Where the Wind Meets the Wild – A Morning Descent into Fury
Before dawn, I scrambled down a cliffside on the Oregon Coast, guided only by crashing waves and instinct. What I found was raw, untamed ocean power beneath a glowing sky.
In the dark, before the horizon softened into color, I stood at the edge of a cliff on the Oregon Coast with nothing but the roar of waves below. I had traced the trailhead the day before, but nothing quite prepares you for descending steep terrain by headlamp, knowing only by sound how close the sea is.
Each crashing wave echoed upward — deafening and relentless. There’s a primal awe that comes with hearing the Pacific in a mood like that. My boots slipped on loose gravel as I lowered myself toward a jagged shore, adrenaline overriding hesitation.
When the first blush of light painted the sea stacks, I froze. I had never seen waves this size in person. They rose and collapsed in slow, thunderous rhythm — nature’s violence and beauty in equal measure. The cliffs lit up with warm gold, casting long shadows across the frothing whitewater below.
This image, *Where the Wind Meets the Wild*, is one of my favorite captures from that morning. It’s not just about light or composition — it’s about reverence. For danger, for discovery, and for the places that make you feel small in the best possible way.
This morning reminded me why I chase light and solitude in wild places. Sometimes the hardest descents bring the most unforgettable moments. Where the Wind Meets the Wild is available as a fine art print in multiple sizes.
Location & Gear
**📍 Location:** Northern Oregon Coast
**🧭 Trail & Access:** Unmarked spur trail (~0.5 miles, steep and loose — not recommended when wet)
**🎒 Gear Used:**
- Canon R5
- 15–35mm f/2.8
- Neutral Density Filter
- Really Right Stuff tripod with spiked feet for rocky terrain