Wild, rugged and uncrowded is how the Oregon Coast Visitors Association characterizes the 150-mile stretch of coastline between Coos Bay and the California state line. I couldn't agree more. I pulled over so many times on my spring trip in Oregon, I can't tell you exactly where on that beautiful coastline I took this photo. Scenes like this abound.
I shot this image with my trusty old DSLR Canon EOS Mark IV paired with my Canon EF 70--200 lens @ 97mm and a polarizer. Exposure settings: ISO 320, f/8, 1/400 sec. to accommodate the low light of an overcast day. I had an excellent bell-shaped curve in the histogram to work with, so the tweaks I made weren't anywhere near as dramatic as last month's redwood grove shot.
In post processing I set the profile to camera matching landscape and went from there making global adjustments in Adobe Camera Raw. These included white balance 5500 (daylight preset), exposure +0.50, contrast +17, highlights -95, shadows +37, whites +11, blacks -11, vibrance +23, saturation +9, texture +39, clarity +39, dehaze +21. That's it.
If you have never been to the Oregon coast, you should go. Really, you should. Spring and fall are the best times. You'll find yourself on a secluded stretch of beach like this to shoot to your heart's content. If you have been there, you already know!
9 comments posted
Gwen Callas-Miller
Definitely on my bucket list now! Beautiful setting with clear foreground to background and the water forms nice leading lines to the curves of the mountains. I might take out the people and dog but it depends on the story you are trying to tell. Posted: 10/02/2026 20:06:56
John Stumbos
Thanks, Gwen. Glad you are committed to seeing Oregon. The southern reaches are the most rugged with scenes like this. I don't mind having people in my nature photos if they add to the image. In this case, I wanted to communicate the solitude and serenity these people enjoyed and also to provide a sense of scale for context. Posted: 10/02/2026 21:33:37
Sherry Icardi
John when I look at this all I can think of is my trip to Washington. My first time on stone beaches and learning how to walk on them. Having lived in Florida, it never occurred to me I needed hiking boots not sneakers! I took many images like this while I was there exploring with my daughter while I was there. I also went to photograph eagles (prime season in June) but I was just as fascinated with the topography. It does not surprise me they are similar! Well done.. and I'm definitely going back but likely in the May/June timeframe to include Eagles. You have brought out the rustic nature of the coasts of the North West, one I had not even imagined until recently! Well done. Posted: 10/04/2026 19:27:00
John Stumbos
Thank you, Sherry. I'm indeed very fortunate to live within a day's drive of scenes like this. Life is good! Posted: 10/04/2026 19:32:03
Peter Dominowski
I live in Central Oregon but have not yet traveled to the south coast yet...an omission that I must rectify soon.
A classic seascape shot with the shore acting as a leading line. Posted: 10/06/2026 03:02:25
John Stumbos
You are closer to where I took this shot than I am, Peter. I'm sure right now would be a good time to make a trip over there. Fall color would add a nice dimension, too. Posted: 10/08/2026 22:10:07
Sarita Yeola
Hi John,
This image reminded me of the 12 day trip of the Oregon Coast I did last year. We travelled the entire Oregon Coast, from Brookings to Astoria. What a beautiful part of the country! I came back with thousands of photos from that trip. I would definitely like to go back again.
Posted: 10/08/2026 21:39:00
John Stumbos
Thank you, Sarita. Maybe we'll see one of your landscape shots from trip to the coast? Posted: 10/08/2026 22:11:33
Sarita Yeola
Yes I will have to remember it for the future months. Posted: 10/08/2026 23:49:54
