Oregon Coast Photography Workshop
Sea stacks, tides, changing light, and long exposures along one of the most dramatic coastlines in North America.
Workshop overview
Workshop video
About the Oregon Coast photography workshop
This Oregon Coast photography workshop is a field-focused experience built around time on scene. Rather than rushing from viewpoint to viewpoint up and down the coast, we concentrate our time in two of the most productive regions—Bandon Beach and the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor. The workshop is based in Bandon and Gold Beach on Oregon's south coast.
By revisiting the same locations under different conditions, you'll see how tide height reshapes foregrounds, how changing light affects contrast and reflections, and how timing can influence composition. The goal isn't quantity—it's learning to make deliberate choices and come home with images that work as intended.
Andy works alongside participants in the field, helping with decisions as conditions change. Post-processing help and image review are available during slower periods; instruction is never forced and adapts to your pace and level.
Workshop highlights
In-depth exploration
Multiple sessions at each location allow you to work scenes beyond the obvious. As light and tide shift, foregrounds change, reflections appear and disappear, and compositions evolve in ways you only notice by staying put.
Technical craft
You'll learn the field techniques needed for ocean panoramas, sun stars, and wide dynamic range scenes. We'll focus on controlling variables—exposure, timing, and camera stability so your files come home clean and consistent, with less time spent fixing problems later.
Artistic development
With the technical side under control, the focus shifts to evaluating options in the field, developing compositions, and understanding why one choice works better than another. The emphasis is on simplifying the frame and expressing the mood of the coast, with time set aside for post-processing questions.
Workshop itinerary and schedule
Overview
The pace of the workshop is shaped by the coast—early mornings, long evenings, and enough time in between to rest, review, and reset.
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Tuesday, August 11
— Welcome meeting and introductions.
— Depart for first photography session. -
Thursday, August 13
Sunrise photography at Bandon Beach, followed by check-out and relocation to Gold Beach. Evening session in the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor.
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Saturday, August 15
Final sunrise session; workshop concludes afterward.
Lodging
Sunset Motel1865 Beach Loop Drive, Bandon, OR
Lodging website · 800-842-2407
August 13, participants relocate to Gold Beach, OR. The instructor stays at:
SureStay Plus by Best Western29232 Ellensburg Ave, Gold Beach, OR 97444
Lodging website · 541-247-7066
What to expect
- Morning: Sunrise sessions begin at civil twilight and run through first light. We stay long enough to work changing tide and light, then break for breakfast and rest.
- Midday: Midday time is slower and flexible. On select days, Photoshop help and image review are available for those who want it—bring a laptop with Photoshop installed if you'd like hands-on guidance.
- Evening: After group dinners, we return to the coast as light builds toward golden hour and fades into twilight, working deliberately rather than rushing from spot to spot.
Registration
Whether you're new to landscape photography or looking to refine your coastal work, this workshop offers practical guidance in the field in a supportive environment.
→ Register for the Oregon Coast workshop
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Workshop details
- Experience level
- Beginner to advanced photographers.
- Group size
- Small group (maximum of 8 participants).
- Effort
- The first two days involve climbing stairs to access Bandon Beach and walking along the shoreline. The final two days include short hikes of about ¼ mile each way on primitive, sloped, and uneven trails, with a few exposed sections and some elevation above the ocean.
- Conditions
- Cool temperatures and moisture are common. Bring a very warm jacket, hat and weather-resistant layers.
Getting to the workshop
Air travel
Most participants fly into Portland (PDX) or Eugene (EUG).
Drive time to Gold Beach: ~6 hr from Portland, ~3 hr 45 min from Eugene.
Driving and carpooling
Roads are mostly paved. Carpooling during the workshop is encouraged to reduce impact and build community. A standard rental car is sufficient.
Recommended gear
Lenses
Bring lenses covering roughly 16mm to 200mm (full-frame equivalent). This range handles wide coastal scenes, mid-range framing, and tighter compositions as light, tide, and scale change. If you're using a crop-sensor camera, account for the crop factor so you have a true wide option—typically around 10–12mm on APS-C or 7–8mm on Micro Four Thirds.
Filters
A polarizer helps control glare and deepen color in wet sand and tide pools. Bring 6-stop and 10-stop solid ND filters to create long exposure effects with the waves and clouds. Variable NDs are not recommended.
Footwear and clothing
Expect wet feet and uneven ground. Secure sandals or water shoes work well in tide pools, and neoprene socks can help prevent blisters. Andy typically wears a winter jacket, hat, shorts, and Tevas on the beach. Knee-high rubber boots are popular, but they often flood. For the final days, supportive hiking boots are essential. Cool, damp conditions are common—layers matter.
Workshop community
FAQ
- Is this workshop more about learning or photographing locations?
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It's both. We spend real time at excellent locations, but the emphasis is on making better decisions while you're there—where to stand, what to include, when to wait, and when to move on. Instruction is available throughout the day, but it isn't forced. Some participants work quietly on their own; others talk through choices as the light and tide change.
- How fast-paced are the days?
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The pace is intentional rather than packed. We don't bounce from overlook to overlook. Instead, we stay in productive areas long enough to let conditions evolve and give you time to work through a scene. There's room for rest between sessions, especially after early mornings.
- What experience level is this workshop best suited for?
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A wide range of experience levels fit well here. If you're newer, you'll get help with fundamentals like exposure, composition, and working on a tripod in coastal conditions. If you're more experienced, the focus shifts toward refining choices, simplifying scenes, and adapting when conditions aren't ideal.
- How much post-processing instruction is included?
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Post-processing help is available during slower midday periods for those who want it. You're welcome to bring a laptop and ask questions or work through images together, but it's optional. The primary emphasis remains on making clean, thoughtful captures in the field.
- What are the physical demands and conditions like?
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Expect stairs down to the beach, walking on sand and wet rock, and short hikes on uneven coastal trails later in the workshop. Weather along the coast can be cool, windy, and damp even in summer. If you're comfortable walking carefully on natural terrain and dressing for changing conditions, you'll be fine.
- What makes this Oregon Coast workshop different from others you run?
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This workshop is shaped by tide, weather, and timing more than almost any other location. Working repeatedly at places like Bandon Beach and the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor teaches patience and adaptability in a very direct way. Success here comes less from chasing dramatic moments and more from recognizing when a scene has shifted and is offering a different set of compositions.