Photography Roadtrip: The Olympic Peninsula
Our driving route through Washington
After spending three months exploring Canada, it was time to head south into the states for the next chapter of our Pan-American Highway journey.
I was excited to finally be leaving Canada and towards pastures new. Our first stop was a week on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, where rugged coastlines and lush rainforests offered a variety of photographic opportunities.
Given the opportunity I would have opted to spend additional time photographing Mount Baker and Mount Rainier, however a tight timeline meant we had to travel through relatively quickly. Living inland in the Yukon Territory has meant that I haven’t been on the coast for many years and as such we gravitated towards the novelty of the sea, hopeful for all the seascapes.
Admiralty Head: Lighthouse Views
Our first stop was Fort Casey State Park on Whidbey Island, home to the historic Admiralty Head Lighthouse, built in 1903 and overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. We arrived late in the evening and got prepared for an early morning ferry down to the Olympic Peninsula. Not expecting to do any serious photography and feeling pretty tired, I decided to go for a quick bike ride to stretch my legs. Typically, we were met with one of the most stunning sunsets so I quickly grabbed my camera and managed to capture an image of the sun setting over the Vancouver Island mountains. This felt like a wonderful goodbye to the country that I have called home for the last four years. The following morning, I returned to the lighthouse, hoping for similar conditions, and was rewarded with beautiful light and wispy clouds.
Salt Creek: Sunset and Sea Stacks
Our next destination was Salt Creek Recreation Area, near Port Angeles. Known for its rocky shoreline and tide pools, this spot provided perfect conditions for sunset photography and I was excited to see the seastacks. I focused on the large sea stack pictured below and used the receding tide as foreground interest. The small beach was empty, allowing for a peaceful shoot. I stayed out after dark, hoping to capture bioluminescence (a phenomenon caused by algae in the water flashing blue when agitated), but unfortunately it did not make an appearance. Nonetheless, the tranquil atmosphere made for a memorable end to the day.
The famous Sol Duc Falls
Sol Duc Falls: Capturing Waterfalls in Motion
Sol Duc Falls, nestled deep within Olympic National Park, presented a different photographic opportunity within the thick rainforest. The falls are a short 1.6 mile walk into the rainforest and can be very busy so we chose to visit in the early morning. Mornings mean that the crowds are fewer and so it is easier to get a photograph without people on the walkways overlooking the falls. Additionally, in the mornings the sun rises behind the falls and allows you to play around with your aperture to get a lovely starburst effect through the trees. I set up for long-exposure shots using my Kase filters to capture the movement of the water cascading into the narrow gorge, and set my aperture to f/22 to get that sunburst effect.
Hoh Rainforest: Day and Night in an Ancient Forest
The Hoh Rainforest, one of the largest temperate rainforests in the U.S., receives up to 170 inches of rain annually, creating a lush and vibrant environment. To avoid the crowds again, we arrived late in the afternoon, which allowed me to photograph the vivid greens and moss-covered trees along the Hall of Mosses trail in soft light. I’ve always found shooting in forests to be a challenge and in my experience it can be hard to find compositions in amongst the busy forest. Often I find that my images feel crowded and without any stand out subjects. To try and overcome this I returned later in the evening with my Lumecube and started to experiment with lighting. The Lumecube cast eerie shadows and illuminating the forest in unexpected ways and looked like something out of a horror movie. The nearby owls, curious about the strange lights, added a surreal touch to the nighttime shoot.
Ruby Beach: Monochrome on a Grey Day
Ruby Beach, known for its sea stacks and driftwood-laden shore, is one of Washington’s most iconic coastal locations. Made famous by the movie Twilight it is on many people’s bucket lists and many of the images shot here show gorgeous sunsets. On the day I visited there was thick fog, which is a common feature on the Washington coastline, meant that sunset photography was a no-go. However, the misty weather created ideal conditions for monochrome photography. Using long exposures, I focused on the textures and patterns of the waves and wet sand, with the sea stacks standing tall in the background. The muted light and grey tones allowed for striking black-and-white compositions that captured the moody atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest coast.
Looking forward: Opportunities for next time
These locations provided just a glimpse of Washington State's stunning beauty, and though our time was limited to one week, I’m already eager to plan a longer trip next time.
Throughout the week, I searched for bioluminescence every night, hoping to capture the glowing waves, but it remained elusive. On my next visit, I’d love to focus more on finding this natural wonder, while also exploring astrophotography at the iconic Shi Shi and Rialto Beaches. Whilst I had the opportunity to photograph these beaches in the fog, I made the choice to forego them in search of clear skies after a hopeful aurora forecast. Unfortunately the fog followed us and I came away empty handed.
Next time, I’ll dedicate more time to exploring Washington's beaches at night, and I’m also excited to venture inland to capture the majestic landscapes of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, and the Columbia River Gorge. There’s still so much to discover, and I can’t wait to return!
The Road Ahead: Exploring Oregon’s Coastline
Next, we traveled down the Oregon Coast, where I spent two weeks photographing the diverse coastal features that make Oregon one of the most photogenic places on the Pacific Coast. Stay tuned for the next chapter as I continue my pursuit of light and landscapes on the road to Argentina.