Coastal Oregon Photo Tour (May 14-17, 2026)

Register

 

PRICE: 

Early Registration: $849 NANPA/ASMP Members, $1049 non-members by March 14, 2026

After March 14, 2026: $949 NANPA/ASMP Members, $1149 non-members

If you are not currently a member, you may want to consider joining NANPA to take advantage of member pricing on all regional events (1 year membership $100)

Maximum number of attendees: 16 (with two leaders)

Last date to register: April 14, 2026

DATES:

• Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 4 pm to Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 12 pm.
• April 21, 2026 7-8 pm (Eastern Time) (optional) Pre-event Preparatory Webinar for participants
• June 12, 2026 7-9 pm (Eastern Time) (optional) Post event Image Sharing and Feedback Webinar for participantsOn-site Event Check-in and Meet & Greet Thursday May 14 at 4 pm at hotel meeting room

EVENT OVERVIEW:

The Oregon Coast is a wonderful place for photography, offering majestic views, rugged coastlines, sandy dunes, tidepools and all manner of animal life. One of the most photogenic locations along the Oregon Coast is located around the town of Bandon Oregon, the southern portion of the coastline.

Join Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring on this NANPA Photo Tour to experience and photograph some of the very best of the Oregon Coast. We will visit iconic locations at Bandon Beach, a small fishing harbor to capture the essence of the commercial fishing industry, the rocky coast at Shore Acres to capture massive waves crashing against the rocks at Shore Acres, and a trip to both Coquille Lighthouse and Cape Blanco Lighthouse.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The highlight of the tour is photographing beautiful Bandon Beach, with several of the most recognized sea stacks in the US. In addition, this tour is planned during a period of negative low tides, and we will have opportunities to photograph tidepools. Bandon Beach spans the length of the town’s coastline and provides the opportunity for grand landscapes, intimate landscapes and details, as well as abstracts/macros.

We will also visit and photograph the Coquille Lighthouse, Bullards Beach, and Cape Blanco Lighthouse which offers stunning views of the lighthouse and rugged coastline.

 

Your Leaders:

Brenda Tharp will be your leader for this event. If there are 9 or more participants on the event, Jed Manwaring will be added as a second leader for this event. Brenda and Jed lead numerous photography workshops together.

Brenda Tharp

Brenda Tharp is an acclaimed nature photographer, author, workshop instructor and tour leader. Passionate about the natural environment, she pursues images that showcase Nature’s awesome beauty along with the fascinating wildlife that inhabit these special places. Her photographs have appeared on the pages of Sierra Club, Audubon, National Geographic Books, Michelin Travel Guides, Nature Conservancy, Traveler, and many more. In addition to being widely published, Brenda has received high commendations for her work in Wildlife Photographer of the Year (UK’s Natural History Museum) and has regularly been accepted into the top entries for NANPA (North American Nature Photography Association) Expressions Magazine Photo Competition. Her photographic prints are in private collections across the country. She has written several books on photography including Creative Nature & Outdoor Photography, Expressive Nature Photography and her latest book Extraordinary Everyday Photography: Awaken Your Vision to Create Stunning Images Wherever You Are, co-authored with Jed Manwaring.

Originally living in Santa Rosa, California, she currently lives on the road full time, photographing nature and the world around her, wanting to spend more time immersed in the beauty of nature in the USA. She has spent numerous weeks exploring along the coast in Oregon and knows this area well. She has a passion for teaching and guiding others to see creatively and to hone their skills in creating personally satisfying photographs. Brenda has led international and other domestic workshops for over 35 years.

Jed Manwaring

Jed Manwaring is a landscape and nature photographer who photographs the grand landscape as well as intimate views and abstracts. He studied physical geography (geomorphology, oceanography, forestry and cartography) at Oregon State University and often uses this background as an approach to how he photographs.

Jed’s photographs have appeared in a variety of magazines, books calendars and cards. He has won awards, and his work has been in galleries and exhibitions including Yosemite Renaissance. He teaches photography workshops with his partner Brenda Tharp, and co-authored the book Extraordinary Everyday Photography with her.

Jed says “We live in a world filled with wonder and beauty. Through my photography I hope to share this with the rest of the world and to show what a beautiful and fragile place this Earth really is. Through my conservation photography I can help to preserve and protect what we have.” For more info about Jed, visit  www.jedmanwaring.com.

 

NEAREST AIRPORT:

• Eugene Airport (EUG) (~2.5 hr drive away)
• Portland Airport (PDX) (~4.5 hr drive away)Transportation to and from the hotel and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility.Car Rental:  Car rental is available in both Portland and Eugene airports. A normal passenger car will be appropriate; all roads and parking will be on paved or slightly graveled areas. No 4×4 or other special vehicle needs require

EVENT TRANSPORTATION:

Transportation to and from the hotel and during the event is not included and is the attendees’ responsibility.

Note some of the state parks we will be visiting charge a day use parking permit fee of $10 per vehicle.

RIDE SHARING:  We will be starting each day from the group hotel. Ridesharing is encouraged to reduce the size of our vehicle presence and improve the traveling/following experience. You are welcome to either drive or ride with someone. This is also a great way to meet people and make new friends during the event!  If you are a passenger in another participant’s car it is customary to offer the driver some gas money and chip in towards any vehicle admission/parking fee as a courtesy.

Note that NANPA, and Brenda Tharp and Jed Manwaring do not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

LODGING: 

Our base for the event will be Bandon Beach, Oregon.

NANPA has a block of hotel rooms being held for participants.

The room rate for either a 2 Queen Beds or 1 King Bed room is $194 including tax per night.

Details about the event hotel and procedure for reserving rooms will be provided to registered participants.

Check in time 4 pm, Check out time 11 am.

This hotel is in an ideal location, access to Bandon Beach is across the street and down a set of stairs.

Note the hotel does not have an elevator and some rooms are located on the second floor, accessible by stairs.

The last date to reserve in the room block is April 14, 2026.

MEALS:

All meals except Sunday brunch are on your own.  The group brunch on Sunday will be at the Station Restaurant in Bandon.
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PHOTOGRAPHY LOCATIONS

Some of the locations that we will most likely photograph include:

• Bandon Beach
  • Spans the length of the town’s coastline and is packed full of near-shore sea stacks, including Face Rock, Elephant Rock and the Wizards Hat. Photographic possibilities are endless, from wide sweeping landscapes to intimate nature portraits, macros and abstracts.
• Bullards Beach State Park / Coquille Lighthouse
  • Gateway to the ocean and expansive sand beaches, Bullards Beach is a quintessential Oregon coastal area. Wide sands, dunes, driftwood, beach grasses, jetties and expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. Plus, at the end of the road is the Coquille Lighthouse, first commissioned in 1896, where the Coquille River meets the sea. It is a must photograph attraction in the Bandon area!
• Cape Blanco Lighthouse State Park
  • First beginning operation in 1870, this lighthouse holds many Oregon records, including being the oldest continually operating lighthouse. Situated on a cape (bluff) of land, it’s possible to photograph this beautiful lighthouse up close or in context of the wider seascape. Landscapes and sea birds are also possible photographs in this location at the State Park.
• Charleston Harbor
  • A picturesque commercial fishing harbor in the small town of Charleston. Here one can get up close and personal with the vessels as we walk the docks alongside the boats. A great chance to capture the stories of a life of fishing as well as interesting abstract images from the various pieces of fishing equipment.
• Shore Acres State Park
  • If the tides are high and with a storm surge, massive waves crash against the rocky shore with splashes reaching 50’-100’ high. This location is dependent upon times and tides

Your leaders will have visited the areas prior to the event and the photo shoot locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time, weather conditions, etc.  These will be announced on Thursday afternoon during the Meet and Greet.

For those wishing to extend your stay in the area, you may be interested in photographing at Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge. Shorebirds, song birds, birds of prey and mammals make this area popular for photography.

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE:

Please note schedules are fluid due to weather conditions, and other variables.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

• 4 p.m. – Meet at hotel meeting room for “Meet and Greet”, welcome, introductions and opening remarks by Brenda and Jed.
• Sunset photo shoot along Bandon Beach
• Dinner on your own

Friday, May 15, 2026

• Morning
  • Charleston Harbor
  • Shore Acres State Park / Cape Arago State Park
  • Bullard Beach / Coquille Lighthouse (if conditions not favorable at Shore Acres)
• Evening
  • Coquille Lighthouse from the South Jetty
  • Bandon Beach

Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Morning
  • Sunrise at the Face Rock area of Bandon Beach
  • Cape Blanco Lighthouse & State Park
• Evening
  • Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint / Bandon Beach

Sunday, May 17, 2026

• Morning
  • Elephant Rock area on Bandon Beach
  • Brunch at the Station Restaurant in Bandon
  • The event wraps up after brunch at 12 noon.

HEALTH AND FITNESS

Most locations are close to the vehicles and do not require lengthy hikes. Some trails leaving from parking areas have uneven terrain (roots and rocks) and are generally level or slightly sloped. The biggest physical demand will be walking down to the beach from the hotel via a long stairway. Note the hotel does not have an elevator and some rooms are located on the second floor, accessible by stairs.

WEATHER & CLOTHING

This time of year along the Oregon Coast generally provides for stable weather conditions, however, it’s always best to be prepared for everything from sunny weather to coastal storms. We will out be photographing in most conditions, so please come prepared. Average temperatures are Highs of 60-65 with lows around 45 degrees F. Wind on the beach can make the temperature feel much cooler.

In general, a layered clothing system works best. The mornings and evenings can be cool, warming up in the middle of the day. Having a comfortable base layer, then adding or removing insulation layers to moderate your temperature works best along the coast.  On top of the insulation layers, having a good wind/waterproof jacket to protect against the elements will be needed.

• Insulation layer (s)
• Wind/waterproof jacket
• Hat and gloves for chilly mornings and evenings

CAMERA GEAR

• DSLR or Mirrorless body
• Wide angle to Telephoto lenses
  • 16mm – 300mm
  • Longer lens for any visits to Bandon Marsh (birds)
• Sturdy Tripod
• Memory Cards
• Filters
  • Circular Polarizer
  • Graduated Neutral Density
• Rain cover for camera/lens
• Cleaning cloths
• Computer/Tablet to review images
• Portable hard drive to back up images
• Thumb/USB drive for image reviews

 ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

• Headlamp
• Water boots/shoes

GENERAL:

We will be based in the Bandon, OR area during this Photo Tour.

Please keep in mind that this NANPA event is designed to be a photo tour, not a photo workshop. In other words, there are no formal instruction sessions planned, there are no assignments, you will not be receiving any handouts or the like. That being said, your leaders Brenda and Jed have experience as photography workshop leaders and are available to answer questions and give you guidance. If you need help, please advocate for yourself and speak up and ask for help – Brenda and Jed are happy to help. Be aware that many of your fellow participants may also be accomplished photographers in their own right and may be able to help you too.  Part of the photo tour experience is the camaraderie that comes from sharing experiences and lessons learned among participants.

This tour is open for 16 participants to give each plenty of time with the leaders and to retain flexibility based on weather and the best opportunities.

This event is designed for all levels of photographers – amateur, intermediate, advanced and professional – interested in improving their photography skills or looking for location guidance to capture images of this part of the Oregon Coast.  If you are new to photography, be sure to ask Brenda or Jed for help. They will be available to answer questions, explain techniques and in general help you improve your photographic skills.  If you already have plenty of photography experience, Brenda and Jed will ensure that you’re in the best locations at the best times for those perfect shots.

Please know your camera before you arrive and bring your manual, just in case we need to look up something.

Attendance and participation at NANPA Photo Tours is limited to registered attendees only.  Anyone wishing to participate in any portion of, or travel with a registered attendee during the group event must contact the NANPA office and pay the full registration fee.

 

 

NANPA Photo Tour Cancellation and No Refund Policy:  

NANPA will not offer any refunds for registrations for this event regardless of when the cancellation is made or the reason for the cancellation. NANPA reserves the right to cancel any event or activity due to insufficient registration or any unforeseen circumstances. NANPA will offer refunds if NANPA has to cancel the event. It also has the right to substitute presenters if those originally scheduled cannot attend. Registrants may purchase event insurance as part of the registration process through NANPA’s partner, Allianz. More information on this option will be shown during the checkout process for the event registration. NOTE:  If you do not purchase event insurance at the time that you pay for your registration, you will NOT be able to go back and purchase it with Allianz later.

If you choose to purchase travel insurance separately, you can do so with your own insurance carrier, or NANPA members can receive a special travel insurance rate through USI Affinity/Travel Insurance Services.