I was able to spend about 24 hours along part of the Oregon coast from Sunday to Monday. I arrived at Medford on a non-stop flight from Phoenix and started up I-5 to Sutherlin where I took a state road West to Reedsport, then North along the coast to Florence. After checking into the Holiday Inn Express, I drove the remaining 15 miles north to Heceta Head Lighthouse.



Trying to figure out just where Bruce Roberts and Stephen Sostaric stood while taking their photos of the tower, I backtraked along a trail, but did not find the angle, then climbed over the handrail at the base of the lighthouse and scrambled up the hill to get this shot:


Still not the right angle and NOT recommended to anyone to do this.

After taking photos of the keepers home (now the B&B), I drove south along 101 to the turnout to take some evening shots of the big Fresnel lens in action:



This is NOT a photoshop fake -- but what the sweep of the lens looked like as it swept through a light fog.

Hey John, nice pictures! It sounds like you are having a great time so far and you got gorgeous weather. What a view in your second picture!

PS - I looked at Stephen's photo on Lighthouse Stickers and it looks like he was up higher on the other side of the light when he took the shot.

Have a safe trip!

John, really fantastic photos (Part 1, 2, 3). From the sound of your narration you have enjoyed the trip so far, even though you describe it as quick. Any trip where one sees lighthouses and takes pictures as great as yours is always a great trip.

Bert

Great shots of an extremely beautiful light! Keep them coming!

Bob

John...you sure made the most out of a quick trip. Beautiful shots!

Nice shots John. The second one looks sticker worthy to me!

Great shots! Glad to see pics of lights I've not seen in person yet.

John, some nice pics...reminds me of our trip with the Lighthouse Pixie...this is her favorite light.
Ruthie

Great Shots, John!!

Loved the shot of the light in action.

John is this the angle you were trying to shot?



If so there is a trail that leads up into the woods about 3/4ths of the way to the lighthouse from the keeper's house. If you take the trail, which is heavily used and easy to find, you work your way up the hill and come out above the light, but the light is behind the trees. You then have to edge your way down the hill into the undergrowth and there is a spot where the trees open up and you can get the above shot.

edited to fix the link. Dave

Yep, that's the one, Larry. I went up that trail but didn't go far enough (high enough) and couldn't see a clearing to get the shot.