Steensland Photography

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Myrtle Creek, OR
Steensland Photography

Landscape, nightscape, and automotive photographer based out of Myrtle Creek Oregon. My wife and I are an experienced and passionate photography team.

We can create beautiful and stunning photos in the market of Family, Automotive, Real Estate, and Aerial photography. We are based out of Myrtle Creek and serve Roseburg and the rest of Douglas County. Family photos- $250 per hour
Individual/couple- $200 per hour
Real estate- $150-250
*See Services menu for all pricing options

03/25/2026

After countless hours of Youtube, practice, and a training class, I finally felt ready to tackle the shot. Navigating deep potholes along the long gravel road, we arrived just after twilight and explored the location for the first time. I wasn’t sure whether to shoot from high above overlooking the valley or from the bridge itself. The close-up view from the bridge was far more complex, but much more engaging.

The bridge looked small in photos, so I wasn’t expecting the startling height when I first peered over the edge. It was even more daunting walking across the dilapidated planks in the dark, everything swaying as the river raged below.

After finishing all of my sky and foreground exposures, I had one last task... get a subject out on the bridge to show scale. I coaxed a reluctant Beth out with me, being careful not to shine any light over the edge. After grabbing a few shots and stepping back onto solid ground, I finally shined a light down to the distant river below. Good thing I waited until then, because she definitely wasn’t stepping back onto that bridge again.

The bridge itself was built in the 1960s to provide access to Camp McCaleb, a former Boy Scout camp that was otherwise reached by a low-water bridge during lower flow. It spans about 220 feet, anchored into cliffs on both sides, and hangs roughly 60 feet above the water.

This was my first attempt at a somewhat complex, focused stacked panorama, so bear with me. I also thought I had a great idea to wait for the moon to rise for the foreground, but it ended up lighting the hills like a sunrise.

The image consists of a 2 panel x2 panel panorama for the sky and a 2x2 focus-stacked foreground. Blending those cables was no easy task either.

This region of sky captures part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, an active star-forming region in our corner of the Milky Way. It includes the glowing red hydrogen-alpha emission nebula of Barnard’s Loop, faint dusty wisps of Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN) illuminated by the galaxy itself, and stretches all the way to the bright blue reflection nebula surrounding the Pleiades star cluster.

A7III Astromod
Sigma 35mm f/1.4
MSM Nomad

Exif:

Sky:
RGB — f/2, 153s, ISO 320 (45 min/panel)
Ha — f/1.4, 153s, ISO 2500 (1.5 hrs)

Foreground:
f/1.4, 30s, ISO 1250 (focus-stacked pano)

01/02/2026

We had an amazing stay at Pickett Butte just after Christmas. We arrived beneath partly cloudy skies and were treated to a beautiful sunset. I made the descent down those ladder-like stairs more times than I can count, feeling the burn in my never-ending pursuit of the perfect photo.
Once the colors faded, we cooked dinner and settled into a relaxed evening of reading. Before turning in, I ventured back out to find the hilltop wrapped in fog and clouds, all glowing under a bright moon...far from ideal for night photography. I called it a night and headed to bed.
Around 5am I woke to discover the sky had completely cleared and the moon had finally set, revealing a whole new scene waiting to be captured.

08/20/2025

After our stay at Little Mount Hoffman, Beth and I made a quick stop to visit my brother and his family before setting off on our next adventure—a short overnight trip into the Mountain Lakes Wilderness. Originally, our plan had been to push farther north into the Sky Lakes Wilderness, but a band of intense thunderstorms forced us to change course.
The forecasts promised only a slim chance of storms over the Mountain Lakes, so we decided to take our chances. When we arrived, however, the sky looked anything but reassuring. Dark brooding clouds rolled overhead, and a light drizzle met us at the trailhead. It wasn’t the most encouraging start, but we were already there, packs on, and spirits determined.
The hike stretched on for five miles, our footsteps accompanied by the low rumble of thunder in the distance. The storm clouds hung above, accompanied by little openings of blue sky, and though we questioned our choice more than once, the cool air made the climb bearable.
At last, the trail delivered us to a small alpine lake tucked neatly beneath rounded peaks of talus stone. A scattering of campsites lay just within the treeline, their clearings edged with green grass and bursts of wildflowers.

08/12/2025

Another lookout checked off the list, Little Mount Hoffman may be our favorite yet.
We set out on a four-hour drive immediately after work, hoping to catch the sunset. As we approached the final stretch, our optimism faded; dark, stormy clouds and intermittent showers loomed ahead. But just as we rounded the last switchback to the summit, bright red light was cast into our vision. A narrow gap beneath the storm revealed a breathtaking scene: a vivid crimson sunset illuminating the volcanic cones below, with streaks of lightning dancing across the distant clouds.
As night fell, the storm gradually cleared, unveiling a setting moon and the rising arc of the Milky Way. The air grew crisp, giving us the perfect excuse to light the small wood stove. We cooked dinner in its warmth, all the while watching the stars scatter across the sky.

08/05/2025

Our next lookout adventure took us to Acorn Woman Lookout! It was a refreshing change of pace, just an easy two-hour drive from home followed by a mellow dirt road.

Compared to other lookouts, this one was fairly bare-bones (no beds, for starters), but what it lacked in amenities, it more than made up for in charm. Perched with sweeping views of the Siskiyous, this cozy little tower offered a peaceful retreat and some truly breathtaking scenery.

07/29/2025

Last week, Beth and I had the opportunity to photograph the night sky at the Summer Lake Lookout , located within the Oregon Outback Dark Sky Network. Over two nights, we enjoyed stunning sunrises, sunsets, and crystal-clear views of the stars. Watching the Milky Way while relaxing in a hot tub was a first—and truly unforgettable. In all my astrophotography experience, this was the first time I couldn’t detect any noticeable city glow on the horizon in any direction.

07/18/2025

It’s a little late, but about a month ago we made the trip out to the historic Illahee Rock lookout. Our plan was to hike in for a golden hour shoot and camp overnight to photograph the Milky Way. True to our form, we arrived later than intended—but for once, it worked in our favor. We ended up starting the hike right at peak golden hour.
What we didn’t expect was to see a mountainside literally glowing with wildflowers. The trail cut across the rugged hill surrounded by massive rock formations, and we found ourselves stopping often to capture pockets of vibrant flowers contrasting the grey rock.
After a rugged scramble up the rocky path, we reached the ridgetop and were greeted with a breathtaking panorama- mountains stretching endlessly in every direction. It was easy to see why this spot had been chosen for a lookout.
Two weathered structures still remain: a ground-level D-6 cupola built in 1925, and a 20-foot L-4 tower from 1956. We pitched our tent in the only patch of relatively flat, brush-free ground, then settled in to watch the sun dip below the horizon while cooking dinner on the Jetboil.
As night fell, I prepped my gear for astrophotography. I had about 40 minutes before the moonrise would wash out the sky. But just as I started shooting, clouds began to roll in. I managed one decent shot of the Milky Way before the moon began lighting the clouds along the horizon with a glow that looked more like a red sunrise than moonlight.
Eventually, I packed up and crawled back into the tent, warm and content after an unforgettable evening!
I haven’t had time to finish editing the rest of the photos, stay tuned for day two!

06/05/2025

After Beth and I wrapped up our stay at Girard Ridge Lookout, I was already scheming our next move—specifically, how to capture some Milky Way photos featuring the Castle Crags. Inspiration struck: we'd hike from Castle Lake to Heart Lake, scramble up the towering ridge beyond it, and set up camp at the top. Simple plan, right?

We pulled into the Castle Lake trailhead to find a parking lot packed with enthusiastic day hikers. Undeterred—and feeling smugly superior with our overnight gear—we hit the trail. We followed it as far as it would take us, then veered off toward a promising ridge that looked like it might lead to both exhaustion and incredible views.

The climb was, in technical terms, "absurdly steep." But after a good bit of huffing, puffing, and reevaluating life choices, we reached a rare patch of trees—nature’s version of a five-star campground. It was the only flat-ish spot around, and miraculously, it offered an unbeatable view of Mt. Shasta staring us down like an icy sentinel.

After setting up camp and doing a few celebratory laps to scout night photo locations, I found a solid composition that framed Castle Crags like a galactic movie poster. Dinner was served with front-row seats to one of the most scenic backdrops we've ever had. As the sun dipped below the ridge, we climbed even higher to catch golden hour lighting up Heart Lake and Castle Lake below. Breathtaking doesn’t even cover it.

Then came the wind. And the cold. Temperatures dropped into the 30s, and the gusts made our tent flap like it was auditioning for a wind tunnel simulation. We managed a few hours of sleep before I dragged myself out of my sleeping bag—camera in hand and optimism in check.

That night, the stars delivered. I photographed the Cygnus region of the Milky Way above Shasta, the galactic core over Castle Crags, and even attempted my first full Milky Way panorama. To my surprise (and deep relief), the arch aligned beautifully from Shasta to the Crags—an astrophotographer’s dream.

By 4 a.m., frozen and victorious, I retreated to the tent like a shutter-happy groundhog. Morning brought a warm, golden sunrise and the kind of serenity you only get when you’ve earned it with sore legs and mild frostbite. We slid (with varying levels of grace) down the ridge, detoured to admire Heart Lake, and finally returned to civilization.

To our astonishment, we passed more than 70 day hikers swarming toward the now slightly-less-frozen Heart Lake.

05/29/2025

Last week, we had the opportunity to stay at Girard Lookout with my parents. While it didn’t have all the amenities of other lookouts—like a stove, lighting, or a heat source—it more than made up for it with its breathtaking views of Castle Crags, Mount Shasta, and Gray Rocks. We had a wonderful time spending quality moments with family, watching the sunset, and stargazing. Beth and I were especially captivated by the Castle Crags and began scouting for spots that might offer an even better view.

05/20/2025

A couple weeks ago Beth and I got to stay at our second lookout, this one was Hager Mountain Lookout. We left home after work and arrived at the mountain in the late afternoon. We had a bit of a brutal hike post-holing a mile and a half up the steep mountain with full gear, we arrived just as it got dark. We were rewarded with a beautiful cabin, a warm fire, and a tasty meal! After a couple hours of sleep I got back up and ran around the mountain getting night photos until the sun rose. We enjoyed another day reading old journal entries, splitting firewood, cooking, and enjoying the amazing views!

04/12/2025

Beth and I finally had an opportunity to stay at Pickett Butte after we grabbed a cancellation. I quickly checked and found that the moon was to set before the Milkyway would rise, and weather forecasted clear sky after a week of rain!
We arrived to find a towering structure 40ft high with steps that resembled more of a ladder. After packing all of our supplies (and 45lb dog) up, we were rewarded with a stunning view every direction we looked. We enjoyed our night cooking good food, enjoying the sunset, sitting by the heater, and reading old journals. I woke up at 2am to howling wind, 20 degree temperatures, and a bright starry sky!

12/04/2024

Sahalie Falls offers a stunning and easily accessible viewpoint just off Hwy 126. A picturesque trail connects Koosah Falls to Sahalie Falls, featuring numerous intriguing stairways and lookout points that provide breathtaking views of the McKenzie River.

Address

Division Street
Myrtle Creek, OR
97457

Website

http://www.steenslandphotography.com/

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