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Ghost Forest

Ghost Forest  by ~ Aaron Reed ~.
It was a minus 3 tide today on the Oregon coast when we stopped by to shoot the ghost forest in Neskowin. It was raining, and foggy and that only added to the feeling of this gone but not forgotten ocean forest.

Here are the details if you care to read them:
They look somewhat like old, ragged pilings leftover from something manmade - but they are, in fact, stumps of a forest some 2,000 years ago or so. As many as 100 are sometimes visible in various shapes and sizes. It's theorized that around 2,000 years ago a massive, cataclysmic earthquake abruptly dropped this forest possibly more than 25 feet. Then, somehow, they were preserved by sand and mud, rather then being destroyed and scattered, as natural erosion might've done.

The theory is that either a tsunami brought the sand in or the earthquake rattled up so much soil and sand it covered the forest. The other dynamic here is that these were obviously lopped off by some enormous force - which scientists believe is a tsunami either immediately after the initial event, or one such as the wave that wiped out these shores in 1700. 

Comments

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Gareth Weeks ON&OFF  Pro User  says:

Amazing shot.welldone
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Andrew Kumler  Pro User  says:

Pretty sweet, I think you are right about the fog and mist adding to the mystery..Nice one...
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Gary Randall  Pro User  says:

I love Oregon history, this is a great story Aaron... one that I hadn't heard. Thanks for taking the time to tell the story. I wonder if We'll ever see anything as massive as that on the Oregon coast?

This is a great shot. Love the feel of the fog and the starfish, or should I say sea star? :)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Starlisa  Pro User  says:

phenomenal, Aaron... and wonderful info as well... what a classy shot!!!

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Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Frank Brauner  Pro User  says:

Splendid mood and photo - and an interesting well readable description :)

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Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Jesse Estes  Pro User  says:

Nice comp here, and I like all the lines in the sand. The star fish top it off nicely...
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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tschutsch (Marcel)  Pro User  says:

Great mood, thanks for the explanation!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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DELIA CEAUSOGLU - www.deliaphotography.weebly.com  Pro User  says:

This is a piece of art!Fantastic atmosphere! :-)
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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dizbosphotos  Pro User  says:

Wow nice shot and very informative narrative.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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gailpiland (Gone on Holiday til after the 1st)  Pro User  says:

This is beautiful and awsome ..............a real wow!
You get my personal award!
Jade Sun flower
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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guyfattal says:

lovely
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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manyfires  Pro User  says:

I'm a big fan of the Neskowin ghost forest, glad you guys were able to make it out there. This one's a beauty - those colorful starfish really add a nice element, and I love the perspective and mist. Would be cool in black and white too, though then you'd lose the starfish popping out.

Overall, really great shot Aaron. One of my all-time faves from you.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Mia :)  Pro User  says:

Very cool.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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BamaWester  Pro User  says:

Fantastic shot and thanks for the background info. I've never heard of these before. Faved.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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jpeder55  Pro User  says:

Fantastic image and story. I had no idea about those details and I've lived here most my life. Wow. Thanks for posting and explaining.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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alter your reality  Pro User  says:

great catch and super capture!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Zeb Andrews  Pro User  says:

Well put together Aaron. Great job working with the conditions too, certainly not what many photographers would consider "favorable". :-)

It is also worth noting that the Ghost Forest is slowly disappearing due to sand erosion it seems. As more sand is eroded off of this beach, the petrified trees are becoming uprooted and washed away. Soon all that will be left of the ghost forest really will be its ghost.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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silverxraven  Pro User  says:

nice shot! love the fog and movement in the water
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Bobshots  Pro User  says:

Cool! This is evidence of the subduction zone we live on top of.
When will this happen again???
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Judy and Paul  Pro User  says:

Wonderful mystical feel to this one - very nice image!
Judy
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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~ Aaron Reed ~  Pro User  says:

I am not sure about the minus tide Larry, but the ghost forest can be seen at almost all low tides. Just pick one and head on down!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Bobshots  Pro User  says:

No Aaron,,, when will the subduction zone give way again. It's way overdue!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Seán Venn says:

Brilliant photo. Great atmosphere - it really looks like you've brought along a truckload of artificial lighting.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Tom k51  Pro User  says:

Nice!!!!!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Tim Gallivan  Pro User  says:

What a cool spot. The combination of the weather and your handling of the scene really captures something elemental and essential. Nice work.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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McCoy352  Pro User  says:

Very interesting photograph. Love the story that you wrote about this as well. Love all the foggy conditions!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Bubba Trout  Pro User  says:

Awesomely dreamy!

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greg lindstrom  Pro User  says:

hmm, very cool trivia. ive always known about the ghost forest there, but never knew the details, pretty interesting! my family actually has a house one block from the beach here... so i seriously hope nothing as cataclysmic happens anytime soon! sweet shot, i love the fog here, and the outline of proposal rock in the bg. well done!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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martxu  Pro User  says:

"This photograph is a WINNER!"
Best of Flickr
the BEST of Flickr!!!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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-Lu¡s-  Pro User  says:

brilliant!!!
Seen in:
Fantasia orbit
FLICKR ELITE

Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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eric ashford  Pro User  says:

Haunting and amazing shot

eric
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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andrewrosspoetry  Pro User  says:

Wonderful composition

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Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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g d tошиѕнеиdе says:

Stunning shot, Aaron.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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bnzai9  Pro User  says:

Great image. Nicely conceived and executed. The color of the starfish pops out nicely. The motion of the water contrasts well with the stationary stumps. Nicely done.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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rondeboom  Pro User  says:

Superimage!
Seen in Sights of Nature group.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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T-Lee  Pro User  says:

What an interesting place to visit. Thanks for the back history. Beautiful mystical shot too!
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joegor says:

Your Beautiful photo deserves another Trophy!
Straight from Camera
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Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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bigbirdma  Pro User  says:

Amazing shot - thanks for the story too.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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Pierre Galin  Pro User  says:

I like this shot ... well done !
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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loweryjes  Pro User  says:

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called high quality nature - vote today, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

wonderful! i appreciate the information you gave too.
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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j. kincaid  Pro User  says:

your photos are gorgeous. thanks for the summaries too - I'm trying to learn and it's nice to see where all the amazing shots were taken!
Posted 6 months ago. ( permalink )

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norman atkinson  Pro User  says:

great shot love the fog here
Posted 5 months ago. ( permalink )

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