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

 

 

Coastal follow-up

Just one more from my time at Shore Acres yesterday.  This one is a wide angle shot that shows the shoreline with the surf – a bit of a different perspective.  Loving my new wide angle lens.

Surf’s UP

Don’t be thinking there is going to be any Beach Boys music associated with this post.  Surfing was not going to happen this morning at Shore Acres.  Yesterday the National Weather Service posted a High Surf advisory for the Oregon Coast and the Coos Bay surf report indicated that the BIG STUFF was coming in after 0900.  I got to Shore Acres about 0830 and it was windy and a bit rainy but nothing that would have me cowering in the car – that was yet to come.

The shots below are pretty much a time series.  The first one is looking north from the overview about 0900.

That black sky to the west was a real good indication of what was coming.  Along with just a few other photographers I shot here for about an hour and a half – pouring rain and really windy (65 mph gusts predicted but I don’t think it got that stiff but still enough to knock over my tripod at one point)

I like the receding surf draped over the rocks and the mist in the image below.

After a bit of time drying gear and warming me I went back out and the waves were in full tilt and breaking across a band of rock to create some interesting patterns in the waves.

I finally, about 1030. walked to the southern view from the overlook.  Lot’s of action in that direction as well.

I have photographed at Shore Acres a few times before but this set of breakers was very impressive.  Larger images – click on them – are so much better for viewing.

Coastal Storms

I was fortunate enough to spend Tuesday and Wednesday of this week with my sister and brother-in-law at the Canon Beach/Seaside area.  I decided to drive up the coastal highway from Eugene – slower for sure but I think much more interesting than just blasting my way up I-5 and then over to the coast.  Storms were predicted and they came about.  Lots of intense rain showers as I drove along but it cleared from time to time along the road and when we connected at Hug Point, just south of Canon Beach, it was relatively clear – nice building clouds and you could tell there were other bursts of rain in the future.  We packed up and headed for the beach.  What fun!  I was just drawn into photographing the beach and the hovering clouds.  Got so involved that I did not pay attention to the incoming tide and am grateful to my brother-in-law for the gentle nudge – “Let’s get out of here the tide is coming in”  Did a get a nice shot of the next incoming storm cloud against the headland.

We got settled in various motels and gathered for dinner at a local seafood restaurant in Seaside.  The plan for the evening was to go back south to Arcadia Beach just south of Canon Beach.  Such a different evening than the time I shot up there a couple of years ago.  The image below is my attempt to capture the next incoming storm cloud and I have say it was not more than 10 minutes before it unleashed a torrent of rain.

Thanks again Paul for the help getting body and camera off the beach in the driving rain.  We were both pretty soaked by the time we got to the car.  My sister had wisely headed back earlier and she stayed dry.

Back to a dry Seaside and a nice bottle of wine given to me by Dr. Heather Erickson of the CFC – sat on a nice deck and watched the last of the evening light disappear.

My goal the next morning was to drive to the small Washington coastal town of Ilwaco with the intent of photographing at Dead Man’s Cove.  I had seen an image created by David Brookover,  https://www.brookovergallery.com/  a few months back and was just motivated to get to the area.  I connected with a local maintenance worker who was so helpful.  His one statement to me about the access to the cove was that the trail while short was very steep.  NO KIDDING!!  Straight down in places and combined with the mud from the rain it was not easy going and coming back up was worse.  Mud, Mud, Mud – to the entertainment of people in the parking lot when I returned.  Whining aside Dead Man’s Cove is a magical place and I did come away with one good image.

The drive home necessitated a change of clothes in a gas station in Astoria.  I did stop in Portland to off load some money at ProPhoto Supply and then it was time to head home down the freeway.

As usual you can get a larger view of these images by clicking on them and comments are always welcome.  Prints, if desired are also available.