Starting and Ending the Day at Smith Rock State Park

Sunset at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

Sunset at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon

As soon as we arrived in the Bend area, we headed to Smith Rock State Park. I’ll be honest, this was one of the most challenging places I have ever photographed! The bright setting sun and the color of the rocks presented me with a great challenge. Rather than getting frustrated, I embraced the challenge, photographed the scene as I saw it, and enjoyed my time in such a pretty spot.

After watching the sunset behind the rocks, we decided we’d return early in the morning for another view. The clear, blue skies accentuated the incredible color of the rocks. My favorite part was watching the climbers as they scaled their routes. We even spotted some beautiful birds!