The Painted Hills became one of our favorite go-to places to photograph in Oregon, especially after we found a nice free camping area just outside its boundaries. People come for the namesake hills. We continued to return because of the amazing light and everything else it has to offer. Plus, it gave me the image that convinced me digital photography has come of age. It’s still one of my best images . . . and it was hand-held!

The Japanese Gardens are a jewel. Ever changing with the seasons, the weather and the light, just when you think you’ve photographed what you can from the place, the next trip offers you something new. One of the smartest things Ann and I did was get a photographer’s membership. Not only could we enter the gardens an hour before the crowds, we could bring our tripods in as well. What a way to start a day!

There’s a reason photographers travel from all over the world to photograph in Bandon. Not only are the rocks and sea stacks accessible, the morning light in Bandon is truly unique. I don’t know why, but it’s even different from locations a few miles up or down the coast. A pre-dawn session in Bandon during low, low tide is a truly wonderful experience.

As special as Bandon is, that does not take away from the wonderful photographic opportunities the rest of the Oregon coast has to offer. The coast will reward anyone willing to take the time to explore and to truly see what nature has to offer!

The Oregon Cascades were our photographic back-yard for a decade. It was the go-to location when we wanted to take a day trip. Accessible for even a pre-dawn shot, close enough to be home for dinner or even lunch. We appreciate that convenience even more since we’ve struggled to find an equivalent here in Portugal.

The contrast between the wet Oregon Coast and Willamette Valley and the arid eastern and southern parts of Oregon couldn’t be more stark. These parts of Oregon have their own beauty. We may have returned again and again to the Painted Hills, but these other areas provide a wealth of photographic opportunities that shouldn’t be missed.

We only made a couple of trips to the Columbia Gorge and it’s obvious we only scratched the surface of what it has to offer. So much of it is visually and physically accessible (thus the crowds), but we’ve seen hints of what more it has to offer. I suspect we’ll need to schedule a visit or two on our return trips to the US to find out.