Oregon slapped me in the face with its beauty, that's for sure.
I recently traveled every single mile of the Oregon coast, and one shining highlight was Cannon Beach.
Cannon Beach had been on my radar for ages, so I was excited to finally see it in person and hopefully make some great pictures.
I had two days to soak it all in and to investigate every grain of sand on that beach. The focal point on Cannon Beach is Haystack Rock, a beautiful, yet formiddable piece of landscape that demands attention, whether you are a photographer or not.
My family and I hunkdered down glamping in style at Hallmark Resort & Spa so I could keep my eye on the beach, the waves, and most of all, the light. I was quite glad I had this convenience since the conditions changed quickly and severely. Every time I looked out my balcony at that wonderful view, it was different.
I woke up early in the morning all groggy-eyed and made my way to one of my main target areas, Ecola State Park, just a short drive away. As I enjoyed the very first signs of light, I noticed an Elk feeding on the edge of the cliff. Soon, several made their presence known as they moved back and forth across the foreground of my picture. Any wildlife photographer will tell you that it is never easy to get them to pose just right, so I took dozens of pictures not knowing what pose would be best.
As one elk approached the other, they slowly raised their heads together like a cinematic on-screen kiss. I couldn't believe this pose was happening exactly where I wanted it as the sun illuminated Haystack Rock.
As the early evening sun glazed Haystack Rock, I became obsessed with the patterns of grains in the sand and the creeping water.
From time to time a few surfers would catch some waves, and it was time for me to catch them with my camera. I got them in position when a seagull buzzed by and added even more intrigue to the picture.
A day full of thick clouds left me feeling a little pessimistic. As I sat and watched the sun slowly make its way down to the horizon, the clouds begand to show cracks. This means signs of life and drama for a photographer. Light would strike the ocean and beach every now and again and made for some exciting anticipation.
As I sat relaxing from my balcony I had this feeling that something might happen. The easy choice would have been to punch out for the day and just enjoy the end with a cocktail.
I just couldn't relax as the shimmering light became more consistent.
I quickly put on my water shoes, grabbed my camera and off to the beach I went. I trudged down the beach in slow motion as the wind was fierce, pushing me away. I was shivering in the cold without my jacket. I was also quivering with excitement. It was getting more dramatic every minute.
I was one of only four people on the entitre beach willing to put up with this terrible wind and cold. Strangely, there was another photographer taking engagement photos and she was excited about what this epic light was doing to the scene. I'd love to see those engagement photos---I bet they were fantastic.
The tides were rising as the sun pushed through the cracks in the sky like a dream.
Just when I thought the show was over, last light from the setting sun sprayed through the clouds in mesmerizing rays. I waited patiently as a seagull entered the frame to enjoy the final dazzling display.
The time at Cannon Beach gave me all kinds of scenes that I will always remember.
