Sunrise, Sucia Island
Editor’s Note
Just across the border lies one of North America’s most rewarding photographic landscapes. While many Victoria photographers have visited the San Juan Islands by ferry or private boat, fewer have explored them as a destination where dramatic shorelines, remarkable sandstone formations, abundant wildlife, and ever-changing coastal light come together to create exceptional photographic opportunities.
Award-winning Pacific Northwest photographer John D’Onofrio has spent more than three decades photographing these remarkable islands. In the article that follows, he shares what continues to draw him back—from the sculptural beauty of tafoni sandstone and iconic lighthouses to intimate forest scenes, wildlife, and the luminous light of dawn and dusk.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next photographic adventure or simply want to experience the San Juans through the eyes of someone who knows them intimately, John’s insights and images offer a compelling introduction to this extraordinary destination.
A Landscape That Keeps Calling Me Back
The San Juans have long been a world-famous cruising destination, but they are increasingly being recognized as one of North America’s premier photography destinations. With good reason. The islands offer an extraordinary variety of subjects—from intricately carved shorelines and graceful madrone forests to sweeping panoramas of sea, sky, and snow-capped mountains. Wildlife is abundant, with opportunities to photograph whales, sea lions, seals, otters, eagles, herons, and many other species.
I’ve spent more than three decades exploring these islands with my camera, and they continue to surprise and inspire me. It’s this remarkable diversity that inspired me to partner with Adventures Northwest Magazine and fellow photographer Alan Sanders to lead hands-on photography workshops aboard the M/V David B. Together, we explore the secluded northern islands, where remote beaches, sculptural tafoni sandstone formations, and the abundant marine wildlife of the Salish Sea provide endless opportunities for photography and creative discovery.
Exploring Hidden Coastal Landscapes
Many of the San Juans’ most photogenic landscapes are found within the San Juan Islands National Monument, established in 2013, and Washington State’s Marine Parks. Reaching these locations requires access by private boat, allowing photographers to explore places that most visitors never see.
Among the highlights is Sucia Island, known for its statuesque madrone forests and surreal sandstone shoreline carved into extraordinary patterns by wind, waves, and time. This beautifully weathered sandstone, known as tafoni, creates sculptural textures that are a joy to photograph and is considered one of the San Juans’ most distinctive natural features.
Island Photo Locations
Patos Island is a remarkable photo location with its historic lighthouse standing vigil against a backdrop of epic glacier-covered mountains. We’ll photograph this iconic scene from the boat and also get up close and personal with the lighthouse on a shore excursion.
Stuart Island grassy headlands, rugged shoreline, and sweeping views toward the Canadian Gulf Islands create classic Pacific Northwest landscapes. The island’s lighthouse and coastal scenery provide a wealth of photographic possibilities.
Jones Island is a spectacular Washington State Marine Park with an easy trail system leading to sublime shoreline vistas and intimate coastal forests. It offers photographers a rewarding mix of grand landscapes and smaller natural details. Among the highlights are statuesque madrone forests.
The Sculptural Beauty of Tafoni
Tafoni—the honeycomb weathering of sandstone—is one of the San Juans’ most distinctive photographic subjects. Formed over thousands of years by the erosive effects of salt water, these sculptural rock formations feature smooth surfaces punctuated by intricate, honeycomb-like patterns.
Photographers travel to places such as Petra in Jordan, India’s Thar Desert, and parts of Australia to capture similar textures. The San Juan Islands offer equally remarkable examples, particularly along the shores of Sucia, Ewing, Patos, and Matia Islands. Warm, low-angle light at the end of the day beautifully reveals the sandstone’s rich textures and flowing forms, making these locations especially rewarding to photograph.
Chasing the Light
The San Juans provide exquisite opportunities to capture the play of light, both at daybreak and sunset. The angles of the shorelines are highly conducive to maximizing photographic potential as these sublime shorelines are bathed in radiant light. Thanks to our many years of exploring the San Juans, we have found numerous coves and vantage points from which to capture this glorious light: both in vibrant color and pastel hues.
Wildlife Around Every Corner
On our excursions in the San Juan Islands, we are surrounded by wildlife and copious opportunities to photograph these marine creatures abound. On a typical tour, we might see (and photograph) sea lions, seals, orcas, otters, eagles, great blue herons, cormorants, rhinoceros auklets, pigeon guillemots, and black oystercatchers, just to name a few.
Interested in Exploring the San Juan Islands?
For photographers interested in experiencing the San Juan Islands from the water, John D’Onofrio leads small-group photography workshops aboard the historic M/V David B. The five-day excursions combine photography in some of the islands’ most scenic and less accessible locations with personalized instruction and Lightroom image review.
Travelling by the David B, skiff, and on foot provides access to secluded shorelines, quiet coves, and photographic perspectives that are impossible to reach by road or ferry (there are no roads that lead to these locations and no ferry service.
Although the 2026 sailings aboard the David B are both sold out, you can get ready for the 2027 season! Find out more on the Northwest Navigation website.https://northwestnavigation.com
Free Q&A: Photographing Alaska from a Small Ship
If you’re curious about photographing the San Juan Islands or Alaska from the unique perspective of a small expedition vessel, I’d love to invite you to join us for a free live Zoom conversation.
Date: Tuesday, December 2, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:00 pm PST
Location: Zoom (link sent after registration)
Cost: Free
Register by: December 1, 2026
Captain Jeffrey and Christine Smith of the M/V David B. will be joined by fellow photography instructor Alan Sanders and me for an informal hour of stories, photographs, and questions. Whether you’re interested in the photography, the destinations, life aboard the David B., or simply want to learn more about photographing these remarkable coastal landscapes, we’d be delighted to chat with you.
If you can’t attend live, simply register and a recording of the session will be sent to you afterward.
To register for the free Zoom session or learn more about our photography workshops, click on the button below to contact us to be included on the Zoom call.
About the Author
John D’Onofrio is an award-winning Pacific Northwest photographer, writer, and publisher whose work has been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout the United States and featured by organizations including the National Park Service, National Forest Service, National Parks Foundation, and Defenders of Wildlife. His photography has appeared in National Geographic Adventure, Trail Runner, Washington Trails, and numerous books and publications.
A lifelong wilderness traveller, John is the publisher and editor of Adventures Northwest Magazine and has spent more than three decades photographing the San Juan Islands, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest. Through his photography, writing, and workshops, he enjoys helping others discover and photograph these remarkable landscapes.
Learn more about John D’Onofrio.