Embarking on a journey into landscape photography is like stepping into a world where nature is both the canvas and the storyteller. The Redwoods National Park and the California North Coast provide the perfect backdrop for this artistic exploration. In this blog, I explore the unique experience of last summer’s Redwoods North Coast Landscape Art Photography Workshop. We share the inspiration that flows from the symbiotic dance between photographer and landscape and showcase some of the work captured by the workshop photographers.
The Redwoods
Creating landscape work in the Redwoods is a pilgrimage into the heart of a living cathedral. As an assistant instructor in the 2023 landscape photography workshop, I witnessed the profound impact these ancient sentinels have on those who seek to capture their essence. Led by Ted Rigoni, a creative master of northwest US locations, we ventured into the depths of the forest, where each beam of light and every shadow played out a symphony of contrasts. The challenge was not just in mastering the technical aspects of photography but in forging a genuine connection between the artist and the environment, transcending clichés.
Challenges in the Redwoods
Navigating the complexities of the Redwoods Forest demands more than technical prowess; it requires an intimate understanding of light and scale. Amidst the dense foliage and towering trunks, photographers grapple with the duality of shadow and illumination, seeking to encapsulate the grandeur of these ancient giants. Yet, amidst the challenges lie moments of unparalleled beauty, where the interplay of mist and light transforms the forest into a realm of ethereal enchantment.
If you were to reduce the composition of the Redwoods Forest to its basics, it would be as simple as tall sticks (the trees), low-hanging clouds that shroud the canopies, and inconsistent light ranging from thin shafts peeking through the high limbs to the overhead flood of mid-day blue. Technically and creatively, we found these conditions most challenging:
- Lighting: The dense foliage and towering heights create a unique lighting challenge, with stark contrasts between the sunlit canopy and the dark forest floor. The dynamic range demands exposure bracketing in most cases.
- Scale: Conveying the true scale of the trees can be daunting. Using wide-angle lenses or incorporating human figures to achieve scale are common techniques for capturing their grandeur. However, if we want to create landscape art and work with an extended and personal emotional range, we need to employ scale to identify meaning.
Rewards
- Atmosphere: On mornings, when the mist hugs the bases of the trees, and light shafts pierce the canopy, the forest transforms into an ethereal place, offering opportunities to create work that is both mystical and awe-inspiring.
- Unique Perspectives: From the rugged bark textures to the intricate root systems, the Redwoods offer endless opportunities to capture nature’s details. But there are also those special moments when we can create work that mimics the human character—rugged, individual, and, yes, isolated.
Challenges on The North Coast
Venturing beyond the sanctuary of the Redwoods, we find ourselves on the rugged shores of the North Coast, where the elements reign supreme. Here, the landscape is a testament to nature’s raw power, where cliffs meet crashing waves and skies are painted with the ever-shifting hues of dawn and dusk. In our quest to capture the essence of this untamed wilderness, we confront the unpredictability of weather and terrain, embracing the fleeting moments of magic that define the coastal landscape.
If we were to consider a compositional reduction of the coastal landscape, it would consist of a series of horizontal lines connecting to a series of chaotic shorelines. However, that over-simplification hides these technical and aesthetic challenges.
- Weather Conditions: The weather can be unpredictable, with sudden fog banks or harsh winds. Timing and patience are crucial to creating a personal interpretation of the coastal scene.
- Accessibility: Many vantage points require hiking or climbing on uneven terrain. In some cases, the physical demands of coastal photography are significant.
Rewards
- Dynamic Landscapes: The ever-changing light and tides provide a myriad of opportunities—from stormy seas captured with fast shutter speeds to serene sunset long-exposures.
- Human Intervention: The coastal areas, with fishing ports such as Crescent City and smaller villages, create intriguing visual narrations. Lighthouses, sand dunes, and villagescapes intersect with the natural environment. Sometimes, it is a matter of quaint, romantic structures, or in the next visual breath, you are creating compositions against ocean backdrops.
Conclusion
- To be a landscape art photographer is to be a guardian of moments, a custodian of memories woven from light and shadow. In the heart of California’s natural wonders, we discover not only the challenges of our craft but also the profound joy of bearing witness to the soul-stirring beauty of the world around us. As we embark on this journey of Redwoods and Coastal Lands, let us remember that our greatest reward lies not in the images we capture but in the stories they tell and the spirits they awaken.
Join us for the 2024 Redwoods National Park Photography Masterclass, June 3-7, 2024, in Crescent City, CA. Find out more information here.
Bob Killen is the Curriculum Director for National Park Photography Expeditions and Senior Instructor for the NPPE Art Photography Mentor Program.