Ruby in Summer

Ruby Beach, a gorgeous timeless pocket of space on the Washington coast near the town of Forks, is at its best when seen in the moody mid autumn. Failing that, you can take your chances and hope for an unseasonably grey summer day, as my fiancé and I did while his parents were in the Northwest for the first time in two years. (A little darkness boost in Lightroom doesn’t hurt, either.)

Oregon Coast in Winter

A few weekends ago and on the heels of some major Pacific Northwest snowfall, my fiancé and I rented a car to drive down the coast to Oregon and pick up a car purchase in Portland. On the way back, we stopped for a night in the resort town of Cannon Beach, home to the oft-photographed Haystack Rock. The key to getting a fabulous beach view room and super speedy takeout from The Wayfarer for a pandemic-safe getaway? Do your oceanside vacationing during cold and windy off-peak times!

Rialto Beach

Way way up in the upper left corner of the upper left state is Rialto Beach, where the winds are buffeting and brutal and occasionally carry mountains of seafoam to shore (or even blast clumps of it through the air). Last month I toted a vintage Leica M4 to the shore and when I couldn’t get my hood-less Canon to get a properly exposed photo in the blinding white light, a roll of Porta 400 film was there to save me.

Below: a few film views of Rialto Beach that came through when digital failed me.