Photo's Afloat in Oregon

August-September 2002

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
To download a pdf copy of the magazine click here: > DOWNLOAD

by Barb Roy

 

Barb's daughter Tallen shows off a treasure of agates she collected.

I have always loved still images for bringing back cherished memories of an inspiring trip or an exceptional wildlife shot. So I am rarely without a camera of sorts. This also applies to my scuba diving and when I am out exploring from my (sit-ontop) dive kayak.

While underwater, I generally enclose my Nikon within a watertight hard-case housing and attach external strobes to light the subjects. Unfortunately, the housing can be quite awkward and very heavy when I want to shoot out of the water, from the wet-deck of the kayak. Not wanting to risk an accidental submersion of my small fortune, my research has uncovered several options, my favorite being a special ziplok-style bag that securely holds the camera in place. Its lightweight construction is waterproof beyond 30-feet, able to accommodate a flash and several lens size options.

For film, batteries and extra lenses, I found a padded waterproof case at a dive shop. I also found a clip device divers commonly use for attaching things to their attire. At one end is a clip and at the other a loop, with a quick-release clip attached to a coiled cord in the middle for extended length. This is how I keep my underwater camera attached to me when scuba diving. Using this method, everything can be accessed while remaining connected to the boat.

The Siltcoos River Canoe Trail is full of great photo opportunities.

This spring I decided to test out my new investments during a trip to Oregon's beautiful coastal region. My fifteen-year-old daughter, Tallen, joined me on the excursion. Although Tallen shoots with a pocket sized point and shoot camera, she found a compact plastic housing for it. This unique container, called a Bonica Snapper, allows her to photograph critters underwater down to more than 60-feet, or scenic topside views with a removable focus-free system.

Once in Oregon, we met up with some friends near Waldport to explore Beaver Creek. East of Highway 101 is a huge parking lot, suitable for launching the kayaks. To the west of the highway is a day-park with picnic tables at Ona Beach. On the eastern side is a serene 4-5 mile stretch making it easy to photograph shorebirds, assorted spring flowers and a lush green forest settings. To the west, we enjoyed outstanding ocean vistas complete with a sandy beach.

Visiting several surf and diving/kayak shops along Highway 101, we found kayaking has become increasingly popular up and down Oregon's coast as well as on interior lakes and waterways. There are many regular coastal group get-togethers, launching from a variety of locations.

We also paddled down the Siltcoos River Canoe Trail, part of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. You can launch from Oregon's largest coastal lake, Siltcoos Lake, at the Lane County boat ramp, for an allday paddle, or put in at the Lodgepole picnic area for a shorter excursion. With thethree-mile lake route, however, a portage does exist about half way to help paddlers get around a small dam. Both are easy water trails and offer breath-taking scenery through dense forest, tall sand dunes and a protected estuary near the ocean.

We decided to put in at the southern riverbank, just past the bridge of the picnicarea. Our non-kayaking friends enjoyed hiking along a dirt-trail, which runs almost the entire winding stretch to the ocean.

Here's a shot sent to us by professional photographer David Anderson of Scappoose, Oregon, illustrating his equipment, including (L - R) his Bogan 3001 tripod, Sigma 17mm - 35mm lens and case, zip-loc bags and lens cloths, extension tube set, Sigma 28mm-70mm lens and case, circular polarizing filter, spare battery, remote shutter release, and a waterproof film box. In addition, he sometimes adds a Sigma 100mm - 300mm lens and case for wildlife shots. (© DL Anderson Photography: Dlaphotography@cs.com)

I was exceptionally pleased, as I was able to quietly approach sensitive areas to photograph nesting birds, like the western snowy plover, from a respectable distance with my telephoto lens. We also saw great blue heron, osprey and bald eagles. Most of the river was shallow, making it easy to pull ashore and stand in the water, using my kayak for a support platform.

When not scuba diving or kayaking on the Oregon trip, we took pleasure in exploring the beaches for agates, watching the noisy sea lions on the docks in Newport and visiting historic lighthouses all along the coast, open to the public.

Another activity we found very rewarding was a visit to see the new displays at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Since Tallen is schooled at home, we spent an entire day studying the marine residents of the Pacific Northwest. Attending a behind the scenes tour gave us a fascinating insight into how much work is actually involved in the care of so many aquatic residents.

Overall our adventure was very rewarding. We were never without something fun to do, a unique coastal restaurant to try, or a quaint little gift shop to investigate. I also found the educational opportunities were a refreshing change of pace. Oregon is definitely on our list for several return visits.

Take heed : warning signs are posted along the coast informing the public about the potential hazards of hidden rogue waves and strong undercurrents. It is best to heed these warnings with the utmost respect. There are plenty of awesome lakes, rivers,water trails and creeks to explore, keeping a safe distance from the open ocean. During our short visit to Oregon, I learned how quickly the weather can change, but generally found calmer water conditions in the morning. Check with local shops or on the Internet for group outings and go have some fun with your camera!

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: www.fs.fed.us/r6/siuslaw/oregondunes

© Text and photos by Barb Roy, an outdoor adventure photojournalist living in Vancouver, BC. She travels the West Coast, sometimes with family in tow, exploring the underwater world with scuba gear and topside with dive kayaks.