I just celebrated my birthday this last week and got taken to the coast to my favorite little hotel right on the ocean in Depoe Bay, OR. Raja and Zoe were not amused. We abandoned them to the cat sitter. We usually go for whale watching. This time the weather was stormy and tides were very high. The whales were nowhere to be seen. But some rather wild waves were. I have always wanted to go storm watching at the coast. This time, I got my wish. This photo was taken from the Whale Watching Center right next to our hotel. We usually go there to find out the whale count and find out what other things have been seen. The waves were topping the sea wall, even without high tide, which I have never seen happen before. I thought black and white would be good for these ocean scenes, so I used the Carbon app. And with this photo, I used the Ibiza filter with grain number 3.
This is the original. Not much difference between black and white and color in these pics.
We got this great picture of a seagull from the breakfast room. He was just sitting there in the rain watching us. Probably hoping for a handout. I used the Carbon New York filter with a light leak.
Here he is without the filter.
The first day we took a drive into Newport and wandered around the docks. Lots of crabbing ships. And the attendant seals. I got this shot of a boat, but could only hear the seals, barking very loudly. I used The Carbon Riverside filter with grunge grain 2. We had some great fish tacos at a restaurant right by the docks. Fresh fish, of course. This was the one calm day we had. The storm moved in before we got back to the hotel, though;and then the fun began.
Here is the original photo.
All night it stormed, and I went down to the breakfast room to watch the wave action at midnight at high tide. Wow! Pics turned out horrible, so I’m not posting one of those. Here is a picture I took in daylight on the way out of town of the wild wave action. The rain had pretty much ceased by then. The warning signs were there for a reason. I used Carbon with Los Angeles filter with grain 5. The coast Guard had already warned people not to go down to the beaches because of the waves. We watched for quite some time.
This is the original of the photo.
I got some great shots of water spouting along the wall in Depoe Bay. There are cracks in the rocks and water shoots up in some incredible spray displays. We had seen some shoot half way across the street before we got there. I got this shot and used Carbon Ibiza filter with grain 3.
And this is the original of this picture.
Unfortunately, one pour soul did not heed warnings and climbed over the wall to take a closer look at the blow hole a little after we passed here. He got swept off the rocks and into the ocean. This was so sad to hear after having had such a wonderful couple of days at one of my favorite spots. My thoughts are with him.
Now we are back home safe and sound. Zoe and Raja have not let us hear the end of our having been gone. Very nudgy, as usual.
(Now, just so you know, this will likely be my last post until March….Bar Mitzvahs and Wedding are front and center till then.)
Playing In Catnip 
Those photos are great! That effect really suits the storminess too.
It is sad that someone got washed out to sea.
I live very near the coast and we get a lot of storms coming in from the Atlantic. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of people who ignore the warnings and go onto the rocks or waters edge and end up in difficulties. Then the lifeboats have to go out in dangerous conditions putting the crew in peril.
Belated Happy Birthday wishes to you.
Memories of Eric and Flynn
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Thank you. And stormy it was, but wonderful to watch as long as you weren’t too close. It Really is sad about that man. We too hear about these incidents occasionally. You can’t be too careful. Thank You for the Birthday Wishes. This getaway was the perfect treat.
Yael
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Love the photos, especially the black and white!
Purrs xx
Athena and Marie
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Thanks. Bw just seemed like the right thing to use in stormy weather.
Yael
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Your pictures are always fabulous even before the art effects!
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Thank you. I think my favorite is the seagull.
Yael
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That is sad. I am glad you had a nice birthday though. Great photos.
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I know. It was sad. But despite that, I had a great birthday and trip to the coast.
Yael
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Happy Belated Birthday! What inneresting fotos!
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Thank you. It was a couple of interesting days.
Yael
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WOW! Amazing shots of the storm and waves…….hope you enjoyed your birthday trip!
Hugs, Teddy and Mom Pam
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Thank you. It was all pretty awesome. One of my favorite trips. Every bit as much fun as whale watching.
Yael
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Oooh the black and white shots definitely capture the mood and power of the event. I think the seagull is the shot we most like, but they are all very nice. Happy and belated birthday wishes to you.
Toodle pips and purrs
Erin
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Thank you. BW seemed like just the right thing to use for a grey, stormy day.
Yae
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Amazing pictures of the storm ! Purrs
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Thank you. The storm was pretty awesome.
Yael
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Such wonderful photos, Yael. I can understand why that’s one of your favorite places to visit.
That’s tragic about the person being swept out to sea. It’s especially sad since it could have been avoided. 😦
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Thank you. That truly is one of our favorite places to go. We go there 2-3 times a year.
Yael
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Miss Yael, I hope you had a marvelous birthday on the ORE-gon coast & Happy Belated Birthday wishes to you! Mom & Dad luv Depot Bay & Newport & love to storm watch. They try to get away there a couple times each year. They seldom spot big sea beasties. Mom is asking if you stayed at the Channel House by chance, ’cause the balcony looks like one from there. I hope one of these times I’ll get to visit the coast. Maybe Raja, Zoe & I will just have to take our own trip together! Hugs!
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Thank you. We had a great time there. And, Yes, That is Channel House. We were looking out from the breakfast room. I Love the location. You can see so much. And there isn’t a bad room there. I’ll bet Zoe and Raja would like to take a trip with you to go there.
Yael
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LOVE the photos! Sensational and what you do with them spectacular.
Made me homesick for living in Sooke. There is nothing like these super storms showing us the power of nature.
Ciao
Barb
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Thank you. That storm really was something. The waves were spectacular. Would live to do again.
Yael
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First….Happy Birthday! We love Oregon and the beautiful scenes from the Pacific Highway. Nature is so wild and free…she scares one. Your filters and originals are wonderful. Thank you for the glimpse.
Jean
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Thank you, Jean. We like coming up to Canada. The scenery is awfully pretty there as well.
Yael
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Happy belated birthday! Our mama’s birthday was on the 14th of Jan 🙂
Beautiful photos! The dogs here were out in a storm here in Vancouver , Canada this morning with the waves really high and crashing! It was invigorating!! 🙂
the critters in the cottage xo
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Thank you. Happy Birthday to your Mama as well. Glad you dogs got to enjoy storm Watching as well.
Yael
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Those waves are pretty amazing! Happy belated Birthday from all of us!
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Thank Brian,
The waves really were amazing. We had a great time.
Yael
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Happy Birthday! Those are great photos. Thanks for sharing your trip with all of us.
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What fun you had and we adore the filters too! You have the magic touch!
I am sorry to her about the young person who got swept away. Thi sis terrible.
You are going to be buy so we will say au revoir and see you again when you are less busy!
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Pawkisses for a Happy Birthday and what an impurressive day it must have been in that storms. Great pictures! 🙂 Extra Pawkisses for the occasion 🙂 ❤
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Happy Belated Birthday, and what fantastic photos!
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Thank you. It was fun.
Yael
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I love your new blog look!!!
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