Oregon coast

cigardoc314 · Mar 22, 2017

hello all,
i'm heading to the oregon coast this summer. i plan on shooting landscape with my F100 and FE2.
my initial thoughts are to shoot portra 400 @200 with the F100 and tri-x at box speed or maybe @800 with the FE2. i like the contrast, and increased grain as well, i get with pushing the tri-x, but wonder if that would be a good idea on the coast. i am open to any and all recommendations, especially regarding shooting b&w. Any other b&w film suggestions, exposure recommendations, etc.
thanks for all replies
david

dpurdy · Mar 22, 2017

I live in Portland Oregon and have spent a lot of time at the coast. The Oregon coast is a very varied thing. I like to keep a red filter and a polarizer in the bag, also as it is very frequently windy with sand and salt water blowing on you, I would keep a UV filter on most the time. I hope you have already reserved motel or cabin space as it gets pretty filled up in the Summer. Up North you will find some long flat beaches bordered by grass land. A bit south you start seeing all the great rock formations and a bit farther south you will find sand dunes. Way down south turning into California you will find the giant redwood forests. It is all good stuff.
Dennis

keenmaster486 · Mar 22, 2017

Where all are you going?

I've been to Astoria many times; one of my favorite places for photos. It's quite beautiful, and the town is quaint. You can cross the bridge into Washington, and visit lighthouses and stuff

cigardoc314 · Mar 22, 2017

dpurdy said:
I live in Portland Oregon and have spent a lot of time at the coast. The Oregon coast is a very varied thing. I like to keep a red filter and a polarizer in the bag, also as it is very frequently windy with sand and salt water blowing on you, I would keep a UV filter on most the time. I hope you have already reserved motel or cabin space as it gets pretty filled up in the Summer. Up North you will find some long flat beaches bordered by grass land. A bit south you start seeing all the great rock formations and a bit farther south you will find sand dunes. Way down south turning into California you will find the giant redwood forests. It is all good stuff.
Dennis

,
thanks. the uv filter sounds like a good idea, as does the polarizer. i didn't think about a red filter; i've never had good success with one, although one would probably give me the effects i'm looking for with b&w on the coast. we've already booked a night in manzanita, bandon and at the heceta lighthouse b&b. we definitely have planned on trying to see the redwoods. again, thanks

cigardoc314 · Mar 22, 2017

keenmaster486 said:
Where all are you going?

I've been to Astoria many times; one of my favorite places for photos. It's quite beautiful, and the town is quaint. You can cross the bridge into Washington, and visit lighthouses and stuff

thanks. flying into pdx, hitting the gorge rather quickly, and then spending 5 days on the coast, starting in the astoria area, specifically at the peter iredale wreckage, etc. we might need to include astoria. so much to do, but very little time.

keenmaster486 · Mar 23, 2017

cigardoc314 said:
thanks. flying into pdx, hitting the gorge rather quickly, and then spending 5 days on the coast, starting in the astoria area, specifically at the peter iredale wreckage, etc. we might need to include astoria. so much to do, but very little time.

Oh yeah... Try the old scenic highway for some great photo opportunities. Somewhere along the line there's some kind of Catholic sanctuary place (I can't remember what it's called) which is very serene and beautiful.

Plus Bonneville dam makes for great industrial/nature shots.

And yes, Peter Iredale is a ton of fun...

Places to visit in Astoria:
-Cannery Pier Hotel
-Flavel House
-Columbia River Maritime Museum
-Docks and piers for all the sea lions your eyes can feast upon
-Astoria Column
-Various lighthouses in the area

But maybe I'm off course and you already know all of this since you asked for technique advice Sorry.

If it were me I would shoot Velvia for color and definitely TMax for B&W (I think the deep blacks of TMax would benefit the coast) but what do I know

Vaughn · Mar 23, 2017

Expect wind -- often from the north. And it is surprising how often Hwy 101 leaves the coast!

Sounds like you staying at great spots along the coast. I do not have a lot of experience with the northern Oregon Coast -- I rarely get above Tillamuck. Southern Oregon is close to home.

The closest redwoods to Bandon are a couple hours away -- some more nice coast along the way -- Meyers Creek and Pistol River Beaches. Right before those beaches (heading south) is a road up to Cape Sebastian. Easy to miss, worth the view.

cigardoc314 · Mar 23, 2017

Vaughn said:
Expect wind -- often from the north. And it is surprising how often Hwy 101 leaves the coast!

Sounds like you staying at great spots along the coast. I do not have a lot of experience with the northern Oregon Coast -- I rarely get above Tillamuck. Southern Oregon is close to home.

The closest redwoods to Bandon are a couple hours away -- some more nice coast along the way -- Meyers Creek and Pistol River Beaches. Right before those beaches (heading south) is a road up to Cape Sebastian. Easy to miss, worth the view.

thanks for the heads up on the wind and the moving highway. ;=).

cigardoc314 · Mar 23, 2017

keenmaster486 said:
Oh yeah... Try the old scenic highway for some great photo opportunities. Somewhere along the line there's some kind of Catholic sanctuary place (I can't remember what it's called) which is very serene and beautiful.

Plus Bonneville dam makes for great industrial/nature shots.

And yes, Peter Iredale is a ton of fun...

Places to visit in Astoria:
-Cannery Pier Hotel
-Flavel House
-Columbia River Maritime Museum
-Docks and piers for all the sea lions your eyes can feast upon
-Astoria Column
-Various lighthouses in the area

But maybe I'm off course and you already know all of this since you asked for technique advice Sorry.

If it were me I would shoot Velvia for color and definitely TMax for B&W (I think the deep blacks of TMax would benefit the coast) but what do I know

thanks. i have shot some velvia, but had a difficult time with the limited latitude. the tmax is a good suggestion. hadn't thought about it. again, thanks

Vaughn · Mar 24, 2017

cigardoc314 said:
thanks for the heads up on the wind and the moving highway. ;=).

Actually it is the section of 101 just south of Crescent City in California that is threatening to leave the coast and dive into the ocean. If (or when) it goes, there's no other options. But it seems most of our local highways have been moving around! The main road east (299) has been closed since December -- only recently has limited open hours. Returning from Death Valley last week, coming up 101 from the south, I just missed having the highway closed on me as rocks were coming down.

Oregon coast

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