Westbound and Down-Oregon Photo Tour

There are many nature photographers that I admire.  One that is at the top of the list is Marc Adamus.  Marcs’ images are unforgettable and when you see them you can bet your jaw is going to drop.  I have spent about a year setting things up with Marc for a small group tour and so in the middle of May I headed to Portland, Oregon.  I was accompanied by two photo friends, Tommy Morgan and Steve Palmer .  Tommy is a Canon shooter and Steve has embraced the darkside of Nikon. 

Flying out of St. Louis on SW to save some dough  was an experience unto itself.  From not knowing that the SW terminal was located in a separate terminal about half a mile from the main terminal, to the line up and get the best seat you can on your own we were continually amazed at how SW does what it does.  All in all a positive experience.  The flight attendants had humor and attitude and that experience alone was worth the trip. 

Arriving in Portland in the later afternoon on Friday we headed to the rental car desk where we discovered we lucked into an upgrade from a Subaru Outback to a Toyota Highlander.  This vehicle was awesome and held us and our gear with room to spare.  The comfort and sound level was excellent as was the ride.  Now onto our motel in Troutdale.  This is an east side suburb of Portland and was chosen due to it’s proximity to the Columbia River Gorge where we would do lots of waterfall chasing.  

We chose a local landmark to eat at by the name of McMenamins.  On site it has a spa resort, winery, brewery, golf course, amphitheater, and three dining choices.  We went with the high-end and had an excellent meal and service.  Onto the motel and a good nights sleep. 

Elowah Falls-Columbia River Gorge

 

We met Marc at the parking lot to Horsetail Falls about 7:30 the next morning.  We spent the morning chasing several waterfalls on moderate trails.  Marc was a great tour leader who spent all the time necessary to make sure we were operating our equipment to get the best images, helping us with composition, and even getting us and our gear up and down some tight spots.  This would be the norm for the entire three days we spent with Marc.  After a great lunch at a locals spot in the Gorge area we headed to the seashore.  Along the way Marcs’ Subaru Outback(with over 300,000 miles) finally gave up the ghost and blew a head gasket.  Marc made some quick calls and obtained transportation and the tour resumed.  We spent that evening and most of the next day touring the northern Oregon coast at places like Seal Rock, Cape Perpetua, and Cape Kiwanda.  During this segement I am sad to report that the Old Man of the Sea claimed Tommy’s Canon 5D .  Most waves are just about this size and come along at just about this time interval…Tommys’ wave was quicker and larger than most and we were almost all caught unawares.  Several other close calls ensued throughout the coast experience.  My advice, do not leave your gear for a second unless you are really tired of the gear that you have.  Luckily I had brought a second Canon body and we soon had Tommy shooting again.  And the experience of cleaning sand from your tripod is not to be missed.  

Then it was back to the Gorge on day 3 and then that evening back to the coast.  The back and forth was necessary as we were chasing weather, tides, light, and lodging.  Then for two more days we had the coast and the Gorge.  What sticks with me so much is how rich, lush, and green everything was in the Gorge.  You almost always had moving water in your sight and often a large waterfall.  From the coast I will not forget the smell of the ocean, the wind and waves, and the seafood at the local cafes.  We relocated so many times I felt like a Ping Pong ball bouncing from spot to spot.  I hope the shots that I posted here can give everyone an idea of the beauty and grandeur of Oregon.  I really only scratched the surface.  My images of the seashore did not turn out very well.  I confess to really struggling with this side of landscape photography.  My next trip to the seashore will result in a much better capture rate of good images. 

Bob, Steve, and Tommy with Waclellah Falls in the background