A walk in the Forest

[Michael13]

The quickest way to get to the Southern Oregon coast from Portland has you driving through a tiny slice of North West California on Route 199. Happily, this road borders Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park, so a perfect place for a hike through the woods! I only did one short hike, but it was a good one - the Stout Grove Trail. Only 0.6 miles to do the loop hike, I needed 2 hours to complete it. Not because the terrain was tough, but because the beautiful scenery had me stopping to make photos so often.

A bright sunny day means a lot of exposing for highlights followed by plenty of shadow recovery in Photoshop.

The backlit small scenes were abundant.

The ferns, moss, and overall greenery reminded me of my local hiking area, the Columbia River Gorge. Minus the Redwoods of course.

The nice light on this branch was gone as I repositioned my tripod. Glad I got this shot before moving a bit.

Had to get the cliche' straight up photo!

I already want to go back, maybe early next year when the coastal fog is more likely and the Rhodys are blooming!

 

[Kurt Harrigan]

Well done. I'm sure it's tricky to photograph these images in the middle of the day.

 

[AlanLichty]

Very nice shots of that redwood grove. I have driven that road (also known as the Redwood Highway) from Grant's Pass to Crescent City many times as it's the fastest way to get to and from Brookings. Not an easy place to shoot if you have direct sunlight overhead but you managed to tame the wide dynamic range quite well. The rhodies are quite nice in full bloom both in this grove as well as just south of Crescent City on the Damnation Creek trail.

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice set of images from that grove. Having some fog there makes that a photographer's candy store.

 

[JimFox]

These are so awesome Michael! Classics in every way. You did a great job on both your exposures and processing as these are not easy scenes to capture.

 

[James T. Abraham]

Proof that great pictures can be made at any time of day!

 

[Peter Michal]

Beautiful photos of this redwood forest, very nice detail and colors and excellent processing!

 

[Michael13]

Well done. I'm sure it's tricky to photograph these images in the middle of the day.

Thanks Kurt. I would have preferred an overcast day, but you get what you get.

Very nice shots of that redwood grove. I have driven that road (also known as the Redwood Highway) from Grant's Pass to Crescent City many times as it's the fastest way to get to and from Brookings. Not an easy place to shoot if you have direct sunlight overhead but you managed to tame the wide dynamic range quite well. The rhodies are quite nice in full bloom both in this grove as well as just south of Crescent City on the Damnation Creek trail.

Thanks Alan. Yes, I'm thinking May would be a good month for a return visit!

Nice set of images from that grove. Having some fog there makes that a photographer's candy store.

Thanks Jameel. I hope it is next time I'm there!

These are so awesome Michael! Classics in every way. You did a great job on both your exposures and processing as these are not easy scenes to capture.

Thanks Jim. Finding compositions without too many trees in the way was my biggest worry!

Proof that great pictures can be made at any time of day!

Thanks James, that's what I usually say about Infrared photos!

Beautiful photos of this redwood forest, very nice detail and colors and excellent processing!

Thanks Peter. I had a great time there. A lovely vibe amongst the trees.

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks Alan. Yes, I'm thinking May would be a good month for a return visit!

Yup - I have shot them on the Damnation Creek trail in early May.

 

[MonikaC]

Very nice series, Michael! Inspiring to see what you got in midday light.

 

[Jeffrey]

Forests are challenging places to make meaningful images. And you handled the light very well. Nice imaging!

 

[Michael13]

Very nice series, Michael! Inspiring to see what you got in midday light.

Thanks Monika. If I ever get back there, I'll try for early morning.

Forests are challenging places to make meaningful images. And you handled the light very well. Nice imaging!

Thanks Jeffrey. I found it very hard to find compositions without pointing the camera up. Next time I'll spend more time there, I hope.