Oregon Coast Regional Event (October 13-16, 2022)

Leaders | Travel and lodging | What to expect | Preliminary itinerary

 

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Event Overview

The Oregon Coast is a magical place for photography, offering majestic views, rugged coastlines, serene 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 John Pedersen on this NANPA Regional Event to experience and photograph the very best of the Oregon Coast. We will visit iconic locations along Bandon Beach, several lighthouses that continue to safely guide ships on the ocean, a small fishing harbor to capture the essence of the commercial fishing industry and, if time and tides permit, the chance to capture massive waves crashing against the rocks at Shore Acres.

 $600 NANPA Members/$800 Non-members

Last Date to Register:  September 6, 2022

Maximum number of attendees: 10

Sunstar along Bandon Beach in Bandon, Oregon © John Pedersen

Leader

John Pedersen John Pedersen is a full-time professional photographer, workshop leader and creative educator based in Portland and Yachats Oregon. A lifelong resident of Oregon, John is intimately familiar with the popular and hidden gems of this beautiful state. John has been leading domestic and international photography workshops for many years to some of the most beautiful and iconic locations for photography as well as providing in-depth teaching and tutoring on a wide range of photographic topics. John has a passion for teaching and helping others grow their own photographic knowledge and skills to fulfill their creative passions.

Travel and lodging

The base for this event will be at:

Sunset Oceanfront Lodging
1865 Beach Loop Drive
Bandon, OR 97411
Telephone: (541) 347-2453
website: https://www.sunsetmotel.com/
Perfect location — Walk across the street and down the stairs on to the beach.

Check in time 4 p.m.
Check out time 11 a.m.

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

NANPA is holding a block of rooms for the event participants (block reservation cut off date is September 12, 2022). Room rates are $175 + taxes per night. Room types range from rooms with two queen beds on the ground floor, to rooms with one king bed on the second floor. For hotel reservations, call the hotel directly at (541) 347-2453 and ask for a room in the North American Nature Photography Association room block. A deposit for the first night’s stay including taxes is due at the time of reservation. To secure a room at the NANPA rate, reservations must be made before the September 12th cutoff date.

Airports and Ground Transportation

• 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 required.

Ride Sharing: We will be starting each day from the Sunset Oceanfront Lodging. Ride sharing 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!

Note that NANPA does 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.

Meals:

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

 

 

Sea caves and arches along the Oregon coast near Bandon. © John Pedersen

What to expect

The highlight of the tour is photographing Bandon Beach, with several of the most recognized sea stacks in the U.S., including the Wizards Hat and Face Rock. Bandon Beach spans the length of the town’s coastline and provides the opportunity for wide reaching grand landscapes, intimate nature portraits and abstracts/macros.

We will also visit and photograph two working lighthouses nearby; the Coquille Lighthouse located where the river meets the sea and the Cape Blanco Lighthouse which offers stunning views of the lighthouse and rugged coastline.

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

• Bandon Beach
  • Spans the length of the towns 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 / 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 and 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 leader will have visited the areas prior to the event and the field trip locations will be based on what’s most photogenic at the time, weather conditions, etc.  These will be announced on Thursday afternoon during the Registration/Orientation.

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.

General:

We will be based in the Bandon, Oregon, area during this regional event.

Please keep in mind that this NANPA Regional 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 leader, John Pedersen, has experience as a photography workshop leader and is available to answer questions and give you guidance. If you need help, please advocate for yourself and speak up and ask for help – John is 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 regional event experience is the camaraderie that comes from sharing experiences and lessons learned among participants.

This tour is open for 10 participants to give each plenty of time with the leader 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 John for help. He 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, John 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.

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.

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

Suggested 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 drive for image reviews

Other Recommended Gear:

• Headlamp
• Water boots/shoes

 

Sunrise along the beach near Bandon, Oregon. © John Pedersen

Preliminary itinerary

For questions ahead of the trip please feel free to call or email:

• John Pedersen
• Phone: 503-475-1994
• Email: john@johnpedersenphoto.com

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

Thursday, October 13, 2022
Sunrise ~ 7:28 am, Sunset ~6:40 pm

• 4 p.m. – Meet at Sunset Oceanfront Lodging’s Conference Room for Meet and Greet, welcome, introductions and opening remarks by John.
• Sunset photo shoot along Bandon Beach
• Dinner on your own

Friday, October 14, 2022
Sunrise ~ 7:30 am, sunset ~6:38 pm

• Morning
  • Sunrise at the Face Rock area of Bandon Beach
  • Cape Blanco Lighthouse & State Park
• Evening
  • Coquille Lighthouse from the South Jetty
  • Bandon Beach

Saturday, October 14, 2022
Sunrise ~ 7:31 am, sunset ~6:36 pm

• Morning
  • Charleston Harbor
  • Shore Acres State Park / Cape Arago State Park
  • Bullard Beach / Coquille Lighthouse (if conditions not favorable at Shore Acres)
• Evening
  • Face Rock Scenic Viewpoint / Bandon Beach

Sunday, October 14, 2022
Sunrise ~ 7:32 am, sunset ~6:35 pm

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

Optional locations:

• Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
  • Shorebirds, song birds, birds of prey and mammals make this area popular for photography.

Regional Event 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.

COVID-19 POLICY

NANPA is committed to the health and safety of all participants and leaders at any of our events.  We have taken steps to reduce the inherent risks surrounding any public location where people are present.  We ask that you familiarize yourself with our COVID-19 health and safety precautions and requirements prior to your trip.  Masks are discretionary unless required by a particular venue or location.

You should evaluate your own risks when determining whether to participate.  By attending this event and signing the NANPA Regional Events Liability Release you acknowledge and agree that you assume these inherent risks associated with your attendance as we have explained them to you.

Most importantly:

If you have been feeling sick or have been exposed to someone in your household who is feeling sick or has tested positive for COVID-19, PLEASE STAY HOME.

NANPA follows the CDC rules and the rules of the state in which an event is held.  Those rules currently are:

• Oregon COVID-19 Updates: https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19
• Centers for Disease Control COVID guidelines links:
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
  • For up-to-date information on when to be tested please use the CDC Coronavirus Self-Checker tool. The Coronavirus Self-Checker interactive clinical assessment tool that will assist individuals on deciding when to seek testing or medical care if they suspect they or someone they know has contracted COVID-19 or has come into close contact with someone who has COVID-19.
  • The CDC Quarantine & Isolation Calculator is a tool to help determine how long you need to isolate, quarantine, or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.
  • Recommendations for People with COVID
  • Recommendations for COVID-19 Close Contacts (You were less than 6 feet away from someone with COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period)

NANPA will let you know if anything changes prior to the event.

We thank you in advance for your adherence and support as we work together to keep everyone safe.

 

Thank You to NANPA’s 2022 Regional Events Sponsor