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Trip Report: Olympic National Park - May 2022
Trip Report: Olympic National Park - May 2022
by Douglas Marshall
“Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” These wise words, spoken by one of the most well known American Naturalists, Henry David Thoreau, seemed to be a reoccurring theme on our trip to Washington’s Olympic peninsula and Olympic National Park this May. This call to simplify was not only evident in the physical remoteness of this trip that forced us to abandoned some of the everyday “conveniences” we have come to rely on, but also in the way one was forced to look at capturing images of what often times seemed like overwhelmingly beautiful and extremely complex subjects.
Olympic National Park is a gem of a park. Located in the “upper left corner” of the continental United States, the area was originally listed in 1897 as a Forest Reserve and then as a National Forest in 1907. The region did not become a National Park until over 20 years later in 1938, designated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1953, seventy-three miles of Pacific Coastline was added to the park, and is the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline in the lower 48.
At just under a million acres, Olympic National Park offers extreme varieties of ecosystems, from glaciated mountains in the Olympic Range, roughened coastlines, and verdant temperate rain forests. A diversity seldom, if at all, seen in any other National Park. On this trip we immersed and concentrated our photography endeavors on the rugged coastlines and in the lush rain forests, which afforded us a plethora of scenes and subjects to photograph.
At just under a million acres, Olympic National Park offers extreme varieties of ecosystems, from glaciated mountains in the Olympic Range, roughened coastlines, and verdant temperate rain forests. A diversity seldom, if at all, seen in any other National Park. On this trip we immersed and concentrated our photography endeavors on the rugged coastlines and in the lush rain forests, which afforded us a plethora of scenes and subjects to photograph.
Shooting images in and around Olympic National Park is not always a simple task. Challenging, complex subjects, and shooting in conditions with rain, crashing waves, sand, salt water, and wind all make for robust conditions that challenge a photographer and their skill. However, it also makes for a fantastic and wonderful place to participate in a workshop!
Being able to shoot in such conditions with a group of like-minded individuals. and sharing ideas and techniques with one another to implement in certain shooting situations is stimulating and exciting. To experiment with a variety of shooting techniques, and to see how it affects one’s imagery is an enormous chunk of WHY we do photo workshops. The large majority of photographers become better at their craft by doing, by getting out and shooting. Which is a key element that we emphasize in our workshops.
Being able to shoot in such conditions with a group of like-minded individuals. and sharing ideas and techniques with one another to implement in certain shooting situations is stimulating and exciting. To experiment with a variety of shooting techniques, and to see how it affects one’s imagery is an enormous chunk of WHY we do photo workshops. The large majority of photographers become better at their craft by doing, by getting out and shooting. Which is a key element that we emphasize in our workshops.
Our first stop to begin photographing, after our drive from Sea-Tac, was the Quinault Rainforest. Entering into a rainforest is an ethereal experience, especially after a rain, like our group had the luxury of experiencing on the majority of our trip. What seems like endless shades of green are purely electric, and seem to glow. The forest is teeming with life in every direction. It also became evident to our group, that photographing in this type of forest was not always easy.
The amount going on in a scene can be overwhelming if one does not slow down and simplify. “Composition is King.” “ Thinking Macro.” “Breaking down the shot into smaller pieces.” “ Change up your shooting angles.” all became regular topics throughout this workshop. In no uncertain terms… Simplify. The group continued to practice this mantra into all our shoots of other rainforest locations in the Hoh, Queets, and Sol Duc rainforests, all named in homage to the hearty indigenous people who called this area home for thousands of years before western settlers finally moved into the area in the 1850’s.
The amount going on in a scene can be overwhelming if one does not slow down and simplify. “Composition is King.” “ Thinking Macro.” “Breaking down the shot into smaller pieces.” “ Change up your shooting angles.” all became regular topics throughout this workshop. In no uncertain terms… Simplify. The group continued to practice this mantra into all our shoots of other rainforest locations in the Hoh, Queets, and Sol Duc rainforests, all named in homage to the hearty indigenous people who called this area home for thousands of years before western settlers finally moved into the area in the 1850’s.
The other areas we choose to photograph on this trip were dedicated to the iconic Pacific Coast scenes in the area. Majestic sea stacks, arches, and bridges formed by millions of years of wave action and tectonic forces, rise stories high along the famed beaches, like Ruby Beach, La Push, and Rialto Beach of Olympic National Park, and the Native land of the Quileute and Hoh people. These features afford photographers incredible image opportunities and truly are a site to behold.
Though not as challenging as the rain forest to isolate one’s subject, with just sea, sand, rock, and sky, the group experienced the advantages of doing just that. Taking the time to compose and limit distractions in their imagery. To simplify. The weather on the coast provided our group the opportunity to exude emotion in their imagery through wave action and powerful, angry seas in foreboding scenes. Shooting subjects with texture and patterns in the sand and rocks were numerous, as were scenes with reflections and symmetry. Timing the waves and the dragging of the shutter were experimented with, for the photographers who were looking for that dreamy, surreal feeling in their imagery. A technique, which in theory sounds simple, but requires practice and patience from the photographer. It was also a wonderful time to shift one’s thinking to monochrome. Looking at a scene and seeing it in black and white, is a skill that many have not used in today’s photography nearly as often as in the past, but is a great skill to have to evoke passion in one’s photography.
For this trip we based ourselves out of the cozy and rustic cabins of Kalaloch Lodge for the entire time we were out on the Olympic Peninsula. A wonderful spot situated on the coast with the sound of the crashing waves lulling you to sleep. Because the park is so remote, there are limited dining options, but we were able to seek out some great little spots to fill our bellies preparing for and returning from our long days and evenings in the field. And like all the Backcountry Journeys trips I have been lucky enough to participate in (4 total now), the meal times were a great occasion to converse and learn about one another, and build that wonderful thing that we call the BCJ Tribe! We did find one little restaurant, situated right on the Quillayute River where it empties into the Pacific Ocean that became a trip favorite. With the local fisherman bringing in their daily catch of Salmon and serving it to us that evening, it truly was as fresh as it can get!
Despite the weather challenges of a record breaking wet and cool May, we did finally get a break in the weather on our final night of the trip. The stars seemed to align for the quintessential PNW sunset. The latest storm was moving out but leaving us with some cotton candy clouds for detail in the sky. The scene that many in the group had envisioned photographing on this trip was materializing, oh so simply and beautifully. As the light turned to a beautiful pink and magenta, Kenton and I took pause and looked around at the group. Smiles, bright eyes, and awe were the theme. A truly magical experience! Simplicity at it’s finest.
This was my first trip where I was an official guide with Backcountry Journeys and I have to say, I was a little nervous. However, I can tell you I established some great relationships with all the wonderful guests and I feel lucky to have experienced such a wonderful place with such wonderful people. I know that is a really great thing, and I look forward to sharing more magical moments, creating lasting memories, and making some pretty pictures with many more folks that are part of the tribe!
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Doug received his first camera, a Kodak Brownie, at the age of six. That’s the day he fell in love with the fact that one could essentially freeze a moment in time with a click of a button. That Brownie met its demise only a few days later, as Doug was running up the backstairs to his house in rural Pennsylvania and he tripped, smashing the camera into a multitude of pieces. Despite being totally devastated, the youngster did not let this incident shatter his zeal for photography! Doug still has the same passion and excitement for capturing moments in time, those special in between times, in his over 20 years as a professional photographer. Doug’s photography is focused on documenting the natural world, people interacting with the natural world, and the magic these moments display. It is with optimism, that his images will inspire the viewer to take action.
Doug’s guiding experience is extensive, with close to 23 years leading trips around the American West, Canada, and down through Belize with youth with varied learning styles and diagnosed learning disabilities. Doug is a firm believer that the Natural World is the greatest educator if we take the time to listen and observe.
To view some of Doug’s work and to see what he’s been up to, follow along on Instagram @dmelphotogrande.
Doug’s guiding experience is extensive, with close to 23 years leading trips around the American West, Canada, and down through Belize with youth with varied learning styles and diagnosed learning disabilities. Doug is a firm believer that the Natural World is the greatest educator if we take the time to listen and observe.
To view some of Doug’s work and to see what he’s been up to, follow along on Instagram @dmelphotogrande.
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
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All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLCs - Copyright 2024
BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.