Sunrise in Bandon, taken the same morning as John's post from Cascade Head directly below this one. He was a good 135 miles away, if that helps you visualize how expansive the color show was.
This morning was not only one of the best sunrises I've seen in a while, it was also a HUGE +8ft tide coinciding precisely with sunrise. I usually try to avoid Bandon on big winter tides, because it makes it impossible (or dangerous at best) getting onto the beach. This frame was taken during a period of calmer swells, but you can still see that the water was all the way up into the tangle of driftwood, tossing and rolling the logs like they were wine bottle corks. I spent more time just watching the action, rather than taking photos because I was basically confined to the upper cliff edges, and the stairway leading to the beach.
Here is one more, taken from a slightly different vantage point.
Posted by David Bostock on January 14, 2010 at 9:40 PM
Wow, Aaron. I really like the first one. The long exposure made the sea just surreal and impressive. Plus that sky is terrific. Great catch.
Posted by John Williams on January 15, 2010 at 12:04 AM
I've only been to Bandon once, but I know exactly where you are at, and that is a _high_ water line compared to when I was there! Crazy sky, it looks just as wild down there as it was up north. I notice Jesse Estes had some pink sky shots from Cape Kiwanda on Flickr, I wonder if he was shooting this same dawn?
Are those yellow flowers in the second shot? What's blooming this time of year?
I love Bandon, and this photograph is a great one of the coastline, and those kinds of skies don't come around too often.
Part of me feels the ground and buildings are a little too light, like they should be a little darker based on the direction the light was coming from, but there would have been some reflection from the clouds and ocean as well. It's a very minor nit for me, it almost looks like HDR taken a tad bit too far. I'm not saying that's what it is...I'm just trying to describe what I'm seeing. Seriously, a minor nit. Overall I really love it.
John, the yellow "flowers" are Gorse; an invasive and nasty thorn-covered bush that has taken over most of the sandy slopes and even some pasture land around Bandon and into Curry County. It is similar to Scotch Broom, except its covered w/ long thorns. It grows in thickets that are impenetrable and nearly impossible to get rid of once they grab a hold. The good news is that it blooms from fall through spring, so it can provide some nice color during the off-season.
Ryan, you're probably right about the houses being to light. Its not HDR, but I used a 3 stop grad, plus parts of another exposure for the hillside detail. I originally processed it darker, but ended up pushing the shadows a bit, probably going too far. Thanks for the comment!
Oh, yeah. I see the EXIF on Jesse's Kiwanda photo was from the same morning. Looks like the whole coast got to see the show.
Posted by John Williams on January 15, 2010 at 1:52 AM
Thanks for the info and link to the blooms (nice shot BTW).
Posted by Marcy Ugstad on January 15, 2010 at 9:27 AM
Gorgeous image - the sunrise colors and slow shutterspeed are absolutely wonderful. I used to live in Coos Bay and Bandon, and miss the great beaches around Bandon and south down to Port Orford.
I remember a few gorgeous sunrises like this, but not too many. Pretty rare for that area - great capture!!!
Oh, I am jealous, too. I'm another fan of Bandon and the southern OR coast and can't get there as often as I might like. Fabulous couple of shots and a treat to see. Thanks.
Discussion
10 repliesThis morning was not only one of the best sunrises I've seen in a while, it was also a HUGE +8ft tide coinciding precisely with sunrise. I usually try to avoid Bandon on big winter tides, because it makes it impossible (or dangerous at best) getting onto the beach. This frame was taken during a period of calmer swells, but you can still see that the water was all the way up into the tangle of driftwood, tossing and rolling the logs like they were wine bottle corks. I spent more time just watching the action, rather than taking photos because I was basically confined to the upper cliff edges, and the stairway leading to the beach.
Thanks for any thoughts or comments.
Are those yellow flowers in the second shot? What's blooming this time of year?
Part of me feels the ground and buildings are a little too light, like they should be a little darker based on the direction the light was coming from, but there would have been some reflection from the clouds and ocean as well. It's a very minor nit for me, it almost looks like HDR taken a tad bit too far. I'm not saying that's what it is...I'm just trying to describe what I'm seeing. Seriously, a minor nit. Overall I really love it.
John, the yellow "flowers" are Gorse; an invasive and nasty thorn-covered bush that has taken over most of the sandy slopes and even some pasture land around Bandon and into Curry County. It is similar to Scotch Broom, except its covered w/ long thorns. It grows in thickets that are impenetrable and nearly impossible to get rid of once they grab a hold. The good news is that it blooms from fall through spring, so it can provide some nice color during the off-season.
Ryan, you're probably right about the houses being to light. Its not HDR, but I used a 3 stop grad, plus parts of another exposure for the hillside detail. I originally processed it darker, but ended up pushing the shadows a bit, probably going too far. Thanks for the comment!
Oh, yeah. I see the EXIF on Jesse's Kiwanda photo was from the same morning. Looks like the whole coast got to see the show.
Kevin
I remember a few gorgeous sunrises like this, but not too many. Pretty rare for that area - great capture!!!
....Marcy Ugstad
Redmond, Oregon