Harris Beach

Harris Beach State Park, just north of Brookings, Oregon, is an ideal location for coastal photography. Direct access to beautiful beaches and rocks, wildlife and ever changing light.

Evening photography of the sea stacks is always a great pleasure. High temperatures inland usually bring fog and gray weather to the coast. Only one sunset in one week.

Sea Stacks at dusk, at the south end of the beach

Two second exposure at dusk

Cape Perpetua

Cape Perpetua, on the central Oregon coast just south of Yachats, is a dramatic mix of ocean, black lava and grand old growth forests. Seemingly small waves crash and spray, long channels are foaming and turbulent. Close offshore, gray whales are diving for small shrimp in the kelp beds.

Near the Cape, looking South

With some protection from the high winds, the Sitka Spruce can grow to very impressive sizes. The National Forest campsite here is close along a creek bed surrounded by a diverse forest and these wonderful, old trees. Black and white draws out the beautiful structure and interplay of texture of bark and moss.

Grand Sitka Spruce

Devil's Churn is near the campground, and a very worthwhile stop for a variety of photography. The ocean color seems unusually yellow-green in many areas this year.

Dramatic sea at Devil's Churn