Edge of the Forest. © Copyright 2021 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.
Deciduous trees at the edge of a forest, Redwood National Park.
This photograph comes from a section of forest that always surprises and pleases me when I visit Redwood National Park. In a place where the giant coast redwoods are everywhere… here there aren’t any! Instead these densely-spaced deciduous trees with their thick green foliage line both sides of the road. Although the spot is not marked as an iconic location, there are always others stopped there when I arrive.
Part of the attraction of subjects like this is the challenge of finding some sort of logical composition in all of the extremely complex detail of trunks, branches, and leaves. It is there, but I often have to look for it. Typically I spot something that seems like it might anchor the photograph… and then as I look over the scene I discover some element that doesn’t fit or a spot that is too dark or otherwise seems empty. At the same time, I don’t want it to be too perfect — without some formal tension the scene can easily become completely static.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books, Amazon, and directly from G Dan Mitchell.
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