Into the Well
An ocean swell at high tide crashes over the mussel-covered rocks and into the famed maw of Thor's Well, Cape Perpetua, Oregon.
The Well is an incredible formation, and while standing and waiting for perfect waves, I realized how many elements must align in order to catch this sight at its most visually interesting - i.e., at sunset and at the highest of tides. First, the moon must be close to the earth (perigee) so that the high-tide is at its highest; second, that high-tide has to occur within an hour or two of sunset; and third, there must be clouds on the horizon in order for the sunset to be interesting. Perhaps needless to say, these elements did not all align for our visit. However, as the photo shows, we did get to see water pouring into the famed Well, and the simple fact that we managed to secure a parking spot around high-tide was a minor victory in itself.
The photographer's sleight of hand must be acknowledged here, because the framing cleverly omits the throng of people ringing the well and snapping selfies, and of course, one cannot see or hear the drone that was buzzing overhead. My dislike of drones borders on the irrational - I know they can be used to create beautiful photos from extraordinary perspectives, but somehow when I hear them noisily flitting overhead I immediately wish for them to vanish and leave me in peace. Fortunately for drone enthusiasts, my opinions matter very little!
Into the Well
An ocean swell at high tide crashes over the mussel-covered rocks and into the famed maw of Thor's Well, Cape Perpetua, Oregon.
The Well is an incredible formation, and while standing and waiting for perfect waves, I realized how many elements must align in order to catch this sight at its most visually interesting - i.e., at sunset and at the highest of tides. First, the moon must be close to the earth (perigee) so that the high-tide is at its highest; second, that high-tide has to occur within an hour or two of sunset; and third, there must be clouds on the horizon in order for the sunset to be interesting. Perhaps needless to say, these elements did not all align for our visit. However, as the photo shows, we did get to see water pouring into the famed Well, and the simple fact that we managed to secure a parking spot around high-tide was a minor victory in itself.
The photographer's sleight of hand must be acknowledged here, because the framing cleverly omits the throng of people ringing the well and snapping selfies, and of course, one cannot see or hear the drone that was buzzing overhead. My dislike of drones borders on the irrational - I know they can be used to create beautiful photos from extraordinary perspectives, but somehow when I hear them noisily flitting overhead I immediately wish for them to vanish and leave me in peace. Fortunately for drone enthusiasts, my opinions matter very little!