Day Trippin' #3: Oregon Coast

I admit, I'm a sucker for sunsets. With so many places to watch dusk settle over the beach, I rarely miss capturing a few reflective sunsets on the Oregon coast. This particular photo was taken near Strawberry Hill, where the sun sets over tidepools that are accessible beginning early in the morning.

Night or day, this stretch of coast is a photographer's dream. I like to arrive an hour before sunset and stay about thirty minutes afterward. Sometimes the best sunset images are the dancing colors on the clouds behind me. I didn't realize that years ago, until I turned to leave one evening and the sky behind me was an explosion of golden light tinged in pink and turquoise. My jaw literally dropped!

From Florence to Coos Bay, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area stretches for 40 miles along the scenic Oregon Coast. These ancient dunes differ from any other dunes in the entire world, and stretch farther than any other coastal sand dunes in North America. Formed by the constant force of winds, they offer both adventure and solitude for those who love to explore.

For a photographer like myself, they offered wonderful photo opportunities that I'll likely never experience quite the same again.

Oregon's rain forest is a dense space where you'll find giant-sized ferns, thick, cushy groundcover, and primitive plant forms that make Crayola's green color crayon look downright faded. Marked trails and interpretive centers abound, but it's perfectly fine to take off on your own adventure.

Morning at a tidepool is a spectacular experience. Most of my tidepool photos show the usual tidepool fare - gorgeous orange-red starfish clinging to the rocks, hairy green anemones gently swaying in the shallow pools. On the Oregon coast, one of my favorite tidepool areas is also a great place to watch sea lions frolick on a rock overlooking the beach.

I captured this photo on the "back side" of Strawberry Hill, where rocks jut in unusual formations towards the Pacific. In the background, you'll notice the thick, lush rainforest, which hugs the coastline. It's the best of both worlds!

This lovely iris grows along the hillsides above the coastal town of Yachats. We like taking a road we've never driven before, and exploring a new area. (Isn't that the fun of a day trip?) During our most recent drive up a winding road overlooking the Pacific, we discovered wildflowers in bloom everywhere.

Below is Columbine, which grows on a tall stem. I love its delicate red petals and gold stamen.