Moving into a new year always brings gratitude for the many shared outings with friends and images gathered over the year just past and anticipation of more and even better in the year to come.
Such thoughts were in my mind as Dave, Paula and I headed out for a last photographic outing for 2012. We roamed about near and on the Oregon Coast for most of the morning. These wanderings included a stop at the Heceta Head Lighthouse overlook and a trip up the Yachats River to see the Oreo Cows. We also had a wonderful visit with Bob Keller at the Wave Gallery in Yachats – always motivational. {http://www.bobkellerphoto.com) He had examples of face mounted images that were really wonderful, given the right image, and he generously gave us information on the company he uses to get those prints done and finished in that manner.
Grabbing a minimal sandwich in a grocery store – the chosen restaurant was full and we did not have time to wait – we headed south. We wanted to be at the dunes near the South Jetty by Florence for the evening hours and were pushed for time. Dave graciously allowed for a few stops along the way to shoot a gentle evening ocean.
We easily found the trail-head and met our time constraint. We geared up to spend what we hoped would be a grand evening. We were not disappointed. On the way up the steep, sandy trail we met folks coming down and they all assured us that we were in for a great evening. It is a bit of a hike to get into these dunes – up and down on sliding sand. The dunes form in such graceful and sensual ways. Paula and I commented that there is a real feminine beauty about them. The next two shots are what I have to come call Natural abstracts. They are all rather large images – 3 or more shots stitched together so worth while to click on them for a larger view if you are interested. {think I will call the first shot “Two dots on a dune!}
I think this next shot is my favorite from the trip and I believe shows that feminine nature of these dune formations.
There was a stand of windblown conifers on the ridge line above the dunes that just stood out against the sky and it called to me many times – Take Our Picture!! Black and White seems to best express the scene.
After about an hour Dave trudged back up a long dune and commented that we had lost the light – he was right and we headed back toward the car. I kept noticing however the nice light that was forming in the west over the ocean so we drove back up toward the jetty proper and scrambled up a short but steep fore-dune and got to the top just in time to shoot the remains of the sunset over the ocean.
It was a great day and great way to conclude our photographic odyssey for the year 2012. Perhaps this will trigger some of you to join in when you can next year. These are fun trips – at least I think so.
Nice shots. I think I like the second dune one the best as it has a nice playful form and subtle color. I’m looking forward to seeing what is inside my own black box…but I’ve probably got another hour’s worth of taking down and putting away holiday decorations…and a rush to meet the Aspen Creek deadline……..