I just returned from my Oregon Coast photo workshop and am slowly getting settled after an amazing time along the central Oregon Coast.  Tons of fond memories, lots of great images, sand in every pack and pair of shoes…..all in all a fantastic time.

The workshop was based out of a small town called Yachats, the Gem of the Oregon Coast.  This location is located centrally to Oregon coast ocean yachatsall of the amazing locations we visited during our workshop.  The population isn’t over 1000 people and there are just enough amenities to make it livable during our time together.

I had a small group this year for my Oregon Coast photo workshop, but that made it all the better because we had maximum flexibility to go where the weather and conditions were best and I was able to cater the itinerary to meet everyones photographic goals.

The workshop coincided with one of the hottest weeks on record inland in the Willamette Valley.  We were thankful that we escaped 100+ temps in the valley!!! What happens on the coast when the valley is so warm is that the heat and atmospheric pressure suck the offshore marine layer on-shore.  So, each day we were met with lots of fog and low clouds!  This made for some very unique conditions for our photography!  At the start of our workshop the fog never lifted all day, however by the end of the workshop, we enjoyed several nice sunsets as the clouds had moved off shore enough to provide amazing color and conditions for the group.

Fog shrouds the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport OregonEven though fog is a relatively common occurrence along the coast, it was so thick during our workshop that it provided some unique opportunities, such as this photograph of the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport Oregon.  I have seen it with fog before, but never like this, so as we drove past, I called a mandatory stop to photograph this beautiful bridge in the dense fog.

 

We were also fortunate during our Oregon Coast photo workshop that the tides coincided nicely with the best times to photograph.  Whenever you’re shooting at the beach, besides tracking sunrise/set, you also have to track the tides to know which areas may not be accessible and which areas might be best photographed at low or high tides.

One of my favorite locations just south of Yachats can provide an amazing experience for coastal photographers, with the chance for great rocks at the water line, water motion and an amazing amount of tide pools with all sorts of sea creatures to photograph.    Always use a polarizer when photographing tide pools to cut the glare on the surface of the water!!!!

Starfish and anemones in a tide pool along the coast

 

The starfish population has dramtically decreased a few years ago but now I’m happy to report that a large starfish and smaller one wait for high tide on the Oregon Coastthey are abundant and as colorful as ever.  It’s easy to find then clinging to the rocks during low tide and get an up-close experience photographing them.

 

 

 

 

There are so many highlights from this years Oregon Coast photo workshop, it’s hard to list them all out!  One of the amazing locations we visit is the Cape Perpetua area, which is home to the famous Thors Well.  Time and tides were not in our favor for photographing Thors on this day, but I did take folks down to the edge to look in to the amazing hole in the rock with the ocean surging far below.

 

A forest path heads in to the fog on Cape Perpetua, Oregon CoastAlso in Cape Perpetua is a beautiful old growth forest and with the fog and moist conditions we enjoyed some great photography along the forest path.  Even got our macro lenses for some really up-close photography.

 

 

 

 

 

One of the highlights of a trip to this part of the coast is photographing the fishing harbor in Newport, along with a couple of lighthouses afterwards.  There are so many details and colors and textures in a fishing harbor.  It is a fantastic place to learn to “see” the details and hone your photographic vision.

rusty hooks and rope on a crabbing boat in Newport Oregon

3 boats tied up at the pier in Newport Oregon

We finished out the 3 1/2 day Oregon Coast photo workshop with an amazing sunset at Seal Rocks.  This area features offshore sea stacks as well as rocks inshore to use as foreground elements.

Everyone went home tired and will full memory cards!  I hope that you may consider joining me next year along the Oregon Coast for this special time in the most beautiful section of coastline.

A long exposure of a lighthouse and ocean waves along the Oregon Coast

Colorful sunset along the Oregon Coast

A delicate fern in the forest along the Oregon Coast

Rocks and sand house a line up of starfish along the Oregon Coast

Rust and paint reflected in calm waters in Newport Oregon

A rock is covered in starfish, surrounded by kelp along the Oregon Coast

Low fog clings to the hillside along the Oregon Coast