The Chieftain

Sunset at Bandon Beach

The Custodian

This image was taken a couple of years ago when my son and I were together on a summer break. The skies had been pretty boring during most of our drive up from southern California until we arrived at Crater Lake. We arrived around mid-afternoon and since this was our first trip to Crater Lake, we decided to drive the loop and scout the area around the lake to familiarize ourselves. Being the dead of summer the mosquitoes were in great abundance and really ferocious. Each time we would get out of the jeep they would attack us in the hundreds. Luckily, we had brought net masks and the sleeves of our jackets helped some. For all our troubles, we were bestowed with a beautiful sunset as the puffy clouds turned an amazing red. Thanks for looking.

The Custodian II

This image is from my last year's visit to Crater Lake around late-June while there still a huge amount of snow and with most of the roads still closed. This Milky Way image from one of my favorite locations at Crater Lake. Not sure why it took me a year to process and upload. The MW is comprised of 10 images stacked in Starry Milky Way Stacker and the foreground was taken during blue hour.

A True Fairy Tale

From a hike last summer to Fairy Falls in Oregon

Indian Beach, Oregon

Mt Rainier Glorious

Morning at National Creek Falls

National Creek Falls is yet another among the long list of highly photogenic waterfalls in Oregon. The falls occur where the spring-fed creek diverges around a basalt outcropping and plunges about 40 feet over a jagged ledge in two scenic channels. The hike to the falls is straightforward and the area is quite beautiful with the exception of the mosquitoes. Photographing the falls was fairly easy as the water was not too deep but very cold. A lot of microfiber cloths were needed to keep the lens dry enough to take the shot.

Painted Hills Sunset

The Painted Hills is a geologic site in Wheeler County, Oregon that is one of the three units of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument along with Sheep Rock and Clarno. The Painted Hills are listed as one of the Seven Wonders of Oregon

Painted Hills II

Abstract from Painted Hills, Oregon. This is an amazing place to photograph with the right light.

Painted Hills I

Abstract from Painted Hills, Oregon. This is an amazing place to photograph with the right light.

Painted Hills III

Abstract from Painted Hills, Oregon. This is an amazing place to photograph with the right light.

Painters Palette

Abstract from Painted Hills, Oregon. This is an amazing place to photograph with the right light.

Painted Hills IV

Abstract from Painted Hills, Oregon. This is an amazing place to photograph with the right light.

The Mist at Proxy Falls

After dropping my Nikon D810/14-24 lens in Proxy Falls I decided to come back and make a second attempt with my backup camera a few days later. The weather was overcast and it had been drizzling. I figured that the drizzle did not really matter as there is so much over spray from the falls that things would get wet any way. It was wet indeed at the falls. I held on to the camera closely this time with the micro fiber cloth in over drive as rain and spray continued to fall on the lens and camera. I was only able to take a few shots before I realized that moisture had gotten inside the lens and fogged it up. I was able to process this shot as it had the least amount of water spots. On a positive note, the Nikon D810 and lens after some tender love and care are back in service :)

Morning at Punch Bowl Falls

Punchbowl Falls in the Eagle Creek drainage in the Columbia River Gorge.

A Ruby Red Sunset

A beautiful sunset at Ruby Beach as the tide was coming in

Seal Rock Sunset

A beautiful sunset at Seal Rock. It was pretty neat to capture the waves crashing over the cliffs

Raging tides incoming!

It was quite an experience getting to this spot and even more so on the way back as the tide was coming in and almost at waist level by the time we waded out to safety.

Roar of the Toketee

Toketee Falls, on the North Umpqua River located off Hwy 138, is one of Oregon's most beautiful waterfalls renowned for its graceful columnar basalt formation framing the two-stepped falls. The North Umpqua River has carved a devious and twisting narrow gorge out of the basalt lava flow, resulting in a waterfall of 113 feet in height - a 28 foot upper tier which plunges into a deep punchbowl pool flanked by a deep alcove, followed by the impressive 85 foot plunge into a large emerald pool. The main observation deck is easy to get to and involves a short 1/3 mile hike. However, getting to the bottom is different matter as there is no official trail and it took a couple of tries before I built up the courage to attempt the trip down :). The first 30-40 feet are a steep drop down a cliff and one basically has to hang on to tree roots and rocks to avoid an uncontrolled ride down. I almost gave up after the first 10-15 feet. Fortunately, I had come prepared with an extra rope which I was able to tie to a nearby root and maneuver the remaining steep drop. Once you get past the initial steep drop it is relatively easy to get to the bottom and it was definitely well worth the effort.