Next stop: Oregon!
Some thoughts and photos from a late summer trip to Oregon, as well as some upcoming plans for a return visit.
We are heading back to Oregon, where we will spend the week of Thanksgiving. I’m so excited!
I have loved Oregon since my first visit, which was back in 2001. Since then, I have been probably 10 times, maybe more. Some business, some pleasure - but it’s always enjoyable, camera or not. This time, I will be taking a camera and will get some time to photograph Portland as well as along the coast a bit.
I’m really looking forward to spending some time walking the streets of Portland with my camera. Despite many visits, I’ve never really had much time to photograph the city. Then after that I will be along the coast, where I have taken a LOT of photos - and of course I will be getting more on this trip. The Oregon coastline is my favorite place in the US - it’s just so beautiful and peaceful there. Oh, and it’s photogenic too, of course.
Today’s post contains a number of shots I captured on my last visit to the Oregon coast, which was back in August of this year. I’m not sure if I will get the same vibrant and beautiful light on this trip, since I haven’t been there during this time of year before. But of course I am hopeful. And regardless, it’s beautiful even if it’s a bit drab and overcast. I will find out soon enough!
Sunset next to Haystack Rock, at Cannon Beach
This was sunrise one morning - so glad I got up!
Lovely light to end another day on Cannon Beach
Those Colorado sunsets
Sunsets in the Western US always seem better to me. Here’s a pair from a trip to Colorado last year. Those high altitude sunsets can be beautiful!
I don’t know what it is about Colorado and New Mexico, but each time I am in either place, there always seems to be an interesting sunset or two. Not sure if it’s the weather patterns, or the mountains, or just some happy coincidences, but the light just seems better out West.
These two shots are from last summer. We took a week-long trip up to Durango, CO to hang out in nature. Due to all the Covid stuff, it wasn’t really possible to go anywhere on a plane (or at least to feel comfortable doing so), so that left us with finding a place we could drive to.
Coming from Austin, and driving to Durango - that is a LONG day. Like 16 hours, door to door. But, we were able to get it all done in a single day, and enjoy the great outdoors (and some nice sunsets) for a week!
A stunning Welsh sunset
A stunning sunset in lovely Conwy, Wales…
On my first night in Wales, I was treated to a really beautiful sunset. This was in Conwy, looking over the castle and enjoying the trip. I captured this using my 10 stop filter, in order to allow those clouds to streak across the sky.
The light in Italy
I had to get up from our dinner to go shoot this, but who can focus on a meal when this is happening??
This was an amazing sunset (I guess that is pretty obvious though). We were dining in Praiano, Italy along the Amalfi Coast, and sat on a terrace overlooking this beautiful area. As the light began to change, I got more and more twitchy until I just had to get up, leave dinner, and take photos. I just couldn’t miss something this spectacular. This is definitely in the top 5 sunsets I have ever witnessed, maybe top 3. Just so gorgeous!
A sunset in Seattle
A lovely sunset from Seattle…
From a recent trip to Seattle, when I got out around sunset and stumbled upon this little marina over in Ballard. The light was just right, and I loved the look of this boat.
Looking down on Cannon Beach
An aerial view of Cannon Beach, OR…such a beautiful stretch of coastline.
I really don’t fly my drone very much these days, and keep thinking that I might just sell it. We will see. But my suspicion is that if I get back into it, I may be able to get a smaller drone that is just as good, if not better. Regardless, that’s not what you cam here for. :-) This was captured while flying over Cannon Beach, OR which is just a stunning location, airborne or on the ground. It’s just about my favorite spot in the US.
Last light in Bavaria
A lovely sunset in Bavaria, Germany…
We were driving back to our hotel in the little town of Fussen, in the Bavaria part of Germany, and I could see the light was just starting to get awesome. So I pulled over next to this river, looking for something of interest to capture during what I hoped would be a nice sunset. I found a little footbridge and starting shooting away. The light turned really gorgeous, and then a swan swam into the frame. Perfect.
Just some lovely light
Lovely sunset colors in Jackson Hole, WY…
We were in the Grand Tetons, near Jackson Hole, WY and out and about at sunset, looking for beautiful things to photograph (which is NOT hard in that area!). We pulled over in a field because these clouds were just so awesome, and I started clicking away. There was a group of photographers nearby that were also shooting this, and as we left I realized it was a workshop being led by my friend Matt Suess. He and I had met the previous day and chatted all things photography, and it was nice to run into him again the next day. Small world, huh?
Sunset at The Mermaid Inn
The Mermaid Inn, in Rye, England during blue hour. It’s just so beautiful there!
I was down in southern England with a couple of my photo buddies, and we went into the little town of Rye to shoot the Mermaid Inn. The area is quaint and beautiful, and we really enjoyed our visit there (which was all of a few hours). Since we arrived before sunset, we sat in the pub inside and hoisted a few pints while we waited for the light to change. Then we popped outside for some quick shooting. All in all, a great way to spend an evening!
Haystack Rock sunset
A lovely sunset at Haystack Rock, in Cannon Beach, Oregon…
I absolutely adore Cannon Beach, Oregon - even though it’s a touristy little town. It still has a hold over me. Part of it is the quaint and small nature of it, and the bigger more obvious part is the incredible natural scenery that lies just a stone’s throw from their main street. The beauty is Haystack Rock, and it’s the subject of many of my photos over the course of my multiple visits to the area. In this shot, I went for a long exposure using my 10 stop filter, shooting pretty much straight into the sun. I wasn’t sure if it would result in an image worth keeping, but I’m pretty happy with the result!
Sunset in Montpellier
A stunning sunset from Montpellier, France…
When I visited Montpellier, France I was mostly expecting to shoot the city a bit, capture some interesting architecture and street scenes, and just enjoy hanging out. But one evening I was out in their big open park area known as Promenade du Peyrou and it was obvious that the sunset was going to be spectacular. Sometimes you can tell, when the light and clouds start getting all set up, and you can just feel it. So I hung around and waited for it, and it was well worth it. The park is not that large, but I took hundreds of photos during that time because the light was just amazing. This is the view looking out towards the aqueduct at the back side of the park. The two figures walking down there made it for me.
Along Route 66
A lovely sunset brings life to an interesting diner along Route 66…
So much goodness on the Mother Road! This was a diner in Albuquerque, which I had previously looked up and hoped to catch in interesting light (or blue hour at least). Luckily I had a lovely sunset in the background which accentuated the neon and colors here.
Italian light
An incredible sunset from southern Italy…
Oh man was this a stunner of a sunset!
We had been out all day, and when dinner rolled around we were too tired for any big production, so we just strolled down the street to this place with a lovely view. I did not expect this sort of light, but when it started coming together I had to leave the dinner table and shoot it! I love a good meal, but sunsets as beautiful as this one don’t come around very often!
The day ends in Bandon
A stunner of a sunset in Bandon, OR from a few years ago…I still remember it vividly!
This was an incredible sunset in Bandon, Oregon!
We had arrived late in the afternoon and settled into our room, before heading out for a quick bite. I knew I had a little time before sunset, but of course I didn’t want to be rushed coming back and getting my gear. Luckily our hotel was across the street from this location. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
The light started out ok but as you can see it really just exploded on me and turned out to be an amazing sunset. Don’t you love it when that happens?
Looking down on Prague
A view of Prague from their clock tower - such a beautiful city!
Prague might be the most beautiful city I have ever seen. It’s like Paris in that there is something amazing to photograph at every turn. In fact for me it rivals Paris in it’s beauty. This is a view from the top of their clock tower, looking down across the square at a beautiful church. So much to take in from up there!