Rivers to the Sea

                                                                                                                                         By

                                                                                                                                     Phil Maranda

“All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full.” – Ecclesiastes

It’s been 10 years since I first ventured out my door with the single purpose in mind of making photographs of every outdoor subject imaginable. In that decade I’ve been truly blessed, having made images in a multitude of locations around the world. My photographic pursuit has taken me to Denali National Park in Alaska, The Canadian Rockies, South East Asia, The Pacific Northwest, and the Caribbean, to name just a few.
In nearly every location I’ve photographed, there has always been water, from the smallest stream to the giant of them all, the Pacific Ocean, and this element has been

enhancing my image making since the beginning. If there was ever any doubt in a location as to whether or not there would be something to make an image of, I’ve always looked for the closest water source—H2O hasn’t let me down yet.
Botanical Beach is about 400 miles from my home and is one of my favorite locations for making photographs in British Columbia. There is a wild, untamed beauty

attached to the west coast of Vancouver Island, and few places are better suited for witnessing this splendor first-hand than at Botanical Beach. Massive storms and giant rollers from far out in the Pacific have been pounding the windswept shoreline for millennia, helping to create an enchanted symphony of ocean, land, and sky.
A scenic 83-mile drive from Victoria, the world-famous beach lies at the end of the road on Highway 14 at Port Renfrew and marks the conclusion (or beginning, depending where you start) of the Juan de Fuca Marine Trail that stretches 30 miles along the coast to China Beach. Across an inlet, the rugged and lengthy West Coast Trail begins, but it’s at Botanical Beach where young and old can experience a vibrant ocean shoreline environment without having to hike much more than a mile or two.
Photographers who visit Botanical Beach can spend their days roaming the water’s edge making images of a plethora of tiny marine creatures in the tide pools at low tide, hiking the forest trails, or watching the waves while waiting for the rich pinks, oranges, and reds of a Pacific Ocean sunset.
During the months of March and April, gray whales can be spotted offshore while taking a break from their yearly migration from the coast of Mexico to the waters of Alaska. Orcas also frequent the area along with Northern and California sea lions.
The tide pools at Botanical Beach are filled with a seemingly endless variety of life, some looking like they came from another planet with names equally as odd. Purple sea urchins, giant green anemones, and gooseneck barnacles can be found in large quantities, but it is the increasingly rare, fiery red Blood Star that is a real treat to

view. The Blood Star is a member of the sea star family (once called starfish), and its brilliant color makes it a perfect photo subject. Other lucky photo-philes may encounter a dogfish shark or octopus stranded in one of the pools.
Plenty of critters reside along the shoreline as well (cougars included), and it’s not entirely unusual to share the beach with a wandering black bear or two, even in the

winter since island
bears don’t hibernate. On any given day, photographers can find themselves in the company of seagulls, bald eagles, harbor seals, and river otters as well.
During the winter months, the west coast of Vancouver Island is bombarded with numerous, fierce storms that begin far out in the Pacific, pushing rain and high winds towards the coast. The intruding tempests wield massive waves that crash on the beach. If you can handle the dampness, these giant rollers are not to be missed. Not only are there no crowds this time of year, but hearty photographers also get a front-row seat to witness the extreme side of nature.

Across the Straight of Juan de Fuca from Victoria, on the coast of the Olympic Peninsula, lies one of the most visually stunning (in my opinion) coastlines in the United States. The beaches there are truly a scenic photographer’s dream. Sea stacks, carved by wind and waves for thousands of years, stand on the sandy beaches like

sentries guarding the shore, making great foregrounds for images of the open ocean beyond. Pelicans, seagulls, and other sea-going fliers glide on brisk offshore winds. And the sunsets rival that of any on Earth.
My favorite beaches include Ruby, First, Second, and Rialto, and they can be reached approximately 150 miles from Seattle by following Interstate 5 to Olympia and then Hwy 8 and 12 sequentially until you pass the seacoast town of Hoquiam where Hwy 101, The Pacific Coast Scenic Byway begins. There are signs posted along 101 that announce each beach as you approach. From Victoria, a ferry ride to Port Angeles puts you on Hwy 101. Follow the signs towards the west coast of the peninsula.
There is no real best time of the year to make images on the beaches of the Olympic Peninsula. Like at Botanical Beach, you’ll usually find the biggest waves in the

winter months, but the weather can also be at its worst—wet, cloudy, and chilly. Dressing in warm, waterproof clothing is a must if you want to stay out on the beach long enough to make a few good images. In the spring, summer, and fall, the weather is clearer, and at those times of the year, it’s easy to spend all day at the beaches, roaming along the water’s edge, checking out tide pools during low tide, and scoping out just the right spot to make a beautiful sunset photograph.
One of my favorite locations for making sunset images is Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is a resort island barely off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The beaches are crowded most of the time during the days, but close to sunset, the people head for the many outside restaurants and bars for happy hour and great seafood. It’s at this time when photographers can find themselves alone on the beach.

The shoreline in Phuket is a combination of sandy, palm-tree-laden beaches and rocky outcroppings that when included in a scene can make for dynamic foregrounds in sunset images. In the time I spent making images there, the sunsets never let me down. Brilliant shades of yellows, oranges, reds, blues, and purples painted the sky every night of the week in October and allowed me to make a number of decent images.
At home, I’ve made most of my best river, stream, and waterfall images in the mountains and valleys of British Columbia from the Rockies to the Pacific coast. In the eastern part of the province, high in the Canadian Rocky Mountain chain, glaciers melt in the summer sun and are the starting point for several of B.C.’s larger rivers.

The mighty Fraser begins in the Rockies, and at its source, the river is clearly nothing more than a small mountain stream. But as it flows southwest on its 850-mile journey to the Pacific Ocean, dozens of tributaries add to the volume of the river, and by the time it reaches the upper region of the Fraser Canyon, the water has taken on the color of light clay and the river has become intense.
Within the 23-mile section of the Fraser River, which extends from Boston Bar to Yale, the scenery becomes breathtaking, the rapids get wild, and the water roars like thunder through the heart of a magnificent gorge. Between the towns of Lytton and Yale, the river is at its absolute fiercest and drops in elevation 278 feet at over five feet per mile.
The climax of the mighty Fraser happens at Hell’s Gate where the water is forced through the narrowest point on the river, which is a mere 104 feet across. During the

spring runoff, twice the water can scream through Hell’s Gate in one minute than what descends Niagara Falls in the same amount of time. That’s 200 million gallons of water passing through the gorge every 60 seconds, which can reach speeds of up to 20 miles an hour. All this can be witnessed and photographed from various locations along the sides of the cliffs.

Gleaning great-looking images out of a water-based subject takes a little preparation. Always make sure that you do a little research before heading off to whichever location you plan to visit. Knowing the environment that you are getting yourself into is paramount in having a safe, productive trip.
Check into the expected weather conditions for the time during your visit, and when journeying to an ocean shoreline, for God’s sake, always check the tide tables—getting swept out to sea can ruin your whole trip. This can be accomplished in a number of ways from using the local marine forecast which is usually broadcasted on VHF radio to getting a hold of the tables from a dive shop or outdoor adventure store in the area you plan on visiting.
Pack your equipment in as watertight camera bags or cases as possible. Pelican cases are a good choice, and Lowe also makes a fine waterproof bag aptly named the DryZone, which can be completely submerged in water. Once your gear is well protected from the environment, make sure that you allow the same courtesy for yourself. Always take wet-weather clothing on visits to oceans and rivers, lakes and streams, and wear a good pair of hiking boots to provide some grip on slippery rocks.
Fill your camera bag with lenses from wide-angle to telephoto. Always carry a sturdy tripod, especially when visiting the ocean—the high winds there demand stability. Don’t be afraid of filters especially when the use of one can add to or salvage a scene. I use polarizers often to blue up skies, penetrate the surface of the water in tide pools, and generally tone down any harsh light and reflections that can be found near the water. In a lot of cases, warming filters, neutral density filters, and skylights can also come in handy.

To get the most out of making photographs of water, I use Fujichrome Velvia for the rich saturated emulsion this film provides. When using a digital camera, find the most saturated color setting the camera offers—on my camera there are several color modes to choose from, and I usually pick the one that is specific for landscapes and nature. In choosing film, use the sharpest, slowest, finest grain you can find but also bring along a couple of rolls of faster film just in case the weather goes south and the skies grey. With a digital camera, shoot with the lowest ISO rating the camera has available in good weather and increase the speed as the conditions demand.
Spend as much time as possible in the location you decide to photograph, and always look around in every direction for subjects. In many cases there are just as many photo ops behind you as there are in front. And don’t be afraid to get your feet wet; sometimes the middle of a stream may be the best place to plant your tripod. After all, we’re outdoor photographers, and getting wet and dirty can be half the fun.
Of course there are thousands of streams, rivers, lakes, and many oceans to make images at in nearly every part of the world. All you need to do is get out and find the ones that someday you’ll call your favorite places to make water images.
To view more of Phil Maranda’s work, visit his website at http://www.philmarandaphoto.com