LEBANON, Ore. — Spring is just around the corner, and the seasonal transition may find you needing some outdoor travel and adventures.
I often go searching for islands of serenity at this time of year; places in Oregon that are special, scenic and largely quiet, where I can slow down, take a deep breath and – even for a short time – leave all my troubles behind.
One great place to do just that is a lovely little creek that invites hikers anytime on an easy two mile looped trail, bringing them face-to-face with gorgeous waterfalls.
Photographers Lijah Hanley and Gabrielle Gasche-Hanley "chase the light" for their perfect shots.
The northwest couple share a passion for Oregon’s outdoors. We joined them for a hike and a shoot along and in a parkland I’d never visited: Linn County’s McDowell Creek Park.
“We are always looking for those off the beaten path photographs,” Lijah saidwith a beaming smile. “I’m always trying to get something new.”
Today, the sunshine played peak-a-boo, where “Majestic Falls” – one of several waterfalls in the park – put on quite a bone-chilling show.
Lijah stepped knee-deep in the creek to frame just the right shot.
“It is cold out here,” he admitted. “But you know, you have to be in the water to get the foreground. It’s pretty rare when we find a spot that’s totally unique that we haven’t seen yet. This is certainly that and a whole lot more.”
“We have a bond because we both enjoy getting out – anywhere – and shooting together does that for us. Plus, we run a business together and that’s been really rewarding,” Gabrielle added.
That much is certain – Lijah picked up his first camera at age 9 – and it was a leftover from his mother’s own portrait photography business.
From that moment on, he said he was hooked.
“It was awesome! It was my mom’s old Canon Rebel, and I fixed the broken shutter and started shooting pretty much anything in my backyard," he said. "From bugs to flowers and anything else that might be around the house. It soon became an excuse to go on longer adventures and explore the northwest.”
At 13, Lijah Hanley won a National Geographic photo contest and the prize included an all-expense paid trip with a professional photographer to Machu Picchu in Peru.
It was a fine start for a young man on the fast track to become one of the region’s best. He continues to relish the opportunity to travel and shoot anywhere, anytime of the year.
Gabrielle is always by his side – in fact, the two have traveled the world together, including all of the states in America – chasing the perfect light!
"As much as we love the northwest,” said Lijah, “there is so much of the world to see – any chance we get to go exploring, we jump on it.”
His images are beautiful and often show a piercing light that shoots across the scene and seems magical – and yet, it feels just right too.
“It’s true,” said Lijah. “We are chasing the light more than we are chasing the landscape itself. It’s the light that makes the images – absolutely.”
Both agree that 60-acre McDowell Creek County Park offers a certain beauty beyond belief where streamside conifers and moss draped maples complete a setting that is classic Oregon rain forest.
“For us to capture the essence of a place in an image,” Gabrielle said, "and have people see our image and say, ‘Wow – I know that place – it feels like home.’ For us to bring that feeling to our viewers, it’s just a really wonderful thing that keeps us doing our work. We love it!”
Be sure to watch the weekly half hour program of Grant’s Getaways. The show airs each Saturday and Sunday at 4pm on KGW.
For something different, you can follow my Oregon adventures via the Grant’s Getaways Podcast: Each segment is a story-telling session where I relate behind the scenes stories from four decades of travel and television reporting.
You can also learn more about many of my favorite Oregon travels and adventures in the Grant’s Getaways book series, including:
- "Grants Getaways I," Photography by Steve Terrill
- "Grant's Getaways II," Photography by Steve Terrill
- “Grant’s Getaways: 101 Oregon Adventures,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Guide to Wildlife Watching in Oregon,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
- “Grant’s Getaways: Oregon Adventures with the Kids,” Photography by Jeff Kastner
The book collection offers hundreds of outdoor activities across Oregon and promises to engage a kid of any age.
You can reach me at Gmcomie@kgw.com