Greg Vaughn - Photographing Oregon: A Guide to the Natural Landmarks of Oregon

A guide to the most photogenic natural locationsand a few man-made onesin beautiful Oregon. Covering the entire state, from the rugged coastline to the fertile Willamette Valley, through the Columbia River Gorge and over the Cascade Mountains, across the Great Basin high desert and Columbia Plateau to the eastern border. Come explore coastal cliffs and beaches, sand dunes, lighthouses, wildlife refuges, gardens, waterfalls, verdant valleys, volcanic peaks, unique rock formations, the deepest canyon in North America and remote desert outposts.

PHOTOGRAPHING OREGON

A GUIDE TO THE NATURAL LANDMARKS OF OREGON

Published by PhotoTripUSA
An imprint of

Copyright 2009 Graphie International, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Text & photography by Greg Vaughn, Copyright 2002-2009, except where noted.
Cover photo: Lower Proxy Falls, Three Sisters Wilderness, Cascade Mountains
Title page: Southern Oregon coast near Natural Bridges
Overleaf: Mount Jefferson viewed through Asterisk Pass at Smith Rock State Park
End of book: Highway 101 at Cape Sebastian, southern Oregon coast

Visit Gregs web site: http://www.gregvaughn.com

Also available in this series:
Photographing the Southwest Volume 1 Southern Utah ISBN 978-0-916189-12-9
Photographing the Southwest Volume 2 Arizona ISBN 978-0-916189-13-6
Photographing the Southwest Volume 3 Colorado & New Mexico ISBN 978-0-916189-14-3

Printed in China

Disclaimer
Some of the locations described in this book require travel through remote areas, where footpaths and 4-wheel drive trails can be difficult, even dangerous. Travel at your own risk and always check conditions locally before venturing out. The author and publisher decline all responsibility if you get lost, stranded, injured or otherwise suffer any kind of mishap as a result of following the advice and descriptions in this book. Furthermore, the information contained herein may have become outdated by the time you read it; the author and publisher assume no responsibility for outdated information, errors and omissions.

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication

Vaughn, Greg.

Photographing Oregon : a guide to the natural
landmarks of Oregon / Greg Vaughn.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-0-916189-18-1

ISBN-10: 0-916189-18-X

1. Travel photography--Oregon. 2. Landscape
photography--Oregon. 3. Landscape--Oregon. 4. Oregon-
Description and travel. 5. Oregon--Guidebooks.
I. Title.

PREFACE
by Larry & Donna Ulrich

As professional photographers, Larry and I can live anywhere; we chose to live in the Pacific Northwest. Though some may think that California doesnt fit into that regional category, we who live near the Oregon border identify with our neighbors to the north botanically, geographically and emotionally. While photographing a book on Oregon for Oxford University Press decades ago we became very familiar with the diverse grandeur of the state. Rarely a year goes by without a trip to or through Oregon: just about anywhere we go to photograph requires a drive through the Beaver State. That is fine by us - all roads slice through some of the most gorgeous scenery in the west, much of it untrammeled and crowd-free.

Professional photographers in the west are a pretty tight-knit groupsharing knowledge and ideas is central to our success. Before Larry had a clue about digital technology several of his photo pals, including Greg Vaughn, started introducing him to Photoshop. When visiting our home a few years ago, Greg pulled out his laptop and started to show Larry what Photoshop could do. It was all over Larrys head but he paid attention to the concepts and realized what a valuable tool it was, even for a large format film shooter. It took a couple of years to really commit to the technology but now, after many, many hours in front of a computer, our entire library of marketable images are scanned and we have reinvented our business as a digital stock photo agency.

Sometimes our forays into our northern neighbors territory are inspired by a phone call from Greg Vaughn. Hey, I hear the rhodies are good on the coast. Since we live equal distances away from some of the great photo ops in the state, we sometimes meet in the middle. We once spent two glorious days together on the South Umpqua River with peak fall color, perfect light and misty rain. We only saw Greg in the evening, after we were done shooting. Wed talk about the places wed gone that day, the shots wed taken. As a 4x5 shooter, Larry had nothing to show but undeveloped film and a smile on his face, but Greg was showing us his entire day on his computer with a smile on his face!

Donna and Larry Ulrich

We first heard of Gregs photography when he lived in Hawaii. He moved with his family to Oregon in 1989 and instantly felt at home. It took a while for him to admit it, but now he likes living and shooting in Oregon even more than Hawaii. Greg says I am still discovering new places in Oregon and theres nothing I like better than taking off with the truck loaded with camping and camera gear, heading for a road or trail I havent been on before. Natural curiosity, well-honed writing skills and local knowledge are the keys to his success. His love of Oregon shows in his fine photography and we are honored to be asked to write the Preface for this book.

If you are an amateur photographer and have never been to Oregon, you are missing out. If you are a professional and have yet to travel to there, you could be late for work. If you live in Oregon and have never been to some of these places to shoot, shame on you! Though many of the greatest spots to photograph are rapidly being inundated with too many people and parking lots, lucky are those of us who are willing to drag our cameras (and sometimes loved-ones) to distant places to get a good shot. This book will be an invaluable guide for all who are adventuresome with a camera, take it with you and explore. Perhaps you will discover some new places of your own.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to Laurent Martrs, publisher, friend and fellow photographer, for giving me the opportunity to produce this book, for encouragement as it took shape, and patience with my plodding pace.

Big thanks to some very good friends: Victor Beer has been a constant source of help and encouragement throughout this project and is my go-to guy for Photoshop help. Buddy Mays provided valuable advice and feedback, and has accompanied me on a number of explorations. Larry and Donna Ulrich have been wonderful travel companions on several trips and also merit thanks for sharing their extensive knowledge of the Pacific Northwest.

Sioux Bally of Heartstone Arts lent her considerable artistry to designing the cover, as well as the anchor pages of each chapter.