Wizard's Hat

Wizard's Hat is an eye catching pointed cone of rock sitting along Bandon Beach, on Oregon's south coast. It's one of the more distinctive shapes along a shoreline full of sea stacks. The Face Rock stairs drop you onto the beach a short walk from it, and from there it's all a matter of timing the tide. Come at low tide and the sand opens up around the base, so you can circle it and experiment with every side to find your favourite composition. Since this section of coastline faces to the west, the sun drops out over the water beyond the rocks making it the ideal spot to experiment with sunset photography. Wet sand behind a receding wave will create reflections if you're quick. And if you shoot along the beach instead of straight out to sea, the other stacks line up behind it and the whole scene goes layered and hazy. Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint has free parking on the headland and a wooden staircase down to the beach. Make sure to pause and shoot from the viewpoint either when you arrive or before you head out. (Bandon, Oregon, United States)