Nikon D800, AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
@ 24mm f/16, 1/80s, ISO 100
Far, far away, at the northwest tip of the US there is a pristine, sandy beach, bracketed by haystacks. Now, some people might have you believe that the entire Washington coast is made up of gravely, rocky, barnacle-laden coastline. That’s far from true. Just south of Cape Flattery–a craggy cliff with views of barren sea–lies this gem.
Shi Shi Beach faces west, a stone’s throw from nothing. The beach stretches a mile along the coast, a seemingly endless strip of sand. At low tide, you can venture further south, picking your way through boulders, tunnels and tide pools. If you go far enough, you are forced to swim or make your way overland, continuing to Cape Alava. Just a few miles away, a dense rain forest prescribes to a different way of life. Beyond that, towering, snow-capped mountains, glissading to hundreds of waterfalls, alpine lakes and rivers that stretch not far, to the coast. Bears and eagles watch over the beach, and a steep cliff descent further deters the unadventurous, or unromantic. This is a place to relax, to feel disconnected and yet connected to something so much more.
Nikon D800, AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED
Alex Krengel 