There are a few places I can’t stay away from, and I keep going back to time and again. Oregon’s coastline, especially around Bandon, is one of those places. The picturesque sea stacks provide endless variation and endless fascination. These Bandon views showcase the beauty.
Every sunrise is unique. Some mornings, the sun rises quietly and slips into the sky without drama. However, other mornings are an entirely different story, and the sun provides quite the show.
And now and then, something unexpected happens. For example, the morning I photographed Violet Sentinels was one of those times. High, light clouds made for a promising start, but the promise remained unfulfilled as the dawn became brighter and brighter. While I hoped the cloud would light up in a dazzling display of color, they remained muted and understated. That’s OK. I just stood there and enjoyed the sunrise, and I would see it through until full daylight.
But, just before the sun crested the horizon, everything changed. At first, just a single cloud turned violet. Then, another, and another. Then all of them, all at once. The entire sky was an incredibly soft, yet striking, hue of purple. The ocean reflected the light, and the scene became a wonderful life.
The sea stacks, which rise sharply from the ocean, punctuate the scene, completing Violet Sentinels. This photograph is a perfect example of Bandon views.
Sunsets are just as spectacular, plus they have the advantage of including the setting sun in the photograph.
Bandon Calm illustrates this point perfectly.
Here, the sun is slipping quickly into the ocean, headed for the other side of the world. The incoming tide is doing its best to envelope the sea stacks. But, before the sun dipped below the waiting horizon, it lit the sea up with a beautiful shade of blue. Once again, the sea stacks are the scene’s star. The lone bird flying above completes the vignette.
Even a simple sunset is outstanding in Bandon.
The Bandon views are like no other, no matter what time of day. Whenever I come here, I find a different way to photograph them. Even the same sea stack looks entirely different each day. The endless variation fascinates me and calls me, and so I come back time and again, year after year.
I miss the Bandon coastline and am thinking about my next trip back. In the meantime, though, there are more spectacular views to explore and enjoy, and we’ll revisit Bandon soon.