“View North from Arch Rock”

On By Mike U.In Photography
View North from Arch Rock, Arch Rock State Park, Oregon (c) Mike Utley

Arch Rock State Park lies along the southern Oregon Coast between Gold Beach and Brookings. Its namesake feature is a natural arch just off the shore. This image represents the view north from Arch Rock in the magic hour lighting of late afternoon and early evening, which I found to be more dramatic and appealing than the arch itself (which is not shown in this image). (Canon gear, Fuji Velvia ISO 50)

35 thoughts on ““View North from Arch Rock””

    1. Thanks, David. This image is from early October 1995. I’d just relocated to Salem Oregon and my mom, little sister and her two young sons had come up to visit me. We spent a couple of days along northern California coast and up to the central Oregon coast. This day, the wind was picking up and my mom and one of my nephews had almost been swept out to sea by a sneaker wave at Whaleshead Beach a few miles south of where this image was made. Sneaker waves can be deadly in the Pacific Northwest (I almost got caught in them a coupe of times). You could say this was an adventurous day! Yeah, the Oregon Coast is insanely beautiful. If you ever get the chance, check it \out. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Jeff. The various shades of green, as well as the golds and blues, really stand out in that magic hour lighting. Nothing beat Velvia for capturing colors, and its fine grain made for some amazing photography. There’s an almost 3D quality to this image due to the lighting. Definitely one of my favorite places. 🙂

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    1. Thanks so much, Terveen. Heavenly, indeed. My goal was to remain in Oregon and be able to support myself with my photography. Didn’t work out, unfortunately, and I ended up back in the area where I now reside. Lots of good memories of the Pacific Northwest remain, however, and I still have the images I made while I was there. 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Reena. I actually used to make calendars when I was doing nature photography, as well as greeting cards and fine-art prints. I also photographed the local youth baseball and wrestling teams in a very small town where I also coached baseball and basketball. Lots of fun! 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Diana. I lived in Salem for a while in the mid-’90s and spent as much time as I could along the coast. Silver Falls State Park outside of Salem was another favorite location of mine. I never got any decent images of Crater Lake, unfortunately. Went there twice and the weather was horrendous both times. I dream of moving back to Oregon. My last experience on the Oregon Coast was at Yaquina Head Lighthouse in Newport one January evening in 1996. There was a light rain falling and the wind was coming in off the ocean and it was the purest, most incredible scent I’ve ever smelled. Man, I miss Oregon. I read on your blog that you’re located in Oregon and hoped you’d recognize any of the Oregon Coast images I post. Thanks again for the kind words. 🙂

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      1. Aaah, Mike. I love Silver Falls and posted pictures and haikus of my visit there. My husband and I did an Oregon lighthouse road trip a couple of years ago – so fun. And my trip to Crater Lake was also a bit of a disappointment (socked in by smoke). That was unfortunate since it was quite a ride to get there. But a lovely state when we aren’t on fire. 🙂

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    2. I have a bit of a love affair with lighthouses… My favorite spot on the planet is Heceta Head Lighthouse. I can’t articulate what that place means to me… I just feel my heart swell when I recall my visits there. And yes, the fires up there have been terrible and tragic. I hope you and your husband are in a safe area away from the fire danger. I’m going to check out the photos and haiku you mentioned on your blog. *excited* 🙂

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    1. Thanks, Mark. I’ve heard comparisons between the Oregon Coast and the coastlines of the New England states. I’d always wanted to visit Maine (Stephen King fan here) and the images of the rugged New England coast really do resemble the Pacific Northwest coast. As a Vermonter, have you visited the NE coast often?

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      1. Hi Mike, I grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts, which is north of Boston. So I know those rocky coastlines well. Only get to the coast about once a year now, but it holds a special place in my life.

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    1. Hey, Jeff. Thanks for the nice comment. I’d read on your blog that you’re in Corvallis. I lived in Salem for awhile in the mid-’90s and have been through Corvallis many times (I even have an OSU t-shirt!). Glad you liked the photo–it’s definitely worth a visit to Arch Rock–and I’ll be posting more Oregon images in the near future. You’re a lucky fellow to be able to surround yourself in such natural beauty! 🙂

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