Redwoods, ferns, and rhododendrons, northern California coast. I’ve photographed sun breaking through fog in redwood forests many times, but it’s always a special treat. At this particular moment the sun highlighted the redwood trunk on the left, providing a visual focal point, with the ferns, rhododendrons, other trunks, and patches of sunlight all arranging themselves in a harmonious way. I consciously planted the tripod at a spot where I could see decent spacing and separation between the trunks.
Claudia and I have been traveling a lot this year, with trips to Mono Lake, Zion, Valley of Fire, Anza-Borrego and the Central Coast ranges for flowers, the Olympic Peninsula, and multiple visits to Death Valley – along with day trips to Yosemite, of course.
And recently we made another trip, this time to the northern California redwoods for our annual workshop there. But even though that was a long drive, it seemed like we were coming home, rather than leaving home. I always feel that way when we return to the redwoods, because I love that area so much.
We’ve visited the redwoods every year since 2011, except the pandemic year of 2020. You might think I’d get tired of photographing the same place every year, but that’s not at all the case, because there’s so much variety in the landscapes of this area, and in the weather. The same scene can look quite different from year-to-year, day-to-day, or even minute-to-minute because of changes in the weather, tides, stream flows, or flower blooms. Which makes it all really fun to photograph.
Whatever the conditions, I’m always looking for opportunities to capture a mood, and perhaps convey something about the character of a place. The landscapes of the northern-California coast have a lot of character, and often a lot of moodiness, but it sometimes takes just the right conditions to make that character and mood come through in a photograph.
Of course I keep an eye on the weather, and try to put myself in situations where the light, weather, and subjects could lend themselves to making evocative photographs. But once I’ve arrived at a location I try to let go of preconceived ideas, especially if it’s a place I’ve visited before. I try to look deeper, beyond the most obvious things that first caught my attention, and be open to noticing scenes and moments where light, weather, and subject might all work together to tell a compelling story and capture a mood. I never know what that might be, or when – or if – that might happen. But I know that walking around with preconceived ideas is like walking around with a blindfold; I’m likely to miss dozens of potentially wonderful images because I can’t see beyond the ideas in my head.
So here are some of my favorite photographs from our trip to the redwoods. None of these were preconceived; in each case I was responding to the surroundings, and made the photograph because I recognized an opportunity to capture a mood, or tell a story about the character of a particular place at a particular moment.
— Michael Frye
Evening light on lupines and oaks, northern California coast. Late-day light and a bit of haze helped create a mellow mood here. I used a short telephoto (70mm) to juxtapose the undulating line of the flowers with similar lines in the oaks.
Rocky shore at sunset, northern California coast. I liked the way the sun highlighted the foreground rocks, so I tried to balance those with the larger rocks in the background, and used a neutral-density filter to get a slow shutter speed to smooth the water.
Trail through redwoods and rhododendrons, northern California coast
Trees and fog at sunset, northern California coast. It’s always great to get above the fog like this; the challenge was to find a visual focal point, which the trees provided.
Trees and fog, northern California coast. Sunlight caught these trees at the edge of some river fog.
Redwood and rhododendrons, northern California coast. I liked the flow and gesture of this rhododendron against the redwood trunk.
Fogbow in a redwood forest, northern California coast. An irresistible subject, enhanced by a polarizer. The challenge was finding a composition, but a wide, stitched panorama seemed to work.
Trail through redwoods in fog, northern California coast. The sun was quite high at this point, so including the sun and radiating sunbeams meant pointing the camera almost straight up. Instead I concentrated on what the sun was hitting down below – like this path through the forest.
Ferns and vine maples, northern California coast
Roosevelt elk, northern California
Related Posts: The Primeval Forest; The Wild Coast; Simplifying Forest Scenes
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
Thanks, Michael, these are lovely images and certainly evoke a pleasing mood. Simple observation, without preconceived ideas, is something you advocate and I certainly agree—it is so important. I love the California redwoods, and hope to get back up there soon, particularly to hone my newly acquired composition techniques!
Thanks very much Bob! I do hope you get up to the redwoods again soon. Summer is the best fog season. 🙂
Such enchanting, graceful photos!Thanks for your detailed descriptions on the composition.
You and Claudia are quite the intrepid travelers.
Thanks so much Ann! We are getting around a bit these days…
I love the softness in your photographs. The fog certainly contributes to that quality, but obviously there is an eye and mind in the mix. It is generous of you to include your thoughts on your process.
Thanks Wayne! I like drama as well, but when I find situations that lend themselves to a softer feeling I’m all over it.
Hi Michael, wonderful images.
What is the best time at Redwood and Sequoia for these fog and Rhododendron images? Take a stab at the best two weeks for each park.
Thanks
Mish
https://mishmoments.com/
Thanks Mish. There are no rhododendrons in sequoia groves, and fog is rare. It’s a totally different locality, habitat, and climate from coast redwoods. Redwood groves get fog the same time as the rest of the California coast. That can happen any time of year, but fog is most prevalent in summer. Rhododendrons are rather erratic. They can bloom anywhere from mid May to late June.
Stunning images Michael! So peaceful! They’re all great, but the fog bow is my favorite!!
Thanks very much Claire!
Hi, Michael: Thanks so much for sharing your remarkable photographs. I lived in Eureka for 9 years and your photographs capture so well the feelings of awe and tranquility that a walk in the nearby parks and forests would evoke in me and family. I was not a photographer then, but plan to return one day and attempt to emulate your wondrous photographs.
Thank you Luis! Glad you have good memories of you time in that area – it’s a beautiful part of the world. Hope you get to go back sometime.
Great pictures. Going to Point Arena in August.
Thanks Bob, and have a good time!
I spent my younger years in northwest Washingtonand in Arcata, Ca. Your photographs brought tears as you captured the beauty and grandeur of the area. It cannot be duplicated. Thanks for sharing
Thanks very much Rena! Glad you have good memories of those places.
Great photos and tips. I’ve always found woodlands to be difficult to shoot. Hoping to catch some early morning fig in Muir Wooids to try some out.
Thanks Ken, and good luck with that fog!