Port Orford Headlands

Port Orford Head is the southern point of a huge sweeping arc of coastline bounded on the north by Cape Blanco. Looking south, the dome of Humbug Mountain emerges in the distance, as a new arc of Oregon coastline captures the imagination. Trails afford easy access to the entire headland, offering spectacular views in every direction. This photo was taken on February 2, 2012, on an idyllic winter day. Often its quite cold on these winter ventures but this day the temperature stayed in the mid-fifties till after sunset. It was quite unusual. Oh, you want to see the sunset?

The winter sky brings these shades of orange I don't think we see other times of year. The angle of the sun in relation to the earth, I think, creates some unique visual effects. The further north you go of course you experience the aurora borealis or northern lights caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere (thermosphere).

Logs to China

Logs are loaded on to the deck of the Sun Ruby out of Hong Kong. Up and down the West Coast, log exports to China are booming. Over the first six-months of 2011, the Port of Coos Bay shipped 56,000 MBF on around twelve vessels. It’s the most active year since 1996. 

My photo, "Logs to China," is making the rounds with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It is part of a photo story I did several months ago about massive exports of raw logs from forests in the Pacific Northwest, and the impact these huge shipments are having on local businesses, labor and the forest itself, whether privately or publicly held. 

I first posted the photo last year on the agency's State of the Environment website, and it was soon chosen as "picture of the day." Now, the EPA may reproduce it for a traveling exhibit. The power of storytelling in pictures is unbridled.

I'm working now on some "industrial photography" projects, to continue to highlight issues raised by the intersection of industry and the environment.  

Big Spray, Sunset Bay

Winter Surf is often impressive on the Oregon Coast. This day, I was perched on a narrow point on the south side of Sunset Bay, accessed by crawling through some bushes on a small animal trail. The coastal trails are extensive along the coast here, connecting a string of three state parks and the beautiful gardens at Shore Acres.

I met the guy on the point later on the trail and he showed me the spot through the bushes to get there. It was a grand view and my position, the wind whipping by, the waves exploding, lent a sense of adventure to my photo quest.
Sunset Bay State Park
2/18/12
See more photos at: http://jackkelly.smugmug.com