Oregon Information

Crow · Post by **Crow** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:27 pm

K. You guys get me totally excited to shoot. I want some big stuff. Please respond with opinions as well as facts. I'll filter through it. I'd love to know the best places on the island and along the Oregon caost to take images. I need to be somewhat closer to the action. Cook St. is great distance.

I've heard Long Beach get's some good waves, but difficult to snap images of because peeps are so far out. I've heard Jordan River gets some great action when the swell and wind are both up. The point there would seem to be a great spot to work from.

I know there are three main beaches along the Oregon coast. Southern Oregon being the most active.

I'd appreciate hearing what the best places for the biggest waves are and WHAT months are the best for people being out slamming around in it. I see Oregon coast even gets great stuff the middle of the summer but have also read that all the fun ends around Labour Day.

ALSO, if anybody has experience with places to stay while on the Oregon coast. Need cheap and clean. Just a place to lay my head. Don't need a hot tub ...

I just wanna get out there and snap off images. I don't care the distance or time of year, I just need to know. Thank you in advance to any and all that respond with any direction to the When's and Wheres.

Johnnyman · Post by **Johnnyman** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:56 pm

Jetty jetty jetty! The Florence south jetty would be a great place on a NNW wind. Awesome place to sail kite and take picks all summer long. The jetty sticks out a few hundred feet into the ocean, big blocky rocks, you can sit out there and have a great view of the action you feel like you are out in the breaking waves. Sailors hucking big air on the way out, slashing sweet turns on the way back in. Wingnut got some great shots of BWD and WD a couple of years back. As far as accommodation goes the local boys seem to like camping in their vehicles outside the bar, marina, church but not the Jetty unless you like to be sandblasted. BWD, RD, WD and Kus know the spots well. Oh yeah there can be surfers on the inside of the jetty in the channel, you wouldn't be able to get closer to the action, they would be up close and personal.

KUS · Post by **KUS** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:48 am

having a guy with a ten inch lens around is always awesome, seems we get the odd shot but mostly its like taking pix with yer cellphone. Not to mention that taking shots at the best time of day is not really possible.....cuz you are out there yourself

The jetty area is not a camera friendly place, sand, sand, blowing sand and salt but JM says the jetty itself is great to sit on and get pix, good protection behind rocks too but tough to get the frontal wave shot unless you stand a bit in the water on the beach or, as the pros do, float around and be a lure

for big whitey

Keen · Post by **Keen** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:25 am

on a related note for the Oregon topic, the recent Windsurfing mag has a Gorge Guide. I've never been there myselft but it looked like a good info source. Can any Gorge regulars comment on it?

Anyhow, if you find yourself heading inland (maybe the coast is not happening) then it might be useful.

Crow · Post by **Crow** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 4:26 pm

K. I did a bit of research on that jetty in Florence. WOW that does look like a decent spot. I read there are a lot of big rocks under the break so imagine it would be more ideal for kiting rather than windsurfing. It looks like Manzenita is one of the preferred distination by folks who frequent this board. From the images I've seen, a lot of the action isn't way way out off shore so imagine 300mm would get me close enough. Can anyone comment on big surf on the island, where and what months ? Is Jordon River a myth or does it hop there when a good gail is up ? I know we get some killer winds on the west coat from mid October to mid February. Do kiters and surfers get out in that stuff too, or do you guys mostly play in the months after and leading up to those ugly colder months ?

Thanks again btw. I think I'm just trying to get a good idea of places and times in order to plan some weekends or weeks off of work and go. I think that Wave model on Dave's sight here is really handy for planning. Has anybody looked at that model, seen a lovely brew rising off the Oregon coast and decided to take the gamble and make the day trip down to catch it for a few days ?

KUS · Post by **KUS** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:19 am

i think the thread is about photography tho
JR from Oct to April if Gordon's if 30 or more and watch wave models, high to mid tide required.
Oregon May to Sept, watch models, needs to be NW, bit of a crap shoot, typically sunny weather ? not sure on that, Manazanita usually kiting only, others know a whole lot more

~~~~~4j~~ · Post by **~~~~~4j~~** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:14 am

Crow wrote: Can anyone comment on big surf on the island, where and what months ? Is Jordon River a myth or does it hop there when a good gail is up ? I know we get some killer winds on the west coat from mid October to mid February. Do kiters and surfers get out in that stuff too, or do you guys mostly play in the months after and leading up to those ugly colder months ?

On the Island, Columbia Beach has been good for "surf" photos for me. It is really large windswell that can be surfed/jumped just like true surf. You can sit comfortably in your vehicle and snap photos out of the lee window and avoid the rain and cold. I use a 70-300mm.

It is good for windsurfing and kiteboarding photos. Cold winter storms primarily (strong SE winds). Most of the action is pretty close to the beach. A 400mm might be nice for extreme close-ups. I sometimes wade into the water for those.

See the Wiki for timing and location: http://www.bigwavedave.ca/wiki/index.php/Columbia_Beach

Check out some of my Columbia Beach photos here:
http://www.bigwavedave.ca/gallery/index.php?cat=10345

Here is one of my favourites from last Christmas holiday:

edit: I haven't tried JR or Longbeach, etc. for photos, so I can't comment on those locations

thankgodiatepastafobreaky · Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:14 pm

Hey Crow - I don't know if you have considered Nitinat for photography or not?? There are no swell type waves but the sailors are really close to shore and the whole setting is beautiful and photogenic, and when the wind kicks up in June July and August there can be waist high waves!

The whole camping experience is wonderful as well, and you might be tempted to actually get out on the water since there are instructors there.

Crow · Post by **Crow** » Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:00 pm

Thanks for the responses guys !! That's exactly what I needed. All I'm missing is info on the best place in Oregon for surfers / windsufers. I think I've noted everything else you guys have posted. I might get up to Nitinat.. I understand that Windfest 2008 is gunnu be up there this year.. That might prove to be a little bit of a Ho-Down. AND the possibility of some great images. HAH.. yup. ALL of you guys and whatever your gear of choice is, gets my blood rushing. I'm driving down to Kook or up to Gordon's beach. As soon as I see those kites and the trees all bent out of shape my heart just pounds. That's just for the potential images. Maybe I need to take a few lessons and hook myself up.

Thanks again for the posts guys and GREAT shots and videos. C a n ' t get enough.

thankgodiatepastafobreaky · Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:21 am

Pistol River in OR is a good spot for windsurfers!

http://www.oregon.com/recreation/windsurfspots.cfm

dunkinguy · Post by **dunkinguy** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 12:25 pm

I shot Wdoc, Morewind, Krickmer and BWD a couple years back from the Jetty at Florence with Doc's camera. Pretty good spot other than the salt and sandblasting. You can actually tuck in out of the hate pretty nicely on the Jetty. Another noteable spot if you had a big lens would be Oceanside. Great down the line action and you could shoot from up on the bluff. I think the thing to do if you had the guts would be to put on a baby seal costume and get out there with a water camera.

winddoctor · Post by **winddoctor** » Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:28 pm

Crow,

Wingnut shot these at the Jetty a few summers ago with my Nikon D70 and 70-300 lens (auto setting):

http://www.bigwavedave.ca/gallery/thumb ... ?album=315

This gives a decent idea of the angles you have to shoot. We're hoping to score more days on the coast/Gorge between July 19 - Aug 4 or so. I'd love to chat with you sometime about photography. I'm a complete hack and would like to improve my shots.