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Multnomah County

We do not remember days, we remember moments…
Multnomah Falls
by Sandeep Thomas

Lower part of the famous Multnomah Falls of Columbia river gorge, Oregon. Took this shot last summer when we visited the falls. This has to be arguably the most famous of all Oregon’s waterfalls as it took us two visits to get a lean photograph. The crowd here during the day time is unbelievable, we had to park a mile away and walk up to it. The second time we returned early in the morning just after sunrise and had the place all to ourselves and even managed to see some storks at the bottom pool.

On another note, due to my wife’s incredible networking skills, I will be having my images showcased in a gallery from the 7th of this month. The name of the Galley is A-Frame Hollywood and it’s located on Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood. If you are in the locality please do drop in and say hi. Thanks again for visiting, have a great Wednesday..

It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere…
Fairy Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Agnes Repplier.

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One more shot of the beautiful fairy falls. For this shot I got in real close and used a longer focal length. I am a big admirer of this particular type of falls as they come our really pretty in photographs and this one is one of my favorites. I wanted a shot emphasizing the details of the moss on the ricks and the flowing water.

Hope everyone likes it, Happy Tuesday!!

All wealth is the product of labor…
Upper Latourell Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • John Locke.

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Upper Latourell falls trail is a pretty easy 2 miles hike in the Columbia River Gorge which take you to two of the most stunning waterfalls I have ever seen. I spend a quite a bit of time to get a clear shot of the waterfall from this angle as there were many people enjoying this stunning waterfall. When I started out in landscape photography, I would grow completely impatient when people walked into the shot. But now I have learned to enjoy spending my time there witnessing the moment and do a bit of people watching.

Lighting for this was particularly challenging as sun was directly above use and there were super bright spots created by the sunlight filtering through tree foliage. I got away from it by shooting multiple images and creating a mini composite image as time was a bit limited.

God sleeps in the minerals, awakens in plants, walks in animals, and thinks in man...
Fairy Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Arthur Young.

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Another shot from the beautiful fairy falls inside the Wahkeena canyon. The hike towards the falls is pretty steep in parts and it will be a little testing if you haven’t hiked in a while. I don’t know who thought of this but there is a beautiful wooden bench just to sit down and enjoy the falls and its brilliant. We spent an hour here relaxing and enjoying near freezing water spray on the hot summer day.

This was my absolute favorite waterfall from our Oregon trip. Hope you all enjoy the picture as much as we enjoyed these falls. Thanks for visiting.

I love the sounds and the power of pounding water, whether it is the waves or a waterfall…
Elowah Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Mike May.

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Elowah Falls, also called McCord Creek Falls, is a 213-foot waterfall on the Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah County, Oregon. The waterfall is formed as McCord Creek is forced into a narrow channel by sheer cliffs and shoots at high velocity into a natural amphitheater of layered basalt. Lichens and mosses are very common, covering up to eighty percent of the ground surface under and around the vascular plants (source: Wikipedia).

This was another waterfall which I had on my list when we visited Oregon the first time. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, we were not able to make the trip but this time we marked it as a must have and it was totally worth it. Plus we also got the falls all to ourselves as this is not as popular a hike as the waterfalls closer to Portland.

Wahclella Waterfall, Oregon
Wahclella Falls
by Bonnie Moreland

waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge

Where hast thou wandered, gentle gale, to find the perfumes thou dost bring?
Portland Rose Garden
by Sandeep Thomas
  • William C. Bryant.

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One of the surprise locations we chanced upon during our Oregon summer road trip was the Portland Rose Garden. We reached about an hour after sunrise and since the sunrise was at 5 am we had a lot of time to browse the garden before another admirer walked in. Moreover, the early morning light was lighting the flowers perfectly.

I had a great time walking around with my macro lens and the Nikon D500, trying out interesting angles to frame the shot. Hope Y'all like this one.

Portland Japanese Garden
Garden Bridge revisited
by Daniel Cheong

Very early morning (just before sunrise) at the Portland Japanese Garden. A lovely place indeed!

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Latourelle Falls, Oregon, in autumn.
Latourell Falls
by Bonnie Moreland

The falls plunge 224 feet over a massive wall of columnar basalt - some of the best formations in the Pacific Northwest - before cascading hastily towards the Columbia River. This waterfall is usually most recognized for the large patch of bright yellow lichen adorning the cliff face to the right of the falls, and this characteristic has led many famous photographers to give this location their treatment. The falls were named for Joseph Latourell, a well known settler of the area. It isn't known exactly when the falls were officially named. In 1887 Joseph Latourell was named postmaster of the Rooster Rock Post Office, one of the first in the area. Apparently the pronunciation of this waterfall is closer to the word lateral, then the fancy french way I was attempting.

In fair weather prepare for foul...
Portland Rose Garden
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Thomas Fuller.

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A throwback shot from an amazing morning we spent at the Portland International Rose garden at Washington Park last summer. One of the perks of working for my employer is the week long shut downs that we get twice a year. Even though they are allotted during the peak holiday season usually, it’s a welcome break from the corporate hot pot.

Last year we planned a trip to one of our favorite state in west coast, Oregon. We spent quite a while exploring some of the amazing hiking trails and waterfalls that Oregon is famous for. But one of the best day of the trip was the day we spend exploring Washington park after our sunrise shot got washed out due to cloudy skies.

Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time…
Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time…
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Voltaire.

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Fairy Falls is a tiny little fall that’s tucked inside the beautiful Wahkeena canyon. And the Wahkeena canyon is one of the hundreds of small canyons created by streams that flow into the massive Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. Now usually these canyons will have a massive waterfall right on their entrance and these waterfalls are usually the more famous than the small ones inside. But there was a reason why my wife and I did the hike that day to the little fairy falls. This fall is a perfect example of a fan-shaped waterfall and its setting is inside the most vibrant green foliage you have ever seen.

When we got to the falls what stood out was how tiny it actually is and I got the image I always pictured of the stunning Fairy Falls. While hiking back from the falls I started to notice the beauty of this little canyon. There was this spot where the trail crossed the Wahkeen creek and the moss covered rocks and trees provided a stunning contrast to the brilliant greens of the foliage. I was not as skilled with the filters back then so the highlights are a bit blown but overall this is one my favorite images from our trip.

Elowah Falls, Oregon
Wahclella Falls
by Yi Jiang

Elowah Falls was a very nice 289ft waterfall situated in John B. Yeon State Park towards the eastern end of what we perceived to be the "waterfalls area" along the historical highway detour of the Columbia River Gorge.

I had to live in the desert before I could understand the full value of grass in a green ditch…
Latourell Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Ella Maillart.

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Latourell Falls located in Columbia River Gorge was one of the falls in my list that I missed during our Last trip to Portland. So I was determined to include that this time and take the relatively easy 3-mile hike to the upper falls. The hike was not very crowded and was pretty shade so we had a good time doing this hike at a brisk pace.

At 249ft straight drop, this is one massive waterfall with lots of spray and truly one of the best things to do when its 90 degrees outside.

The way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost…
Multnomah Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Gilbert K. Chesterton.

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Multnomah Falls, at about 627 ft in elevation this is one of the premier attraction of the Columbia River Gorge and attracts quite a number of visitors. It’s considered by many as the second tallest year round waterfall in the US. We passed alongside the falls on our fourth day but the parking area was packed with cars, so we decided to get back here on the fifth day after shooting sunrise at the Trillium Lake.

We reached here around 6:30 am and there was nobody around, so we took our time taking pics and enjoying a stroll to small bridge across the falls. It’s not the most photogenic of the falls in Columbia River Gorge but its stunning just to see the sheer size of this stunning waterfall.

When that shutter clicks, anything else that can be done afterward is not worth consideration...
Vista House
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Edward Steichen.

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Vista house on the shores of the Columbia River Gorge. This has to be one of the most photographed buildings in the west coast as this is a prominent feature in all of the iconic Columbia River gorge shots taken from women’s forum park. We were here for a sunset shot, my wife and I had a good spot overlooking the Columbia River towards Portland when the last light of the day hit us lighting up the vista house in beautiful golden light.

This only lasted for a few minutes and I am glad I had the presence of mind to snap away. I later tried to get a more symmetric location of the house but the light had simply gone away. I am glad I took this one while I had the chance.

Thanks for visiting. Have a nice day..

Portland Japanese Gardens, Oregon
Portland Japanese Gardens
by Bonnie Moreland

Fall at the Japanese gardens Japanese maple turning colors

Maybe this world is another planet's hell…
Vista House & Crown Point
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Aldous Huxley.

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No other place screams Oregon more than the view of the Columbia River Gorge from the Women's Forum Park. This probably is the quintessential photo that comes up when you search for Oregon or Portland. So when we made our first trip to Portland, we planned our first sunset here. The park didn’t disappoint. The view from here is just outstanding. It truly showcases the vastness of the Columbia River and the gorge with the vista house to use as a reference for scale. Plus, the view is pointing east, so during sunset, the entire scene is bathed in warm golden light from the setting sun.

While the Pacific Northwest is known for its cloudy skies and rain, Summer tends to be clear and hot. So we were not lucky to get any dramatic skies, which I am told is a fall specialty. That being said, if you are visiting the Portland area, the women's forum park is a must-visit. You can't go wrong here with a classic landscape shot.

Upper Horsetail Falls
Ponytail Falls, Oregon
by Daniel Cheong

Also known as Ponytail Falls, in the Columbia river gorge, Oregon.

Many thanks to Gary Randall for taking me there.

My website: www.danielcheongphotography.com

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The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see…
Upper Multnomah Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Gilbert K. Chesterton.

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Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall in Oregon at 620ft and has an often-disputed claim as the 2nd tallest year-round waterfall in the United States. I am not sure about the height of the falls, but it is, without a doubt, one of the most recognized waterfalls. Even the folks who haven’t heard about the falls instantly recognize the shape, two-tiered structure, and the viewing bridge across the falls. I was somewhat surprised by the tiny viewing area for such a famous waterfall and soon realized that the available compositions are limited.

After taking the customary shot at the base of the falls, we hiked up to the viewing bridge, and I managed to make an image that I have not seen before. This composition is of the upper part of the Multnomah Falls from the viewing bridge. I like this composition a lot and felt this was a fresh look at this majestic waterfall without the elements that make it familiar.

During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks…
Wahkeena Falls
by Sandeep Thomas
  • John James Audubon.

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The first time we visited Oregon’s beautiful Columbia River Gorge we were spellbound by its beauty and by the sheer number of waterfalls. We went on so many hikes the week we were there that we got our 10k steps in without any effort. This photo is taken at the stunning Wahkeena falls. This hike started out as just a trip to Fairy falls but we ran into this beautiful fall on the way. Later I learned that this fall is tough to photograph and while I took 3 – 4 images I didn’t get a composition that I liked. So, I didn’t post the image at the time. Recently I was going over some of my old images as part cleaning up my storage when saw this image. I decided to process the photos and see if I could get some interesting images.

Processing wise I boosted the contrast a bit and cropped out some of the bottom parts that were too distracting. I wish I had spent some time here looking for some more interesting compositions.

Wahclella Waterfall, Oregon
Wahclella Falls
by Bonnie Moreland

waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower…
Vista House & Crown Point
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Hans Christian Andersen.

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The third day of our trip was one of the most productive days, we actually got to see sunrise, then south silver falls, upper butte falls and even went on a wild goose chase trying to find Abiqua falls. We didn’t had any luck finding Abiqua falls so we decided to tackle it next time and headed for women’s forum park along the Columbia river gorge. I really wanted to see the sunset here, and my wife had no idea about this place and was very confused why we were going to women’s forum park.

I have seen about a million pictures of this place an view from here but let e tell you when you actually are at the park and when the sun is lighting up the basalt cliffs of the gorge its surreal. I wanted to take a telephoto panorama of this place just like the one I had taken of Los Angeles basin and here it is a stitched panorama shot of almost 40 shots.

Thank you everyone for all the encouragement on my last picture, it’s always awesome to get good feedback when one does something right. Hope everyone likes it.

Ponytail Falls, Oregon
Ponytail Falls, Oregon
by Bonnie Moreland

AKA Upper Horsetail Falls

Lu San Chinese Gardens, Portland, Oregon
Lu San Chinese Gardens
by Bonnie Moreland

Fall colors and leaves changing colors

The Lu San Chines Garden is a walled Chinese garden enclosing a full city block, roughly 40,000 square feet (4,000 m2) in the Chinatown area of the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon. The garden is influenced by many of the famous classical gardens in Suzhou.

In 1988 Suzhou, China and Portland became sister cities. The garden was designed by Kuang Zhen and built by 65 artisans from Suzhou on land donated by NW Natural on a 99-year lease; groundbreaking occurred in July 1999, and construction was completed 14 months later at a cost of about $12.8 million. 500 tons of rock, including Chinese scholar's rocks from Lake Tai (Taihu stone), were brought from China and used in the garden.

Oneonta Hiking Trail, Oregon
Oneonta Hiking Trail, Oregon
by Bonnie Moreland

I am saddened to discover this tunnel was destroyed in the Eagle Creek fire in Sept. 2017. I am glad I got to see it before the damage.

Multnomah Falls, Oregon
Multnomah Falls
by Yi Jiang

Multnomah Falls is a waterfall on the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, located east of Troutdale, between Corbett and Dodson, along the Historic Columbia River Highway

Rough diamonds may sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles…
Vista House & Crown Point
by Sandeep Thomas
  • Thomas Browne.

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Another old shot from our trip toe the wonderful state of Oregon. This spot from the women’s forum park provides an iconic view of the beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Its almost impossible not to go for a wide-angle lens here. And that’s exactly what I did, but I noticed that there were a lot of finer details in the scene even on a day when we had pretty flat light at sunset without much drama in the sky.

So, I attempted a pano stitch as it was getting darker by the minute. Unfortunately, couple of pics from the pano turned out to have some vibration in them teaching me the valuable lesson to always check for sharpness and focus. But this one was pretty decent with the vista house bathed in absolutely gorgeous golden light along with the cliffside.

Horsetail Falls, Oregon,  in autumn
Horsetail Falls
by Bonnie Moreland

One of several falls along the Columbia River Gorge. After seeing this one once, it will stick in your mind forever. It is pretty much the epitome of the Horsetail form. There are views from 180 degrees around the falls, and some glimpses over the top from Horsetail Falls Trail #438 which leads to Ponytail Falls, its upper counterpart. The falls are commonly said to stand 176 feet tall, but some sources placed its height at 208 feet.

Latourell Falls, Oregon
Latourell Falls
by Yi Jiang

Latourell Falls is a waterfall along the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon, within Guy W. Talbot State Park.

Fairy Falls
Fairy Falls
by Michael

Althoug it's not very large it was my favourite waterfall to shoot in the Columbia River Gorge. It was waterfall Number three at that day, number six in the two days we were there and it was a great finish for our time there.

Even the weather played nice that day. Overcast and a little rain, perfect for shooting waterfalls. I have to return there one day, there's still so many more waterfalls to shoot.

Columbia River Gorge, Oregon, in autumn.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
by Bonnie Moreland

A picture perfect autumn day here in Oregon. All the trees are at their peak of color, the sky was clear and blue, and the river was calm. That is I-84 in the photo which travels from Portland, Oregon to Echo, Utah. The I-84 runs adjacent to the Columbia River for over 80 miles. I am shooting from Crown Point which overlooks the river with great views to the east and west.

Bridal Veil Waterfall, Oregon
Bridal Vail Falls
by Bonnie Moreland

Along the Columbia River Gorge

Multnomah Falls, Oregon, in the autumn.
Multnomah Falls
by Bonnie Moreland

We are at the peak of color change here in Oregon. Got to Multnomah Falls at sunrise. There was a light mist but the leaves where glowing. My camera isn't quite enough to encompass the full falls so I stitched together the top and the bottom of the images I took.

The waterfall is accessible from the Historic Columbia River Highway and Interstate 84. Spanning two tiers on basalt cliffs, it is the tallest waterfall in the state of Oregon at 620 ft (189 m) in height.

The falls were noted in the journals of explorers William Clark and Meriwether Lewis during their expedition through the Columbia River Gorge in 1805.

Bridal Veil Falls Hiking Trail, Oregon
Bridal Vail Creek
by Bonnie Moreland

Bridal Veil Creek along the trail

Benson State Recreation area, Oregon
Benson State Recreation area, Oregon
by Bonnie Moreland

Simon Benson was a lumber magnate, philanthropist, and one of the principal promoters of the Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway. Located one mile west of Multnomah Falls on I-84 at milepost 30 , picnickers love this park; there's even a disc golf course and a reservable shelter for groups.

Try your luck catching some of the thousands of rainbow trout stocked each month into the lake between March and October. This is a non-motorboat lake, (no boat launch) so it's perfect for rowboats and swimmers.

When the trees start changing color in the fall you can get some great reflection shots. The Columbia River is just across the highway, or further to the left of this image.

Thanks to all Phoide contributors to Multnomah County!
Most notably Sandeep Thomas, Bonnie Moreland and MURALI NARAYANAN.