Experience breathtaking and iconic coastal views, capture stunning sunsets, and explore charming seaside towns while improving your photography. We'll get to have a lot of practice experimenting with long exposure on this tour, as most of our shooting will be along the ocean and featuring moving water.
Photograph the very best of the Oregon Coast, from iconic locations like Cannon Beach, Bandon Beach, Heceta Head and Samuel Boardman 📷
Have some fun aboard a dune buggy while exploring the vast Oregon Dunes 🏖️
Extras like the Japanese Garden and the Redwood Forest offer variety and allow you to explore and experiment with different types of photography 🌳
We will pick everyone up in a central location in Portland. It is recommended to travel to Portland and stay the night before to make sure you are on time for the tour, especially as direct flights from Boston (if you are coming from there) happen in the evening.
Ecola boasts grand coastal views. We will make our way to a panoramic overlook and find unique takes on the beach.
The reason we are here: Cannon Beach, where the iconic Haystack Rock rises majestically from the Pacific. Stroll along the shoreline and capture golden hour and sunset here.
It is a 3 hour drive to our hotel from here. Take a nap!
After sleeping in this morning, we will visit the Sea Lion Caves - the largest sea cave in America. Watch sea lions basking on the rocks and hear the waves crashing around you.
This viewpoint is where the rugged coastline meets lush forest. You'll be able to see the iconic Yaquina Head Lighthouse from here. The journey to the overlook is just as memorable, with walking trails that wind through old-growth trees.
If you're going to photograph this spot, you better have on your waterproof boots and keep your wits about you! Thor's Well is a "bucket list" shot for some photographers, where timing is everything. The classic shot can only be made during and around high tide, where water rushes through the "well." Our tour has timed it so that we visit this spot at both high tide and sunset, making for incredible photographs. You will probably get wet!
For those who do not want to test their equipment, we can photograph the nearby Devil's Churn.
Heceta Head Lighthouse is a landmark in Oregon, perched on a dramatic cliff. The lighthouse, built in 1894, stands as a beacon of history and offers a glimpse into the maritime past.
Hop aboard for a real adventure 😎you'll get to ride in a dune buggy across the endless Oregon Sand Dunes.
The Umpqua River Lighthouse is a historic beacon located at the mouth of the Umpqua River. Built in 1894, this white structure stands 65 feet tall and boasts a unique, octagonal shape. Climb to the top for views of the coastline.
It is a 1.5 hour drive from here to our hotel in Bandon, OR.
Bandon Beach is renowned for its dramatic sea stacks. We'll check out the beach and scout for our favorite spots, angles and perspectives, so that when we come back at sunset we'll have a better idea of what we want to focus on.
Battle Rock Arch is an impressive formation. The landmark gets its name from a historically significant 1851 skirmish where a landing party of nine white settlers barricaded themselves on the rock to defend a prospective settlement against the indigenous Qua-to-mah Tututni people.
Return to Bandon Beach for a full shoot of golden hour, sunset and the blue hour.
Today we spent most of our time exploring the Samuel Boardman Corridor, a scenic stretch on the coast that's truly a gem for photographers. Dramatic ocean views, lush forest, and rugged cliffs abound. We'll take our time exploring trails that lead to hidden beaches and picturesque viewpoints, including Natural Bridges.
Explore the nearby redwood forests, focusing your lens on a very different type of subject. Here we can shift our focus from wide landscapes and long exposure to more creative things like ICM in addition to traditional landscapes. We have flexibility on this day on how we want to spend our time at sunset.
Spend our final morning among the trees.
It is a 4-hour drive to Eugene from our hotel. Please make sure your flights leave after 5 PM (we will aim to be at the airport around 3:30 PM).
✅ All overnight accommodations
✅ Ground transportation
✅ Admission to the Japanese Garden
✅ Buggy Ride in the Oregon Dunes
✅ Pick-up in Portland, Drop off in Eugene
✅ Breakfast at hotels
✅ Photography guidance & instruction
✅ Optional Post-tour Zoom Session for Feedback/Critique
❌ Flights
❌ Alcohol, Lunches, Dinners
❌ Any tips or gratuities
❌ Travel Insurance (required)
Paul Nguyen has lived and worked from coast to coast across the U.S., and has over 35 years of experience in film and digital photography. He specializes in digital photography of natural landscapes and wildlife, and capturing the authentic experience of outdoor adventure and exploration through his video series.
In April 2017, he served in the prestigious National Park Artist in Residence program at Petrified Forest, Arizona, and continues to create programs for the National Park Service. His accomplishments also include an exclusive assignment as a photographer for the Boston Museum of Science, and a position as a program guide and brand ambassador for Swedish outfitter Fjällräven.
His noteworthy image-making and teaching in the realm of photography have gained him sponsorships from Tamron USA and Sun Surveyor, and his acclaimed adventure and overlanding videos have led to numerous outdoor equipment sponsorships.
Hailing from Massachusetts and now based out of Flagstaff, AZ, Paul spends most of the year exploring the western U.S. to research photo tour destinations and create video content. You may run into him, his Jeep, his trailer, and his cat somewhere along your own travels. Despite the distance, he maintains an active connection to New England camera clubs, and continues to serve as a remote lecturer and competition judge.
Allie Richards is a professional landscape photographer and year-round resident of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She's best known for her strikingly vibrant photographic style and for showcasing her work on aluminum. She plans many of her photographs in advance; she pays attention to weather events, the phases of the moon, and uses various apps to aid her artistry.
Allie’s work has earned her several awards, including the PRC Boston Student Image Award in her college years, and an ambassadorship with f-stop Gear. She participates in local exhibitions at the Chatham Creative Arts Center and the Chatham Chamber of Commerce Art in the Park Event. Her work has been published by Cape Cod Life Magazine, The National Parks service, and other publications.
