Never have I seen such a sight nor taken such a photograph. But I couldn’t resist. I took several shots with the Phantom Ship placed in different locations. I chose this one because it was the most mysterious.
I don’t know about you, but I like it. I think it’s kind of spooky.
Enough of the crater. I had just one more place to take them – the Pinnacles. “What are they?” you ask. Here’s a photograph.
Figure 18: These pinnacles were created after the eruption and now, thanks to erosion, are exposed to view. I wanted to portray these as needle-sharp pillars, piercing the air.
The whole side of the canyon is filled with these things. And they’re all related to the eruption of Mt Mazama that created Crater Lake.
We’ve done pretty well, dealing with the smoke and haze. We’ve come away with far more than expected. We skipped lunch in a (somewhat-failed) attempt to beat the smoke and get some interesting photographs of Crater Lake. What we ended up with was certainly unusual and unique and, from my point of view, quite satisfying.
So, we turned around and headed back only to be stopped in our tracks. And here’s why.
Figure 19: These flowers were a most wonderful surprise. Not only did I want to capture the yellow and magenta, but I wanted to show them in an interesting way.
Figure 20: This closeup shows how truly magnificent these flowers are. For this kind of photograph, it’s best to keep the camera perpendicular to the subject and maybe push your aperture to f/11.
Figure 21: This is a composition I especially like – a strong foreground object, this time bedecked with flowers, providing entrance into an enchanted forest in the distance.
Figure 22: This composition establishes a sense of place on this mountain slope, carpeted with flowers.
Figure 23: Wouldn’t you love to have something this beautiful and refreshing in your garden at home?
Wow! A day that started out with uncertainty ended in a blaze of glory. A hillside of flowers seemed to defy the destruction that was going on all around us and brought joy to our hearts. What a perfect final shoot.
I think there’s a lesson or two here. Never give up. The fires and weather conditions may have looked bleak, but one pushes on anyway. The fact is, you may anticipate the worst but until you are in the situation you don’t know what opportunities may arise. And leads to the second lesson.
If we had approached the last day with a fixed plan in mind, it would have been a failure. But we came with minds that were open to new possibilities, eyes that were ready to see beyond what we had expected to see. It’s almost as if you set aside your preconceived notions of the photograph you want and instead be sensitive and open to the photograph you receive.
What an exciting four days this turned out to be. My companions were great, and the photography was awesome, especially when considering the trepidation I was feeling as the workshop approached and the fires in the area grew. This turned out to be one of the most fulfilling workshops I’ve ever been a part of.
Thanks to my companions for being so awesome.
I wonder what will happen next year.
Join me for an exciting photography workshop. See what we’re doing here.
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