Last week, my trip to the state of Oregon offered some great photography opportunities. I have been to Oregon many times over the years, but had never visited during the early spring months. It was shocking to see so much green, especially after spending most of my time living in the Mojave Desert. Green fir trees, green grass, green farm fields and electric green moss growing on just about everything.
Trail through Silver Falls State Park, OR
The spring showers let up enough to allow me to hike through a muddy Silver Falls State Park, which houses multiple iconic waterfalls. Through advance research, I'd identified a specific set of falls that I wanted to photograph called Middle North Falls. I hiked 1.5 miles through some of the most beautiful forest area I have ever seen.
Middle North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, OR
Middle North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, OR
Because of all the rain and snow this year in the Pacific Northwest, the falls are currently sending a broad curtain of water 106 feet down into the rocky plunge pool below, with a thunderous noise and clouds of mist.
Later in the day I was able to break out the long lens and grab a shot of the 136 foot high North Falls from a quarter of a mile away.
North Falls, Silver Falls State Park, OR
I also visited the Oregon Coast spending time between Lincoln City and Newport.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse, Newport, OR
Depoe Bay, OR
Lincoln City, OR
While in Lincoln City, my plan was to photograph the tide pools at low tide, hoping to capture starfish and colorful sea urchins on the rocks with a background setting sun over the ocean. The hike along the beach was farther than I had planned. By the time I finally got the camera and tripod set up on the expansive tide pools, it was starting to get dark and the fog was rolling in. I quickly struggled to find a composition to at least get a few somewhat mediocre shots.
Tide Pools, Lincoln City, OR
I was having a hard time finding my way off the tide pools because of large crevasses and 6 foot high rock formations. I started thinking, "it was easy to get out here, now how do I get back to the beach?" Feeling anxious, I started hurrying across the rocks, lost my footing and slipped flat on my back, smacking my camera gear on the wet rocks. Also, I later realized that I had lost my new progressive eyeglasses in the fall which would soon be owned by the Pacific Ocean tides.
In the darkness, I walked up the beach for over a mile beating myself up as the thick fog continued to roll in. At a certain point I wondered why I couldn't find the trail to my car... did I pass it? Oh no, do I have to call 911 to have the Coast Guard save me before the high tide gets me?
Sometimes I guess it's the price you pay to get some "just okay" photos.