Sunrise at Big Lake, Cascade Mountains

The larger lakes in the Cascades are usually windy during the day, but small coves and inlets are often glassy at sunrise. Even when you don't get a great sky, there can be nice reflections of the trees in the water.

Sparks Lake and South Sister, Cascade Mountains

The Three Sisters are a distinctive set of volcanic peaks visible from a variety of places around the central part of the state. A memorial to the late Ray Atkeson, sometimes referred to as the photographer laureate of Oregon, has been erected at the site where this photo was taken, as it was one of his favorite views.

South Falls, Silver Falls State Park

Not only are the waterfalls great in this park, it is one of the best places for Fall color in Oregon. In a good year the Big Leaf Maple turn deep yellow.

Lower Proxy Falls, Cascade Mountains

One of many spectacular waterfalls in Oregon, these are just a short hike into the Three Sisters Wilderness in the Willamette National Forest.

Wizard Island, Crater Lake Natl' Park

Soon after I moved to Oregon, I received several requests for photos of Crater Lake. I knew that it was difficult to get a photo that showed the bowl-like appearance of the lake in its volcanic crater, so I chartered a little Cessna to try for some aerials. There had been an early-winter snowstorm at Crater Lake the day before, and with near-perfect weather I was able to frame Wizard Island - a volcanic cinder cone peak within the crater.

Crater Lake at sunrise

There are many breathtaking scenes at Crater Lake, and a variety of viewpoints for photographing Wizard Island. I scouted this one during the day on a previous trip, hoping to find a vantage point where I could capture all of Wizard Island surrounded by water, and to get the sunrise sky reflected in the lake.

Proxy Falls, Three Sisters Wilderness, Cascade Mtns

A small stream cascading over a moss-covered columnar basalt formation makes this one of Oregon's most beautiful waterfalls.

Salt Creek Falls, Willamette Natl' Forest

One of the tallest falls in the Oregon Cascades. Easy to photograph from the viewpoint above, but the spray is often so heavy from lower vantage points that your lens gets wet before you can get your picture.

Snow Storm, Mt. Hood Natl' Forest

At the higher elevations in the Cascade Mountains, snowstorms can happen most any time of year (several inches fell in the central Cascades this past August!). I managed to capture this one as blowing snow was just starting to cling to the hemlock and fir trees.

Northern Spotted Owl, Willamette Natl' Forest

This is the little critter that caused such a big stink in the northwest a few years ago. The old-growth forests that it inhabits have been so decimated that the species has become endangered. I came upon this one just by chance at the trailhead for Iron Mountain, and he was patient enough to let me make a nice portrait.

Yellow Flower Spider on Blueberries, Willamette Valley

Summertime is berry time in the Pacific Northwest, and a favorite activity is going to a U-Pick farm and getting them right off the bushes and vines. This spider appeared as we were waiting for the bucket of berries to be weighed.

Smith Rock State Park, Central Oregon

A mecca for rock climbers, Smith Rock also provides great opportunities for photography and wildlife viewing. This view of the main rock-climbing area, with the Crooked River running through it, was taken at sunrise after a late-spring snow storm.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, North central Oregon

In May yellow wildflowers bloom in the folds of the Painted Hills area, making the color and shape of the volcanic ash formations even more remarkable. There are three units of this national monument, each with unique and spectacular geological formations.

Harris Beach State Park, Southern Oregon coast

There were no clouds to make a nice sunset view this evening, but seaspray from stormy surf picked up some late color and helped to separate the rocks and headlands in this telephoto view of the coast.

Heceta Head Lighthouse, Central Oregon Coast

One of the most photographed, and photogenic, lighthouses in the country, if not the world. This view taken in early morning, just after the sun topped the Coast Range mountains.

Garibaldi Harbor, Northern Oregon Coast

There are several small harbors up and down the Oregon coast with fleets of commercial fishing boats. I think maybe the reason I like photos like this is because of all the jigsaw puzzles with similar scenes we did at family gatherings when I was a kid.

Cascade Head Natural Area, Oregon Coast

The headlands here are one of the Nature Conservancy's many preserves in Oregon, and the setting here is quite spectacular, particularly in the spring and early summer when wildflowers bloom on the rolling hills overlooking the coast.

Pussy Willows on sand dune. Oregon Dunes NRA

Much of the dunes are overgrown with introduced beach grass, and/or are less than pristine due to ATV tracks, but the Umpqua Dunes area is off-limits to motorized travel and has some great dune formations.

Sunset, Harris Beach State Park

Just north of the California border, this park is a favorite for many with its combination of sandy beaches, tide-pools and rock formations. This was one of those days when the prospects for a colorful sunset didn't look very good in the late afternoon, but I stuck around and there was a break in the clouds just as the sun went down. As the saying goes, f/8 and be there!