Posted by bryan wilk on December 8, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Hi All,
I'm new here. I'm an amateur landscape photographer from New Jersey and I'm planning my first trip to the Pacific Northwest this summer. I'm hoping you can kindly offer some advice on planning a two-week itinerary. The trip will most likely be the first two weeks of July. If I could, I would make it the first two weeks of August as I've read that the wildflowers around Rainier are best at that time, but early July would fit my work schedule better.
My plan is to fly in and out of Seattle. The two priority spots on my mind are Mt Rainier NP and Pacific Rim NP. I would like to see a variety of scenery-- coast, mountains, rain forest.
How would you allocate two weeks of time for a photographer who has never been to the Pacific Northwest? Also, any resources (online or print) you can point me to would be very helpful. In the meantime I'll keep reading through the old posts here!
Thanks in advance,
Bryan
Posted by Amy Lindsey on December 8, 2009 at 7:04 PM
Bryan~ Look into Photograph America newletters. I find them very helpful when planning trips. I thoroughly enjoyed photographing Lime Kiln lighthouse on San Juan Island. I've only been there twice so i'm sure folks on this forum will have much better advice. Have a fun trip!
Posted by Jack Graham on December 8, 2009 at 7:54 PM
Bryan,
Rainier for sure better in Aug..... The gorge is pretty dry in July.. I'd spend most of my time in Olympic NP, the San Juan's and maybe even get doen to the Oregon Coast.
I am originally from NJ ---if you want drop me an email at jack@jackgrahamphoto.com
JG
Posted by bryan wilk on December 8, 2009 at 8:53 PM
Amy,
Funny you should mention the Photograph America newsletters. I was on that web site earlier today and was wondering if they were good. I might just pony up the $100 or so and get the full collection that they offer. Thanks!
Jack,
Seems like everyone lives in NJ at one point or another, doesn't it? Thanks for the advice. Do you prefer the Oregon coast (photographically) to Vancouver Island? I've been going back and forth between them. I could possibly fly into Seattle and work my way south, flying back from Portland.
Strangely I've read conflicting things about Rainier in early July. I've read two places that it's the best time of year there. One of which in an article by David Middleton.
http://www.davidmiddletonphoto.com/print/articles_01.htm
But then several places I've read that the wildflowers are better in early August.
Posted by Mark Windom on December 8, 2009 at 9:26 PM
Early July is too early for wildflowers at Rainier unless there is an exceptionally low snowpack. I usually plan on the last week of July/first week of August; it's often later than that.
It's pretty hard to go wrong out at Olympic National Park...beaches such as Rialto, Second, Ruby, and Shi Shi; Hoh Rain Forest and Sol Duc Falls (if overcast), etc. Mount Saint Helens is worth a visit as well.
Posted by Greg Vaughn on December 9, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Bryan,
The Photograph America newsletters are excellent. I also recommend Rob Barbee's book "The Photographer's Guide to Puget Sound & Northwest Washington." It doesn't cover Mt. Rainier, but does have excellent advice on the Seattle area, San Juan Islands and Olympic National Park.
As others have mentioned, a July trip will likely be too early for wildflowers at Mt. Rainier, but that doesn't mean it won't be worth the trip. Still, like others, I think you might do better concentrating on Olympic National Park.
Having to chose between Vancouver Island and the Oregon coast is hard. Both have spectacular scenery. I'm partial to Oregon, but it might make more sense for you to do Olympic NP and then take the ferry to Victoria and Vancouver Island.
If you decide on Oregon, Barbee co-authored with Middleton "The Photographer's Guide to the Oregon Coast". For an overall guide to Oregon, see my tagline below.
Posted by Tom Reiman on December 9, 2009 at 4:06 PM
Bryan,
You can easily stay busy in the Pacific Northwest for two weeks. The great choices include Mt. Rainier, Olympic Penninsula, Mt. Baker, but also Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Coast including Haystack Rock, Light Houses, and the Palouse of Eastern Washington.
For some of my photos in and around the Pacific Northwest check out my zenfolio site.
Tom Reiman
http://tomreiman.zenfolio.com
Posted by John Williams on December 10, 2009 at 9:10 AM
I'll echo Mark's thoughts. The flowers move up as the season progresses, and on an average year you have a great chance at Mt. St. Helen's elevation during the first week of July. For beaches from Seattle, the Olympic's are hard to beat.
Posted by bryan wilk on December 10, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Thanks everyone-- a lot to think about. I will focus my planning on Olympic NP. I think I'm starting to lean towards an Oregon/Washington trip versus Washington/Vancouver Island.
Greg,
Your book has great reviews on Amazon. I will check it out.
Discussion
8 repliesI'm new here. I'm an amateur landscape photographer from New Jersey and I'm planning my first trip to the Pacific Northwest this summer. I'm hoping you can kindly offer some advice on planning a two-week itinerary. The trip will most likely be the first two weeks of July. If I could, I would make it the first two weeks of August as I've read that the wildflowers around Rainier are best at that time, but early July would fit my work schedule better.
My plan is to fly in and out of Seattle. The two priority spots on my mind are Mt Rainier NP and Pacific Rim NP. I would like to see a variety of scenery-- coast, mountains, rain forest.
How would you allocate two weeks of time for a photographer who has never been to the Pacific Northwest? Also, any resources (online or print) you can point me to would be very helpful. In the meantime I'll keep reading through the old posts here!
Thanks in advance,
Bryan
Rainier for sure better in Aug..... The gorge is pretty dry in July.. I'd spend most of my time in Olympic NP, the San Juan's and maybe even get doen to the Oregon Coast.
I am originally from NJ ---if you want drop me an email at jack@jackgrahamphoto.com
JG
Funny you should mention the Photograph America newsletters. I was on that web site earlier today and was wondering if they were good. I might just pony up the $100 or so and get the full collection that they offer. Thanks!
Jack,
Seems like everyone lives in NJ at one point or another, doesn't it? Thanks for the advice. Do you prefer the Oregon coast (photographically) to Vancouver Island? I've been going back and forth between them. I could possibly fly into Seattle and work my way south, flying back from Portland.
Strangely I've read conflicting things about Rainier in early July. I've read two places that it's the best time of year there. One of which in an article by David Middleton.
http://www.davidmiddletonphoto.com/print/articles_01.htm
But then several places I've read that the wildflowers are better in early August.
It's pretty hard to go wrong out at Olympic National Park...beaches such as Rialto, Second, Ruby, and Shi Shi; Hoh Rain Forest and Sol Duc Falls (if overcast), etc. Mount Saint Helens is worth a visit as well.
The Photograph America newsletters are excellent. I also recommend Rob Barbee's book "The Photographer's Guide to Puget Sound & Northwest Washington." It doesn't cover Mt. Rainier, but does have excellent advice on the Seattle area, San Juan Islands and Olympic National Park.
As others have mentioned, a July trip will likely be too early for wildflowers at Mt. Rainier, but that doesn't mean it won't be worth the trip. Still, like others, I think you might do better concentrating on Olympic National Park.
Having to chose between Vancouver Island and the Oregon coast is hard. Both have spectacular scenery. I'm partial to Oregon, but it might make more sense for you to do Olympic NP and then take the ferry to Victoria and Vancouver Island.
If you decide on Oregon, Barbee co-authored with Middleton "The Photographer's Guide to the Oregon Coast". For an overall guide to Oregon, see my tagline below.
You can easily stay busy in the Pacific Northwest for two weeks. The great choices include Mt. Rainier, Olympic Penninsula, Mt. Baker, but also Multnomah Falls on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Coast including Haystack Rock, Light Houses, and the Palouse of Eastern Washington.
For some of my photos in and around the Pacific Northwest check out my zenfolio site.
Tom Reiman
http://tomreiman.zenfolio.com
Greg,
Your book has great reviews on Amazon. I will check it out.