Itching to shoot a coastal storm

12/12/2008 07:19:23 PM · #1

Dang. I wanna get out to Shore Acres State Park this weekend. Sounds like it's going to be absolutely dreadful...

SEAS OF 23 TO 26 FT WILL ARRIVE ALONG THE NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COAST AND THE SOUTH WASHINGTON COAST THIS EVENING AND CONTINUE THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING. IN ADDITION... THE COMBINATION OF LARGE WAVES IMPACTING THE COAST... STRONG ONSHORE FLOW... AND A VERY HIGH TIDE MIDDAY SATURDAY WILL PRODUCE THE THREAT OF MINOR TIDAL OVERFLOW.

SOUTH WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG PACIFIC COLD FRONT AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM HAVE BROUGHT 30 TO 40 MPH SUSTAINED WINDS WITH GUSTS TO 67 MPH ALONG THE BEACHES AND COASTAL HEADLANDS ON THE SOUTH WASHINGTON AND NORTH AND CENTRAL OREGON COASTS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NW AT 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 70 MPH LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUE MUCH OF THIS EVENING BEFORE SLOWLY EASING LATE TONIGHT. WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY DECREASE EARLY SATURDAY.

Could be some absolutely awesome waves. I had such a blast shooting this picture in Astoria in 40 MPH winds with my tripod anchored with a 10 lb bag of sand as a counterweight.

Here's a great YouTube of what the waves can get like at Sea Acres...
Big Waves

The problem is I'm on call. D'oh!

Message edited by author 2008-12-12 19:19:36.

dainmcgowan

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/12/2008 07:23:42 PM · #2

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

i wouldn't mind some dramatic weather, but London is going to have 2 days of heavy drizzle!!!
i'm not on call, but probably not going to get any shots either!

mpeters

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

12/12/2008 07:50:34 PM · #3

I think we will recieve some of this action over Sat/Sun. Looks like a good time. Don't think we are forecast to get the wind though...

Call in sick. :)

//ca.youtube.com/watch?v=37SCR9kDm60

Message edited by author 2008-12-12 20:15:57.

Scholten

Nikon D700

12/12/2008 07:51:33 PM · #4

The winds are starting to kick up a little but the biggest gust (at Cape Blanco) was around noon registering almost 40 MPH. (only a mild breeze for us)

//www.met.utah.edu/cgi-bin/droman/meso_base.cgi?stn=K92S

So far we only have 9 foot waves/swells out at the buoy.

//www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46015

Iâ��m not sure Iâ��m ready for anything like we had in January yet though, when we had some 40 footers slam into the jetty. That was a brutal storm. Worst Iâ��ve seen in 20 years.

//news.webshots.com/photo/2147542390051354762GNzBBx

Message edited by author 2008-12-12 19:54:12.

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

12/12/2008 08:03:16 PM · #5

Ooh a local! Hey Randall. Do you have any inside information about shooting Sea Acres? Are the waves best at high tide? Low tide? Somewhere in between? Do you think the conditions are right for monster waves this weekend?

Scholten

Nikon D700

12/12/2008 08:16:10 PM · #6

Iâ��m on the southern Oregon coast, an hour south of SHORE Acres (Coos Bay). High tides are best for big waves, but a number of variables need to be aligned including wave direction and intervals. I watch for high surf advisories to be issued and go from there. There doesnâ��t seem to be any foolproof "recipe".

12/12/2008 08:19:51 PM · #7

Originally posted by Scholten:

Thanks. I don't know why I keep thinking Sea Acres instead of Shore Acres. OK, I'll keep my eye out. I hate the idea of making the 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) to be met with disappointment. There is a high surf advisory tomorrow, so that's a start.

12/13/2008 02:19:03 AM · #8

Definitely looks promising for high surf. The buoy to the north (46229) was reading 23.9 foot swells last hour. The buoy to the south (46015) is reading 18.4 foot swells. I'm not positive which direction would be best, but they are coming from the NW or WNW. I may have found a webcam that can give me an idea if it's gonna be worth the drive tomorrow. That and I'll need to see if there is snow in the hills on the way out.

Message edited by author 2008-12-13 02:25:04.

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/13/2008 08:42:50 AM · #9

Wow, that video makes my Lake Ontario waves look puny!

How do you "weatherproof" your camera/lens? I got a little wet getting the shots below, and would like to shoot weathery stuff with less worry about my gear.

Puny Lake Ontario waves:

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/13/2008 09:54:18 AM · #10

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

A real photographer would drive to any distance to get a split second shot. I don't ever want to hear you say something like this again.

Message edited by author 2008-12-13 09:55:42.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

12/13/2008 10:08:14 AM · #11

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Thanks. I don't know why I keep thinking Sea Acres instead of Shore Acres. OK, I'll keep my eye out. I hate the idea of making the 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) to be met with disappointment. There is a high surf advisory tomorrow, so that's a start.

A real photographer would drive to any distance to get a split second shot. I don't ever want to hear you say something like this again.

I second that sentiment. I once drove nearly 1500 miles round trip on a weekend, and hiked 6 miles into the mountains from a trailhead, to shoot the moon in a specific phase at a specific location. Came back with two images shot (large format work).

Just get in the car and drive, Doc :-)

R.

Message edited by author 2008-12-13 10:08:37.

12/13/2008 10:10:09 AM · #12

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Thanks. I don't know why I keep thinking Sea Acres instead of Shore Acres. OK, I'll keep my eye out. I hate the idea of making the 2 1/2 hour drive (one way) to be met with disappointment. There is a high surf advisory tomorrow, so that's a start.

A real photographer would drive to any distance to get a split second shot. I don't ever want to hear you say something like this again.

I second that sentiment. I once drove nearly 1500 miles round trip on a weekend, and hiked 6 miles into the mountains from a trailhead, to shoot the moon in a specific phase at a specific location. Came back with two images shot (large format work).

Just get in the car and drive, Doc :-)

R.

That's what I'm talking about!!!!!!! Someone give Robert here an OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD.

12/13/2008 11:27:33 AM · #13

:( Well, first we have to recall that I'm on call so can't leave the city unless I can find someone to cover. I noticed this AM there is also snow on the valley floor (not much), but I'm not sure what that means for the hills between here and the coast. I'll have to investigate that.

Swells were up to 26-27 feet at the north buoy. The webcam isn't helpful because it's of Coos Bay which looks calm and flat.

12/13/2008 11:29:08 AM · #14

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Do you smell that? Smells kinda like a farm but I can't place it... Does anyone else smell that????

12/13/2008 11:34:26 AM · #15

Originally posted by Dirt_Diver:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
:( Well, first we have to recall that I'm on call so can't leave the city unless I can find someone to cover. I noticed this AM there is also snow on the valley floor (not much), but I'm not sure what that means for the hills between here and the coast. I'll have to investigate that.

Swells were up to 26-27 feet at the north buoy. The webcam isn't helpful because it's of Coos Bay which looks calm and flat.

Do you smell that? Smells kinda like a farm but I can't place it... Does anyone else smell that????

Man, you are twisting the knife! It hurts! It hurts! ;) I am not averse to the road trip to shoot. The number one shot in my profile was about six hours of driving for twenty minutes of shooting. :) I gots me street cred!

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/13/2008 11:43:19 AM · #16

There will be other storms on other days. Might be a good thing you can't make it today anyway. God might be keeping you safe today...

Good luck doc, Now I must go make my cookies, :)

Yeah that's right I bake, hahaha

Message edited by author 2008-12-13 11:43:35.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

12/13/2008 12:02:37 PM · #17

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

I gots me street cred!

If you have to tell people you've got street cred, you ain't got street cred. :)

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

12/13/2008 12:11:12 PM · #18

Originally posted by vxpra:

Originally posted by DrAchoo:
I gots me street cred!

If you have to tell people you've got street cred, you ain't got street cred. :)

haha. Touche.

boyd2000

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/13/2008 12:50:05 PM · #19

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

How do you "weatherproof" your camera/lens? I got a little wet getting the shots below, and would like to shoot weathery stuff with less worry about my gear.

This may not be enough for what you're planning, but someone told me about these Rainsleeves at Ritz Camera and I got a few of them before our Pacific Northwest trip last summer. They're 2 SLR zoom sleeves for $6 and good to keep in the camera bag for unexpected rain. You may want something more for crashing waves and it will cost a lot more, but how much is your equipment worth?

12/13/2008 12:54:03 PM · #20

Ya, a crashing wave is going to be perhaps too much for most waterproofing. Personally I put my camera in a gallon ziplock bag, tear a small hole in the bottom, stretch my lens through the hole until it just barely emerges, and tape the bag to the edge of the lens. This won't work well if your lens rotates to focus. If I need the tripod I just screw the plate through the bag. It's always worked well for rain and costs next to nothing.

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/13/2008 12:56:15 PM · #21

Originally posted by boyd2000:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:
How do you "weatherproof" your camera/lens? I got a little wet getting the shots below, and would like to shoot weathery stuff with less worry about my gear.

This may not be enough for what you're planning, but someone told me about these Rainsleeves at Ritz Camera and I got a few of them before our Pacific Northwest trip last summer. They're 2 SLR zoom sleeves for $6 and good to keep in the camera bag for unexpected rain. You may want something more for crashing waves and it will cost a lot more, but how much is your equipment worth?

I've seen these very beasts at the local shop. I guess it's worth putting one in my bag to give it a try. I also got water spray on the front of my lens (filter), even with the big hood on my 100-400. But that goes with the territory I suppose.

Scholten

Nikon D700

Nikon AF Nikkor 20mm f/2.8D

12/13/2008 01:19:46 PM · #22

I should use the sleeves on my D700. My D200 only lasted for two years in the driving rain, biting sand, and sideways sea spray. There were times when I was shooting through the driverâ��s window, and the inside of the passenger window got wet. Pacific Northwest coastal storms are hard on cameras, among other things like cars and eyes.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

12/13/2008 01:26:48 PM · #23

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Did you get that from me? I been telling people to do that from day one :-) Works like a charm. The newer 2-gallon baggies even let you get your hands inside easily if needed. Freezer baggies are better than regular baggies...

R.

Message edited by author 2008-12-13 15:35:06.

Strikeslip

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

12/13/2008 01:32:53 PM · #24

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

... The newer 2-gallon baggies even let you get your nads inside easily if needed....

Message edited by author 2008-12-13 13:33:16.