Redwoods National Park, California

What I find absolutely stunning about the Coastal Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) is their sheer size. These giants can reach heights of 380ft – making them the world’s tallest tree and the height of a 30-story skyscraper. The secret to their success is the ability to absorb moisture through their bark, which means the same fog that makes the landscape so spectacular also fosters the world’s tallest organisms. It’s astounding not just how big they are, but how small you feel in their presence. Despite our size, however, we have a tremendous impact on the natural world. We’ve lost the vast majority of the original redwood forests due to human encroachment, and they currently only exist in a narrow band of groves stretching from northern California to southern Oregon in both national and state parks.

Each remaining grove, however, has a story – a person or group of persons who recognized the importance of these trees and stepped up to protect them. When we think about conservation, the most intimidating thought often is “Can we make a difference?” Places like the Redwood National Park are proof that we can, as long as individuals are willing to come together and make a difference.

What struck me most about this scene was the sheer volume and beauty of the light streaming through the trees. The sun highlights the dense fog, and this particular morning was so spectacular, I found myself frantically moving through the forest trying to capture as many images as possible. When I came across this stand, I paused and was drawn in by this striking rhododendron in contrast to the towering redwoods. While the trees behind are of course tall, they are by no means the tallest – you can actually see where one of the true giants has long since fallen, leaving only a stump sticking out in the center of the image. The juxtaposition of the old, battered trunk with the new growth of the rhododendron is fascinating to me; ornamentum in Latin means “honor, adornment,” and the bright flash of the Rhododendron seem just that – a badge of honor for one of the true giants of the forest. I’m also incredibly taken with the sweeping crop of this piece, as it gives the viewer the full contrast and spread of the light against the hard vertical lines of the trees.