The Story Behind The Photo...

Have you ever stood on the edge of the world and felt small in the most beautiful way?

I hiked out to Natural Bridges on the Oregon Coast just as the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft shades of lavender and bruised peach. The trail in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor is rugged, smelling of wet earth and ancient spruce trees, a path that demands your full attention. Below me, the Pacific Ocean churned against the cliffs, a rhythmic roar that vibrated through the soles of my boots.

This place is known as one of the most dramatic spots on the entire coastline, where collapsed sea caves have left behind massive stone arches that defy gravity and time. It’s part of the wild beauty that Samuel H. Boardman himself fought to preserve, creating a sanctuary where nature writes the rules.

The challenge here wasn’t just the steep, slippery trail or the biting wind that whipped my hair across my face; it was capturing the sheer scale of it all. The light changes fast here, slipping from gold to twilight in a heartbeat. I set up my camera, framing the iconic arches through the trees, waiting for that split second when the water glows like polished glass.

When I finally clicked the shutter, the world seemed to hold its breath. I wasn’t just taking a picture of rocks and water. I was capturing a feeling of wild, untamed resilience. Standing there, watching the waves carve new stories into the stone, I felt deeply connected to the power of creation—a reminder that the most beautiful things in life are often forged by the roughest storms.

📖 Scripture (featured on the artwork):

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.”
—Isaiah 43:2