Southern Oregon Coast Photo Workshop

Experience the raw power and serene beauty of the rugged Oregon Coast. Venture deep into foggy redwood forests and photograph the tidepools, seastacks, waterfalls, and marine life along this diverse coastline.  Our Oregon Coast Photo Workshop is designed to maximize your photography learning while getting you the best possible shots.  Lodging and transportation is included in the workshop tuition, please see pricing section below for more details.

Want more?  Extend your trip with our Central Oregon Coast or Redwoods Workshops!

Tuition

Max Group Size

  • 4 Students per Instructor
  • Max 8 Students

Instructor(s)

  • Kevin McNeal
  • Nickolas Warner
Southern Oregon Coast Photography Workshop

Highlights

  • Photograph rugged coastlines, old-growth redwood forests, seastacks, cliffside vistas and abundant marine life. There is so much diversity to enjoy!
  • Dates are timed for some of the best photographic conditions along the coast.
  • Learn many new photographic techniques from pro-instructors. Small group capped at 8 will ensure plenty of individual attention.
  • The exact workshop itinerary is kept flexible so we can make best use of the weather, tides, and current conditions.
  • Post-processing and image critique sessions will be scheduled throughout the workshop to help make the most of your images.

Itinerary

 

The exact itinerary will be kept flexible to account for the weather, tides, and current conditions along the coast. We will optimize our time for the best possible photography.  The itinerary below is just an example of what you can expect.

  • Day 1:  Meet at 2PM in Bandon, OR for a mandatory introductory session. We'll cover logistics and many of the shooting techniques you will use throughout the workshop. After an early dinner we head to Bandon Beach for sunset among the dramatic and rugged seastacks, tidepools, and reflections.
  • Day 2:  We wake up early to catch sunrise at the historic Cape Blanco Lighthouse.  We continue to shoot along the coastline, taking advantage of the soft early morning light. After a rest break, we reconvene for a midday post-processing session.  Sunset will be at one of our favorite beaches that is lesser known along this diverse coastline.
  • Day 3:  It's an early start to catch sunrise at the historic Coquille Lighthouse.  After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and head for Brookings, stopping for photo ops along the way.  We check into our hotel and take a short rest break before meeting for dinner and a sunset shoot at Cape Sebastian.
  • Day 4:  It's another early morning to catch a colorful sunrise at Harris Beach State Park.  We spend the early morning hours shooting along the Oregon Coast before returning to the hotel for breakfast, a rest break, and another post-processing session.  We spend the afternoon in the Samuel Boardman Corridor catching sunset at one of our favorite locations.
  • Day 5:  It's hard to believe this is our last day together!  After sunrise at Lone Ranch Beach, we enjoy our last breakfast together before checking out of the hotel.  We have so many great images to remember the amazing time we spent together! The workshop will end no later than 11AM.
Oregon Coast Photo Workshop Photography Tours Bandon Beach
Oregon Coast Lighthouse
Oregon Coast Photo Workshop Photography Tours Beach

Logistics

Each participant is responsible for getting to Bandon, Oregon no later than 2PM on the first day. If you drive your own vehicle, you will drive from Bandon to Brookings on the 3rd day. That way you'll have your car once the workshop concludes to either make your way home, or spend some extra time exploring the area. If you don't have a vehicle, you can ride with us. Transportation will be provided for all workshop outings.

Lodging is in short supply so we have pre-paid for 4 nights of hotel accommodations for all workshop participants.  During checkout you will add your lodging package based on either single or double occupancy.  See the Pricing section for more details.

Everyone on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition.  We aren't planning any long hikes but you should be comfortable walking 1-3 miles per day while carrying your photo gear.

Food is not included as part of the workshop.  You are free to bring your own food or eat at restaurants in town.  We will make food stops when we are driving between photo stops.

Since we are photographing so much along the coast, we recommend each participant bring a pair of hip or chest waders. Without waders, you will get very wet trying to photograph close to the water. A sturdy tripod is a must for photographing along the coast!

Temperatures are pretty mild in spring but it can get chilly along the coast, so come prepared with some warm layers and a jacket. Rain is not uncommon, so make sure you bring a rain jacket and backpack rain cover. An umbrella can come in handy, especially if we are shooting in light rain.  Please see the gear list further down.

Pricing

$2195/person + Tax

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Trip Includes:

  • Ground Transportation During the Workshop
  • Park Entrance Fees
  • In-Field Photography Instruction
  • Post-processing and Image Critique
  • Pre-Workshop Zoom Meeting
  • 4-night lodging package will be added to your booking based on single or double occupancy. Cost is $425 or $850 for double or single respectively.

 

Trip Does NOT Include:

  • Transportation to/from your home to Bandon, OR
  • Beverages
  • Meals and snacks.
  • Instructor Gratuities.

 

When you complete the checkout process, you will be given the option to either pay the full amount or put down a 50% deposit.  If you pay the deposit, the remaining amount will be charged 120 days prior to arrival to the credit card we have on file.

Oregon Coast Photo Workshop Photography Tours Light Rays Forest Redwoods
Oregon Coast Photo Workshop Photography Tours Bandon Beach
Oregon Coast Photo Workshop Photography Tours Beach
Oregon Coast Photography Workshop

Recommended Camera Gear

  • Sturdy tripod and ballhead
  • Digital SLR or Mirrorless Camera Body.
  • Wide angle lens in the 16-35mm range.
  • Mid-range zoom lens in the range of 24-100mm.
  • Long telephoto lenses will come in handy for landscape compression and wildlife encounters.
  • Circular polarizer filters and ND filters for your lenses.  If you like shooting with grads, bring them along.  A 9 or 10-stop ND filter will be useful for creating very long exposures.
  • Backpack to carry your gear along with a rain cover for the pack.
  • Extra batteries, memory cards, and cleaning supplies.
  • Remote cord for your camera.
  • Laptop if you wish to backup your photos or follow along during the post-processing instruction.

Personal Gear List

  • Sturdy hiking footwear, hiking socks, and long pants .
  • A rain jacket and several warm layers.
  • Hip or Chest Waders
  • Umbrella
  • Headlamp
  • Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Sun Hat, and Gloves
  • Water bottle or hydration bladder.
  • Hiking poles if you like having them.

Extend Your Adventure!

Central Oregon Coast

Apr 28-May 2, 2024

Redwoods

May 29-June 2, 2024

Southern Oregon Coast Photo Workshop
Oregon Coast Photo Workshop Photography Tours Bandon Beach
Southern Oregon Coast Photo Workshop
Kevin Profile

Kevin McNeal

Photography Instructor

Kevin McNeal is a Washington-State photographer who is passionate about photographing grand landscapes that reflect the most unique places on earth. Capturing moments of magic light and transferring this to print is the ultimate goal. His images hold a combination of perseverance, patience, and dedication to capture landscapes in fresh ways. The stories of how these images are rendered come across in the feelings the images convey. He has traveled all over North America, shooting diverse landscapes and finding remote places with the hope that we can convey to the public that this earth is worth caring for. His award winning images can be seen in galleries and showings across the United States.  He was recently invited to the Art Wolfe Art Gallery for the Environmental Photography Invitational. Kevin was the grand winner of the Landscape category for the Natures Best Magazine and was selected for the Smithsonian National Museum of History in Washington D.C..  He is a regular contributor to publications like Outdoor Photographer.

Artist’s Statement

“I believe that the Earth shares secrets with us that only can be discovered by trying to understand our position on this planet. We are never fully intimate with the planet but are given brief moments that make our souls want more. These glimpses of nature’s power are fleeting and never the same twice. I also believe it is important to share with those who want it. The treasures that await us given the patience that is out there. What I try to do is bring some of that magic to my images to share with the rest of the world. Each of my images tells a story that everyone can relate to in some way whether it is success, fear, or challenging oneself to overcome obstacles

View Kevin's Portfolio.

Nickolas Warner Alaska

Nickolas Warner

Photography Instructor

Nickolas Warner is an award-winning photographer with recognition by the Epson Pano Awards, International Landscape Photographer of the Year, and Outdoor Photographer. He has a particular interest in extreme and unusual locations.  His travels have taken him to some fascinating locations, but the American Southwest is his favorite place to photograph.

Nickolas spent the past decade guiding in Alaska, where he provided instruction on photographing the aurora borealis, and shared his knowledge of the far north’s rugged terrain and resilient wildlife.

When not guiding, Nickolas enjoys long distance hiking and extended backpacking trips through remote wilderness areas.

Artist's Statement: "The more one travels, the more one sees how small our world is. Landscape photography is often an idyllic vision of nature that stretches the truth. While most of my photos are taken in the wilderness, the reality is that modernity and progress has shrunk the wild into small islands of untouched land, flanked on all sides by development and exploitation. Before becoming a full-time photographer, I pursued a career in sustainability. While I've since changed directions, I still have a strong sense of urgency to protect nature and keep the wild wild. I hope my photos can inspire others to explore and let our world be untamed."

See Nickolas' portfolio: Nickolas Warner Photography