Landscape Photo Opportunities in Oregon

[naturephoto1]

Hi All.

I am considering traveling to Oregon for a Landscape Photo trip from about May 1 to May 24. Any suggestions as to where to travel and take photos. For part of the time, I do plan to go to Crater Lake. Also, if my friend Charlie Campbell is available, I do plan to take photos along the Oregon Coast. Charlie lives in the Eugene area.

I plan on taking my Toho Shimo FC-45X with a battery of lenses including my Congo f6.3 90mm WA, Rodenstock f5.6 150mm Sironar S, Rodenstock f9 240mm Apo Ronar MC, Rodenstock f9 300mm Apo Ronar MC, and Fujinon C f12.5 450mm lenses. I also plan on taking my Mamiya 7II and perhaps 3 of my Mamiya 7 lenses as well as my Rollei 35S. I am also considering bringing my Horseman 6 X 12 back which will need to milled to work on the Toho.

I plan to shoot everything on transparencies- Fujichrome QL Velvia 50 (stocking up on some of the last available), Fujichorme QL Velvia 100, and possibly Fujichrome QL Provia 100 for 4 X 5.

Hiking and short backpacking trips for the trip will be OK, but no Mountain Climbing.

Any comments and suggestions and info about potential weather issues will be most appreciated.

Rich

[matthew blais]

I'll be there in May as well, starting at Shore Acres/Sunset Bay on the southern coast (my favorite area).
All up the coast is wonderful...just south of Bandon is nice, Cape Kiwanda and Cannon Beach (north coast.) All areas in between.

The Oregon State parks are among the best too. Clean, good facilities, scenic.

I was there in '06 the last week in May/early June and it did rain a bit, but worked around it over the five days. Fairly mild overall, maybe 40-45 at night and up to 60-65 day (without rain)

[naturephoto1]

I'll be there in May as well, starting at Shore Acres/Sunset Bay on the southern coast (my favorite area).
All up the coast is wonderful...just south of Bandon is nice, Cape Kiwanda and Cannon Beach (north coast.) All areas in between.

The Oregon State parks are among the best too. Clean, good facilities, scenic.

Hi Matthew,

Thanks very much for the input. Very much appreciated.

Rich

[roteague]

I agree with Matthew, I was up there with Matthew and Per in 2005 - simply a beautiful area. Shore Acres is a great place to start, good hiking in the area (not difficult) and rock formations. Here is one of my images from just a little way south of there:

[Christopher Perez]

For Oregon, there are a few nice things to consider. Some have already been mentioned. Here's a short list:

- Bandon: nice rock formations in the surf and offshore

- Coos Bay/Shore Acres: interesting rock shapes, everyone who's anyone goes there to try their hand at photography there

- Rogue River: nice scenery and roaring waters

- Cannon Beach: nice, though fewer than Bandon, offshore rock formations. Also nice parks that overlook the ocean

- Silver Falls State Park: water falls. Lots of them! Some quite high.

- Columbia Gorge: water falls. Lots of them! Some quite famous.

None of these are hikes, exactly. Most are close the car or easily accessible by short walks. If you're into boats, there are plenty of dock areas in the towns up and down the coast. And if you're as far south as that country called Kalifornia (LOL!) you might try your hand at the Redwoods (several beautiful locations) as well as Ferndale (I think that's what it's called) that has a downtown area of nothing but Victorian buildings.

[Robert Brummitt]

All those areas I agree with plus I like the big empty spaces of Central Oregon like the John Day region. Where the Painted hills are. Then there are the Steens Mountain area along the South east Oregon.
The farm land should be nice as well. I always like to travel along the I-5 highway to see the colors. But, the coast is a great place to start.
I wish you luck. You will have a great time exploring Oregon.
If you come by Portland. Come in say Hello.

[Eric Leppanen]

Rich,

I cruised the Oregon coast for a week last September. In preparing for that trip, I found this book helpful:

http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-...e=UTF8&s=books

May is part of the mosquito season, so be sure to bring lots of repellent. Also, the coast can be very windy, so bring whatever equipment you have to brace or protect your Toho (heavy tripod, long lens support arm, second tripod, umbrella, etc.). Sometimes you can partially hide behind rock walls at scenic turnouts to avoid the wind somewhat. I would definitely bring some Provia which you could push for more speed. Your M7 may get a lot of work as a backup "high wind" camera.

Some of the coastal lighthouses are very photogenic and also fun to visit. Heceta Head is the most famous, but is a challenge to photograph with LF (the classical view requires about a 600mm lens with 4x5); your 6x12 back might be the best solution here. Cape Meares lighthouse is also good, especially if you can capture the sunset light reflecting in its prisms (requires a wide-angle lens).

I'd also seriously suggest taking some B&W film for foggy days (done right, B&W coastal photography in the fog can be exquisite).

Also, for a change of pace, the Painted Hills section of John Day Fossil Beds National Monument is interesting. It is located well inland and requires at least another day of hard driving from the coast, but if you have a "lost day" due to rain, you can drive out there in the rain and photograph the following morning without much lost time. The color in the hills is superb right after a rainstorm.

Lastly, if you are flying in/out of Portland, you could spend time photographing the waterfalls in the Columbia River gorge. Also, Silver Falls State Park (26 miles east of Salem) is also reportedly quite good (I have never visited there). Both are described in good detail here:

http://www.photographamerica.com/issue29.htm

Good luck!

[Kirk Keyes]

May - try the Wooden Shoe Bulb Co. in Woodburn - between Salem and Portland off I-5. They have lots of tulips blooming around that time. There is also an iris grower near Salem as well with fields of irises that may be blooming around that time.

For waterfalls, try Silver Creek Falls SP near Silverton. And pretty much the entire Columbia River Gorge NSA has waterfalls. SOme are nicer in the fall, but spring can be a good time too.

Bring good rain gear, as well as warm weather gear. It can be either in May on the westside of the state.

Definitely go to Crater Lake. The road will not be open all the way around the lake, but it should be open on the west side from the Lodge on up.

[Alan Davenport]

Only 3 weeks to cover Oregon? You're going to be busy.

If you head east of the Cascades, The Painted Hills (John Day Fossil Beds) -- amazing always, and different almost every time you see them.

[naturephoto1]

Only 3 weeks to cover Oregon? You're going to be busy.

If you head east of the Cascades, The Painted Hills (John Day Fossil Beds) -- amazing always, and different almost every time you see them.

Hi Alan,

I know, I know, only 3 weeks. I had hoped for a month and I knew that wouldn't be nearly enough time and I had to limit what I would see. Unfortunately I have to sandwich the trip between 2 Art Shows. I have one of the shows from April 27-29; set-up on April 26. I have to get home and disconnect the trailer. The next show then is Memorial Day Weekend and I have to re-connect the trailer and set-up on May 25; the show runs from May 26-28.

Rich