The path down to Harris Beach in Brookings offered amazing views. The temperature was a balmy 70-something degrees in late October, and there was none of the normal, biting wind. Both sides of the walking path were covered in berry bushes. The fruit was gone, but the leaves were still bright green. The sun was so bright that the greenness sort of gets drowned out in the above photograph. In person, the contrasts between the green of the bush leaves and the blue of the ocean and sky were stunning.

Posted on November 9th, 2008 under nature. Tags: beach, brookings, water. Comments: 1

The above photograph was taken a couple weeks back when we went to Brookings, Oregon. I’ll have another picture up soon that shows our cabin window in which you can see the reflection of this tree.

Posted on November 8th, 2008 under nature. Tags: autumn, brookings, trees, water. Comments: 1

Although not quite as pretty or secluded as Harris Beach, which we found on Sunday, Sporthaven Beach, just south of the harbor in Brookings was still very nice on Saturday.

Posted on October 29th, 2008 under nature. Tags: beach, brookings, water. Comments: 2

Today’s picture is the exact same as yesterday’s. I took both from the same location within 10 seconds of each other. The difference is that in yesterday’s I focused on the trees and in today’s I focused on the sky.

Posted on October 28th, 2008 under nature. Tags: brookings, nature, trees, water. Comments Off on Chetco River – different focus

On a map, Ashland doesn’t look far from the Oregon coast. Birds can probably make the trip in fairly short order. Unfortunately for those species forced to take cars, there are two mountain ranges in the way so it takes a couple of hours on a roundabout course which first takes you quite north of your destination (Grants Pass) and then quite south of your destination into California. The drive is beautiful though–especially this time of year. For part of the drive you are along the Smith River with incredible views of the fall colors lining the banks. Unfortunately, we didn’t stop to take pictures this time.

Once we got to Brookings, Oregon we headed up the Chetco River for a cabin in Alfred A. Loeb State Park. A 30-second walk from the cabin afforded the above view.

The little ripple in the water is from a fish hitting the surface to get a bug. It was dinnertime for the many fish in this little part of the Chetco River.

Posted on October 27th, 2008 under nature. Tags: autumn, brookings, trees, water. Comments: 2

I just got back from two days in and around Brookings, Oregon. I have been to the Oregon coast many, many times, but this was by far the best experience I’ve ever had there. Usually it is windy and/or cold and/or raining and/or foggy. And usually it’s not just one of those; pick two or three and you’ll have a better picture.

Not this time. It was beautiful. No wind. No clouds. No fog. 70 degrees both days.

I’ll have some more pictures from the trip during the next week or so.

Posted on October 26th, 2008 under nature. Tags: beach, brookings, water. Comments: 6

Photo taken in August of 2008.

Almost 10 years ago the Ashland Creek flooded downtown Ashland. The creek is pretty tame in August. I find it more exciting during a rainstorm or on a warm day in spring when the snow is melting quickly.

Posted on October 17th, 2008 under lithia park, nature. Tags: lithia park, water. Comments: 4

My 10-year old daughter is in an after school photography class. For the next few days I’ll showcase some of her work. She took the above picture yesterday on her class field trip to Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the U.S.A. and ninth deepest in the world. Crater Lake is the third deepest lake in the world and deepest in the Western Hemisphere if the average depth is used as the measuring criteria.

I was hoping that there would be snow along the rim, but, as you can see, it hasn’t stuck yet. Later in the day it started snowing rather heavily, and they made their exit while they still could.

Crater Lake is northeast of Ashland in Southern Oregon. The island you see in the middle is known as Wizard Island.

Posted on October 10th, 2008 under nature, places. Tags: clouds, crater lake, nature, skywatch, trees, water. Comments: 2

Photo taken in September of 2004

Not far from Ashland is Squaw Lake, a cute little place which is usually devoid of people. The shores were covered in butterflies the day we visited.

Posted on September 30th, 2008 under nature, places. Tags: clouds, mountains, skywatch, trees, water. Comments: 1