Oregon And California May 13- 22, 2024
This photographic holiday for my old college buddy, Wayne B. and yours truly was four years in the making.
After assorted surgeries for the two of us and a pandemic, we finally made this memory rich excursion come to fruition.
My itinerary/wish list, was to photograph, Crater Lake (seen here), the Highway Of Waterfalls; aka OR 138, the Southern Oregon Coast, and finally the Redwood National Park/State Parks located in Northern California.
I have so many captures to go through, select, post process and share. Between being exhausted from this exhilarating vacation, and 10+ hours to upload all of them to the cloud, I did mange to post process this glorious capture today.
Also, this trip was the first time I had the means to save my captures on an external hard drive at the end of each day while away!
After flying in to Medford, and rejoicing in seeing my college buddy for the first time in about forty years, we enjoyed a late afternoon dinner and settled in before our adventure began in earnest the next morning.
With my phone alarm set for a 4AM wake up call, we were ready to hit the road to Crater Lake to greet the sun at sunrise. As we approach this National Park, the sky began to take on the colors of crimson, purple, melon and blue. But, by the time we parked, set up and carefully navigated the copious amount of snow ( a ranger informed me that there was still at least 6-7 feet of snow on the roads yet to be plowed), the sky took on the characteristics captured here.
One could only access Rim Village to photograph from, and the two vantage points located there (this being the first one) were packed down to a sheet of ice by prior visitors (especially by those who witnessed the spectacular aurora event the weekend before), made walking a more precarious event.
To make matters even more complicated, I was experiencing severe leg pain brought on by either sciatica or a radial nerve disorder (MRI is already scheduled) that made the simple task of walking about somewhat treacherous. Always the trooper, I carried on, not only on this first morning, but for the entire vacation.
As I finally settled in on this location, the sun was barely stretching its legs over the horizon, and with the beautiful mask of wispy clouds overhead, the light was filtered to a very satisfactory level.
The image seen here is a two image stitch, allowing me to share with the viewer the spectacle of Crater Lake as it unfolded in front of my eyes.I gazed in wonder at its blue water and stunning setting atop the Cascade Mountain Range. Crater Lake inspires awe.
Indigenous peoples witnessed its formation 7,700 years ago, when a violent eruption triggered the collapse of a tall peak. Scientists marvel at its purity—fed by rain and snow, it’s the deepest lake in the USA and one of the most pristine on Earth.
The main subject seen in the middle ground, is known as “Wizard Island”. It is a volcanic cinder cone which forms an island at the west end of Crater Lake. The top of the island reaches 6,933 feet above sea level, about 755 feet above the average surface of the lake.
I have a few more compositions yet to work on from my first morning spent at Crater Lake, and of course, all the other incredible locations I was honored to photograph. But first, I need to catch up on my beauty sleep that I am so woefully behind on! 😉
After photographing at Crater Lake on day one, we headed off to our first lodging destination in Roseburg, but before we made it there, we made a few stops along the way (as anticipated).
The first being a state park located at the Rogue Gorge.
It featured the ‘Wild and Scenic Rogue River” as it roared through this most beautiful area.
Having limited visibility from the paved walkway for a clear shot, I was able to “stumble” upon this vantage point to create a memorable portrait capture of the fast flowing water as it accelerated thru the gorge. The use of a 6-stop neutral density filter permitted me to utilize a slow shutter speed thus creating a silky white appearance to the water.
After capturing a couple more images, we continued our journey to Roseburg, and made one more stop on an overpass that spanned the Rogue River below.
Day two of my Oregon/California adventures found me exploring the various waterfalls found along the “Highway Of Waterfalls” (OR 138).
Extensive research and inquiries all lead to this magical waterfall, known as Toketee.
It became quite obvious that it was one of the most popular of all the cascades found in Oregon.
After a somewhat strenuous hike to reach the viewing platform, I could see for myself why it was so sought after. It simply was an incredible sight to take in, and to listen to!
The musical rhythmic patterns that the vibrantly cascading water produced was mesmerizing!
The amount of water produced by a snowy winter and rainy spring was quite impressive to behold and to photograph. As always is the case, it was a spiritual and life affirming experience.
In the Chinook language, the word “Toketee” means “pretty”, or “graceful”, an apt name for this inspiring waterfall.
The third leg of my Oregon adventures found my buddy and I on the glorious Southern Oregon Coast.
My research indicated that this section of the coast was far less “touristy”, and a photographer’s dream. Both of those bullet points were quite accurate.
I had mapped out the areas to shoot, beginning at Bandon and eventually making our way down to Brookings.
We lodged very close to the ocean, so getting to points A -Z was a snap!
Upon our arrival, we were greeted with an ethereal blanket of “Sea Smoke” that made one feel that you were in an alien land of liquid, sea stakes and sand.
At first, I was not feeling it, but the more I was exposed to Mother Nature’s brew, the more I was digging it!
The sun could hardly do its thing due to the intensity of the mist,, fog, and “smoke”, but it made its presence felt just enough to cast an amazing copper glow upon the Pacific Ocean.
One of the most iconic sea stacks found along the Bandon coastline is known as “Face Rock”, and it was quite obvious why it was called just that!
I chose to frame out my composition by incorporating some of the jagged rocks in the foreground to draw one’s eyes to the main subject (Face Rock Sea Stack). The incoming tide comprised of the various white caps gave this image a sense of directional motion, as well.
This was the first photograph I came away with, and have so many more different captures yet to post process and share; stay tuned!
The last leg of my Oregon/California excursion was to the majestic and magical lands of the Redwoods National Park in California. This national park is also comprised of smaller state parks, two of which I was so fortunate to experience and photograph. Those two parks were the “Del Norte Coast Redwoods” and “Jedediah Smith State Parks”.
To be in the presence of such incredible life forms is something that I will never forget!
The wisdom and communal nature of these giants was quite spiritual for me (and for others, I’m sure). The enormity of these forest spirits can not be imagined or enjoyed until one has the opportunity to stand below them as they tower above you while they bring earth’s gifts to the sky.
Pictures, simply do not do justice to their majesty!
This capture was taken during the golden hour in the Del Norte Coast Redwoods SP. The redwoods found here habitate closer to the Pacific Ocean Coast than in any other other area.
I was hoping for a blanket of fog to roll in from the sea (especially in the morning), but due to a dominant high pressure system, that was not to be. So, matter what Mother Nature offers, I gladly accept it and make it work to my “advantage”.
In this case, a soon to be (late afternoon) setting sun that cast long shadows throughout the forest, and the smallest aperture setting possible to create a sunburst, seen in this photograph.
It was magic, plain and simple as the spirits of the forest musically danced all around me.
In closing, we hit so many other areas out side of the aforementioned ones that if I were to include them all with photos, I’m afraid that this blog would go on forever. Better to keep things short and sweet!
Until such time, be well!