Long Awaited Olympic Photography Workshop, May 2016

After being in many beautiful areas of the Olympic Peninsula over a 40 year period, a way to share  some special places has been a goal for some time. One very important aspect in making it possible is having a small family cabin to act as a base for our workshop on the shores of picturesque Lake Crescent.

Thursday evening we gathered for a small briefing and dinner at Lake Crescent Lodge, and then headed into the old growth forest along Barnes Creek. Using a beautiful grove of ancient Cedars as our base, we explored this forest and creek with the goal of sharpening our seeing and relaxing from the driving and the pace of the city.

Forest and Barnes Creek. John Camp, ©2016

Friday morning we headed to the land of the Quileute tribe on the Pacific, hiking Rialto Beach in the morning mist. Solitude and an eagle were our companions as the low tide slowly advanced into the exposed rocks. The sun was working on clearing the mist and we were working on various compositions of rock, sunbeams, trees and driftwood. We continued down to Hole in the Wall, with limited time to shoot before the tide advanced. We headed back to a fine lunch in La Push.

Get up close to the driftwood at Rialto Beach

Walking back on Rialto Beach as the tide approaches. Thanks, Connie

 In the afternoon we had a 2 1/2 hour Lightroom review and develop session. After dinner at the Lodge, we explored the rough coast along the Strait of Juan de Fuca at Salt Creek. Sunset was quite pleasant, and there was some very nice wave action on the rocky shoreline.

Saturday was a very full day as well. Early morning we headed back to the coast to catch low tide at Second Beach. No mist this morning! The sun was in complete command of the day, with the light already quite strong by 10a. The sea stacks are always very stately as the tide advanced. We elected to have another lunch in La Push at River's Edge.

Walking along the textured sand at Second Beach

After a break another Lightroom session was held at the cabin. It's always highly instructive to share each others work right after a photo session. My wife Cheryl and I then prepared a locally caught white salmon dinner which was a real treat.

The first clouds we had seen for a few days had sneaked in, with the possibility that our trip to Hurricane Ridge might be clouded in. Evidence of better weather was not apparent as we drove up, but we continued to the Ridge to find the sky breaking in places and a nice view to the north towards Victoria and Vancouver Island. We then hurried back to shoot the beautiful light and clouds over the Bailey Range, with long bands of color and clouds. The afterglow light was also quite beautiful. A very satisfying end to our workshop. We arrived back at 11p after a long day!

Sunset over the Bailey Range from Hurricane Ridge

Participant photographs from this workshop can be seen here>>

A Break in the Northwest Storm Parade

Finally able to leave the confines of the Portland metro area for a few days, we headed to the wilds of the Olympic Peninsula. Knowing there was going to be a series of storms marching through, we were prepared for rain and wind inside our trusty cabin on the shores of Lake Crescent.

With a break coming in the storms, we headed to the Pacific coast. My wife read her book in the River's Edge Restaurant in La Push (lovely setting, friendly people and nice food) while I headed to Second Beach. Been coming here for 40 years, revisiting the beautiful and ever changing familiar features, as well as discovering new and unexpected beauty.

With a building wind and incoming tide, I headed north towards Quateata, the final headland on this beach. The sun was already low in the sky at 3p. Had some nice sun and interesting darker clouds. Scattered on the beach was an array of well worn sticks. I loved the remorseful, bone-like features randomly strewn on the beach.

Bone like sticks on the sand

Shifting patterns with each wave

 As the tide approaches and the sun appears and reappears, present new water and cloud patterns. The wind is now approaching 30 knots from the south.

The "bones" are now washed into the sea

 

Waves of Clouds

Time to find some shelter from the wind, so headed into the wind to a favorite resting spot.

Pools and Sculptured Rock

A brief clearing and some sun gave some hope of a colorful sunset, but it was short lived as the clouds quickly moved in. Another wonderful time at the dynamic and beautiful Pacific coast.

Olympic National Park New Year 2015

Winter is a relatively quiet time on the Olympic Peninsula. The weather gods can change their mood overnight, but on this occasion, after some light snow, it was calm and somewhat cold for a week.

Lake Crescent is a restful and beautiful retreat in winter. There was a slight wind this evening, so with a long exposure with the camera, the lake appears to be covered in ice. New snow, lit by moonlight, adorns the ridges, with the summit of Storm King Mountain veiled with a thin line of mist in the background. The distant lights below Storm King are from Lake Crescent Lodge, with the lights from our cabin to the right.

Lake Crescent in moonlight

Second Beach is always a place of beauty.  The feeling of summer was here on this visit. The normal winter surf was absent, a clear sky at sunset, and completely calm.

Calm waters after sunset

As darkness approached, sunlight was exchanged for moonlight reflecting off the beach. A few fine clouds added to the beauty of the sky and the stars. In the photograph below, this portion of the Milky Way, featuring Cyngus, the Swan, while overhead in summer, was now descending in the Northwest. The sea stacks and water were illuminated by the rising moon in the SE. The sea spread across the shallow beach as the tide rose. A tranquil evening, alone, surrounded with beauty.

Sea Stacks lit by the moon, framed by the Milky Way

 We have a small tradition, weather permitting, of visiting Hurricane Ridge on New Years Day. There was just enough snow at this elevation to have a wintry feel. A lovely sunset with warm skies and and very blue light from the east lighting the east side of the Olympics made for a beautiful color contrast on the peaks.

Lovely light after sunset highlights Boulder Peak

 If you would like to see larger photographs of these and others, please visit my Destinations>>

Racing Clouds and Tides on Olympic Beaches

 Life in profusion drapes the rocks at Shi Shi Beach. Heavy layers of mussels await the returning tide. Shi Shi is a cacophony of beautifully sculpted rocks and a steep shoreline that the sea nests against when the tide returns. To the south, a wide crescent beach sweeps to the distant and rugged Point of the Arches.

Spring Blooms

Due to a number of very dedicated people, these areas are set aside for posterity and saved from the continued taming of the wildness of our coasts. There are few visitors here for much of the year, but as the weather moderates, these beaches are greatly enjoyed by many. It's heartening to see many families backpacking here to enjoy this heritage. 

Wind and Sea

In spring, the weather changes daily, often hourly. One need only wait for change from sun to rain, with rainbows seemingly pressed against the cliffs towards evening. An eagle glides by. The rapid and humorous call of two oystercatchers landing.

Sweeping Waves

Another long beach expands to the south at Second Beach. A simple name for a magic place. The Quileute name is Quateata. The hillsides along the beach show the difficulties of winter, with offset and jumbled trees from land sliding toward the sea. This day was restful and calm.

Second Beach Light

The rain and clouds of autumn on the Olympic Peninsula make it a guessing game when to go out and attempt to capture the beauty of the coast between storm fronts. At our cabin at Lake Crescent, there is no internet access, so those fronts are even more elusive. Weather can also vary quite a bit location to location, and change in a matter of an hour.

The main players at Second Beach are the sea stacks, from large tree covered mini islands to just the bare rock towers, and the very long slope of beach. At very low tides, you can walk nearly a 1/4 mile from shore. Sunset is most dramatic. At this time of year, one can be quite alone here.

The north end of the beach, with it's famous sea stack, is a beautiful and active area. Luck was with me, for after searching for sea otters earlier this year, two appeared in this channel. I was away from my camera, and they disappeared in minutes after spotting me. The last photo was taken just before leaving.

 Last Light

 Afterglow and Cirrus Monster

Fading light on the beach

Spring at Second Beach

With the moon nearly full, morning promised a low tide at La Push. Mornings are not my prime time, but determined to get on the beach with high pressure building in, there was hope of good light.

Second Beach is very shallow, so when the tide is low, it recedes a fair distance from shore. This photo was somewhat inspired by the rocks in the Portland Japanese Gardens, with the small rocks "facing" the main monolith. The sun was coming out between the receding clouds, so I waited until the rocks were in the shade and the large stack was lit up, to give depth and interest while having the sun at my back.

Morning Light and Parting Clouds

After shooting the morning light, I have been concentrating on late morning and later afternoon shooting, the goal is to use longer exposures, and processing with black and white or monotone images.

Incoming Tide

More Spring 2011 images of Second Beach and Lake Crescent can be found here>>

Olympic Beauty in Late Summer

Having a few days to explore some of my favorite haunts with favorable weather, Hurricane Ridge and Second Beach beckoned. Even though it's beautiful there at all times of the year, it's nice to have warm days and pleasant, unfettered hiking.

Fog surrounded the road up in the morning, ever changing the views to the east at Hurricane Ridge.

Looking toward Deer Park

The next evening brought a group of Mountain Goats, heading back to Klahanie Ridge. I gave them a wide berth. Three weeks later a hiker was gored by a billy not a mile from where this shot was taken.

Mountain Goats heading back

Second Beach has many moods. Sometimes it gray and windy, other times it provides quite a show. This evening was especially beautiful. Tide was coming back in and the sun was setting. I stayed late and had the beach to myself during a special time there.

Near sunset with wonderful blues and golds. Light behind lit the small rocks

During the entire time I photographed this famous sea stack, there was a Bald Eagle watching me from a high perch on the rock. He stayed there until after sunset.

Ever changing light and beauty at Second Beach

You can view a complete set of Olympic Pictures on my website here>

Second Beach in July

Another fine day greeted us for an afternoon visit to Second Beach, near La Push, on the Washington coast. With afternoon light and clearing fog, color photography with Black and White output seemed to make sense. This unusual tree-covered sea stack there is generally where I head first, especially with an incoming tide!

Reflections

The rocks in the sand have been an attraction for years. It's never the same, and the light and waves constantly bring new possibilities every visit.

Advancing Tide and changing light

Tim searching for 5 pieces for the "design" competition. Find and arrange five pieces.

Clearing fog and low clouds revealed beautiful cirrus clouds. The polarizer brought out more constrast and color for this shot down the beach. Looked like a strange creature in the sky. We had to leave before sunset, but it looked like it was going to be a good one!