Minus Tide: Bandon Beach, Oregon

Posted on Saturday, Jun 2, 2012

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Minus tides are extremely low tides, tides that expose areas which are normally submerged even during a normal low tide. Surfers and tide poolers watch for minus tides; photographers should too.

This minus tide found us on Bandon Beach in the early morning of what would be a beautiful day. (Regular readers may recall that that I’ve written about Bandon Beach several times before. The myriad of sea stacks offshore make this my favorite beach on the Oregon coast.) The light fog that moved onshore during the night had not yet burned off, imparting a soft ethereal look to the landscape. And this minus tide occurred early enough in the morning that the beach was largely deserted and wiped free of tracks by the extreme high tide that always accompanies a minus tide.

Minus tides coincide with a full moon or a new moon so if you would like to plan a trip to your favorite beach during a minus tide consult a lunar calendar and then the appropriate tide table to determine when you need to arrive. I would suggest arriving early—as the tide is going out—to maximize the time available for exploration. Finally, remember that not all minus tides occur during daylight hours.

Additional images:
Sea Stacks in the Fog
Sculptures in Stone
Covered in Kelp
Incoming Tide

[Click on the featured image or any of the links above to view the five-image gallery.]

©2012 Timothy Linn. All Rights Reserved.

Fourth of July: Bandon Beach, Oregon

Posted on Saturday, Apr 9, 2011

Sunday, July 4, 2010

The first time we spent the Fourth of July on Bandon Beach it was quite a spectacle. Thousands of people crowded the beach on either side of the mouth of the Coquille River. Driftwood was used to build windbreaks and bonfires. By the time it was dark, and despite signs that prohibited it, there were fires up and down the beach. Kids were shooting off their fireworks. It was a crazy fun atmosphere. The official fireworks show took place over the ocean which allowed us to lie in the cabover of our camper and enjoy it out of the gale force wind that was coming in off the ocean.

This visit, six years later, was different. The fireworks show had been moved inland. No longer were the fireworks set off from the beach. Now they were set off from near the Bandon marina in an effort, we were told, to attract more business to Old Town Bandon. I’m sure it made those businesses more money but the beach experience, though undoubtedly more legal, was not nearly as much fun.

Fires and fireworks or not, Bandon Beach is always photo worthy. This image was captured just as it was beginning to get dark enough to enjoy the evening’s pyrotechnics—in the opposite direction.

[Click on the image to view larger.]

©2011 Timothy Linn. All Rights Reserved.

Bandon Beach, Oregon

Posted on Saturday, Nov 13, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

Bandon Beach is considered by some to be the most scenic beach on the West Coast. The many onshore and offshore sea stacks attract shutterbugs from all over the country. It is definitely my favorite Oregon beach. Sunny or foggy – it doesn’t matter – the beach begs to be photographed; and all the more so when you’re accompanied by an 8 year old flying boy!

Click on a thumbnail to view the entire image. To view additional images of Bandon, its beach, and the amazing flying boy, follow this link.

©2010 Timothy Linn. All Rights Reserved.