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04/07/2006 07:30:58 PM · #1 |
Hey all!
Earlier this year I mentioned I was helping to start a photo club in the Portland area (Oregon) and we've had a few meetings so far. That's gone fairly decently. Only a couple people have attended more than one meeting but the point is mostly to find people with similar interests so I'm counting it all as a success.
Anyway, I wanted to mention that our second field trip (on 4/15) is to the Trojan Nuclear Power Plant which is west of St. Helens on the Oregon side on Hwy 30. There is a large wetland area and the park surrounding Recreation Lake is available for public use. The actual parking lot for that park area (where the bbq pits and baseball field are) isn't open until Memorial Day but there is plenty of parking along the side of the road leading towards the cooling tower.
I did a scouting visit last month and found it to be fairly interesting. There were a few people who stopped by to take walks on the trails and even some people fishing (not sure I would do that but hey..) There didn't seem to be any problems with us using the park or parking where we did -- i.e. no one came out and shot us or anything.
You can also get fairly close to the tower (respectively) which is kind of nifty.
The biggest reason I'm mentioning this is that I wanted to give folks in the area a heads up. If you've ever wanted to take pictures of a cooling tower, a nuclear plant or just wanted to visit to see what it looks like in person, you'd better do it fast. The last update I heard is they will be imploding it in May.
Anyway, could be an interesting photo op!
- Sia
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04/07/2006 09:00:50 PM · #2 |
Bring plenty of ID (and a lawyer if you have one). Taking pictures of a NPP isn't going to be taken at face value by our overzealous security forces. No matter that you can probably find floor plans on the internet.
And I got stopped by the police just taking pictures of the catskills mountains from a the top floor of a parking garage on the NY Thruway. I get nervous just going by the Knolls Atomic Power Labs here in Niskayuna on my bike with my camera on my neck (the bike path goes right in front of it). If I stopped to take a picture, I am guessing it would take them about 2 minutes to be on top of me. And yet, you can't see anything except a parking lot and a large building/complex.
Then again, maybe you'll be luckier and they will have taken some chill pills.
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04/07/2006 09:12:10 PM · #3 |
I totally forgot about that. I saw it go up, I want to see it come down. Got to check my schedule, but I'm in if you guys are going. You can get a really good angle kinda like landscape type shot on I-5 up the Washington side. But I want to get up close....let me know...thanks Joe
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04/07/2006 09:14:02 PM · #4 |
| Security may not be as tight anymore at the Trojan plant. It was decommissioned a while back. I still remember the video that played on the news of the reactor being barged up the river to the Hanford site...quite the spectacle. |
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04/07/2006 09:21:49 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by nshapiro:
Bring plenty of ID (and a lawyer if you have one). Taking pictures of a NPP isn't going to be taken at face value by our overzealous security forces. No matter that you can probably find floor plans on the internet.
Then again, maybe you'll be luckier and they will have taken some chill pills. |
I think its probably a different situation. As mentioned the site has been decomissioned and the land surrounding it (at least the park area I'm referring to) is specifically designated as public use They have fenced off areas once you get close to the cooling tower but with all of the land open to the public I think they probably figure pictures would be taken.
Plus, I was there during my scouting trip for about 3 hours snapping away and walking trails and watching the enormous geese and had no problems whatsoever. Maybe its because it was a Saturday, but I'd imagine they'd have security at all times.
Of course, being cautious is always a good idea. :)
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05/16/2006 10:24:04 PM · #6 |
| i went there last night with some friends, and we were walking past the gate where they let you in and the intercom box yelled at us, it seems to still be well secure. but yeah it was still fun :p |
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05/16/2006 11:09:42 PM · #7 |
Trojan is only a few miles from my house (which may explain a few things) and we've photographed it many times over the years.
I wouldn't count on being able to park on the highway when they blowup the cooling tower. Because of its location, there are very few places where you will be able to see the tower at all. The plant is mostly surrounded by private property except on the river side. The media is asking people to stay home and watch it on TV. If we go watch the demolition we'll probably do it from our boat.
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05/16/2006 11:14:12 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by micknewton:
Trojan is only a few miles from my house (which may explain a few things)... |
LOL! I knew something was amiss, but couldn't put my finger on it! ;-)
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