A Lovely Summer Evening

Spent part of last evening at Shorelane Park on the edge of Fern Ridge reservoir. I have shot here many times in the past and while not always successful in coming back with reasonably good images I think last night I managed to capture a couple that will give you an idea of how lovely it was. There were clouds scudding across the hills being blown apart a bit by strong winds but creating interesting formations. The setting sun always seems to add interest and drama.

As the sun set the color in the remaining clouds seemed to come up and be reflected in the choppy water.  It was a really nice evening and I hope these images convey some of that to you.  Comments are more than welcome and thanks for looking

Bandon Beach

As I mentioned in a post yesterday I noticed a dark cloud mass coming in while shooting at Cape Arago.  I drove down to Bandon and had a very nice connective visit with friends Steve and Susan Dimock – both amazingly gifted photographers – and stayed at their lovely little boutique motel — La Kris Inn.  Always a pleasure to see them and get caught up.  I asked if either wanted to go out to the beach for an evening shoot and Susan said she mite be interested.  As the evening went on the heavy moisture laden sky thickened and while Susan made the right choice not to go out I wandered down to the beach and shot for about 1.5 hours.  Nothing much.  No amazing sunset.  The image below gives you an idea of what I found and it did not get better as the evening went on.

Went back early the next morning and found a clearing sky and some morning light coming on.  The second image of the two below contains Face Rock – hope you can see it – may have to click on the image for a larger view.

It was fun trip and perhaps the next one with be east bound.

Shore Acres stop

Went to the Oregon Coast mostly to just get away for a while and to enjoy what always seems to be a wonderful trip with great photographic opportunities.  Such was the case this time but so different than previous visits.  I stopped at Shore Acres on the way down to Bandon to see what was happening with the surf.  Not much, but still nice to be out there.

I know that people hawk the surf prediction websites looking for that day and time when the predicted swells are in the 15-20 foot range which results in booming waves that break on the jagged cliffs at Shore Acres resulting in towering jets of water and make for very dramatic photographs.  That was not the case for me on this visit.  I tried to get creative and decided to see if I could slow down the incoming surf in my images so I employed a 10 stop ND filter (almost black) on my wide angle lens and took some very long exposures – 30+ seconds at f22.  The one below is looking south.

After spending about an hour trying my best to figure out how to capture what was going on I drove a bit south to Cape Arago.  Wonderful overview – storm coming in – should have known it would wipe out evening light on the beach at Bandon which was where I was headed.  More on that in the next post.

As always I welcome your comments and if you would like a larger view just click on the image.

Low Water – Fern Ridge

The Army Corps of Engineers manages the reservoirs in the Willamette River system.  For years I served on the Reservoir Management board and we carefully considered how to deal with abundant water years and those that were very dry.  Each reservoir is generally operated on what is known as the Rule Curve.  This time of year they are pulled down in anticipation of flooding but will start to refill shortly.

I went out to Fern Ridge reservoir last night hoping to find a sunset to photograph.  The overcast and cold of the day broke off into clear sky with some clouds hanging over the distant Coast Range mountains.  I was able to walk out onto the mudflats and to find an area that served both the sky and the land.  After about 40 minutes even god-speak came along and I was delighted.

I waited another 20 minutes and the sun set into the far hills with a grand burst of light.  Wandered back across the mud and found my way toward the car and home.  Came upon two women headed out and they asked if they had missed the sunset and I assured them they had.

I know it has been a while since I posted anything I thought was very good so hopefully these will make up for that lackluster period.  Thanks for looking and as always I sure do welcome your comments.

A Sweet Morning

Sweet Creek in the Oregon Coast Range is, I think, one of the prettiest streams I have ever photographed.  I went out for another visit this morning and found stream levels to be almost perfect.  Much of the leaf color has passed but there was spotty color along the channel and it helped to set off the waterfalls.  I started at the upper parking area and walked downstream – went back upstream and finished at Sweet Creek Falls which I have photographed before and have an image I like so did not spend much time up there.

Below is a set of images resulting from this morning – a downstream sequence.  Starts with a small step pool; moves on to a nice chute with a swirl in the foam to add some interest; then a grotto with a carved bedrock channel; finally the best of the bunch IMHO – a wonderful waterfall spilling over a nice drop and complemented with autumn color.

Click for a larger view of an image and of course I welcome your comments.

Hult Lake morning

With KWAX broadcasting Sunday Morning Baroque on the radio I traveled early to Hult Lake in the Coast Range this morning.  I love traveling at night with classical music on the radio and KWAX never seems to disappoint.  The outing was mostly a scouting trip to check on how the autumn color was progressing – still about a week away, IMHO, from really popping.  I shot the image below as a panorama and I think it works well in that format – 46×13 inches.   Still water graced by a bit of fog and some color against the conifers.  This one really is better viewed large so click on it if you are so inclined.  Comments as always are welcome.

Astoria abstracts #2

I mentioned that I would post a few abstracts from my recent outing to the docks in Astoria.  So here are 3 that I like and worked out.  Fun wandering about in the rain.  Just sharing.  Comments welcome

Astoria abstracts

Got to spend a few days on the Oregon Coast at Seaside with some growing up time friends.  We shared good wine, great company full of old stories – surprised we all did not get arrested for some of that stuff and probably would today – and we caught up with our lives and those who were with us in spirit.

The first morning following our arrival in Seaside I got up early enough to grab some coffee at the motel bar and headed north to Astoria on the mouth of the Columbia River.  I have seen abstract images from participants in Art Wolfe Astoria workshops and decided to give it a go to find some of my own natural abstracts.  Still have a lot of images to work up and hopefully like.  The one below is of the Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia.  It was wet and foggy morning and the bridge just seems to be cutting thru or emerging from that dreariness.  I converted it to B&W, it was taken with my 14mm prime lens at f22.  It really jumped out of the stack at me so I thought I would share it.  Better if you click on it for a larger view and as always I welcome your comments.  More images to come from this trip if I did not totally mess up.

Location

“Good inner guidance can avoid a lot of common excesses that tend to stymie creative development, such as relying too much on standard practice or becoming too dependent on limiting habits. One common habit that can be especially limiting in landscape photography is putting too much emphasis on locations and not enough on our relationships with them.”   Erin Babnik

I read a blog posting from Erin Babnik, a member of the PhotoCascadia group, yesterday over morning coffee and I certainly do agree with her above comment. Actually the whole article is worth reading — https://www.photocascadia.com/looking-beyond-locations-in-landscape-photography/

I think it is one of the main reasons I have avoided photography workshops –  “Place your tripod here and point your camera with these predetermined settings in that direction and you will get a great image of this iconic landscape”  Perhaps but…!!

With the weather changing last night after a few days of clear blue sky I headed for one of my favorite locations near Fern Ridge reservoir.  Windy and nice clouds coming along.  A harbinger of change coming over the Valley.  Also sort of like visiting an old friend.  My relationship with this area!  Home Ground!

The weather front was on its way and rain is even predicted for this afternoon.

Thanks for looking and I welcome your comments.

Sweet Creek Falls

There is something very intimate about walking in a Pacific NW Old Growth forest on a rainy day.  Such was this morning as I hiked along the trail leading to Sweet Creek Falls.  Pouring rain, alder and vine maple bursting bud, the first of the year trillium blooms and a wonderful stream dancing its way to join the Siuslaw River all quieted my mind and made me glad for where I was.

I parked at the upper trail head which made for an easier walk to the falls but I was soaked when I got there.  Luckily I had a rain shield for my camera which while rather clumsy to use it kept the rain off while walking.

I think this waterfall is one of my favorites and the soft morning light and moderate flows help to set it off in its little grotto.

Comments are always welcome and appreciated.  Click for a larger view