ancient forests Carbon River Old Growth

To some (many? most??) people, this scene is an unattractive mess. But I find it to be

incredibly beautiful.

The essence of life! The texture and contrast are great. You have really captured the movement in this scene.

Very beautiful scene, I agree.

Very nice contrast. It looks like a very special place. Nice job!

Stephen, you are always good at scenes like this, nice placement of lines and elements, nothing over saturated. It looks like it is not even raining on you at this moment :)

here is another one of your wonderful series of the old forest. To admire the dof is really trite...it's a lovely image in all respects....Bert

Stephen, The beautiful soft lighting in this shot is mostly responsible for revealing all the rich textures, tones, & the great range of colours. What some would call an 'unatractive mess', is a scene I would refer to as a visual feast. Surely among your best efforts. I love the detail still showing in the dark bark of the tree on the left which is also used most successfully as a framing tool, & also the diagonal formed by the fallen tree on the right which draws the eye right into the center of the composition where it is force to stop for a time by the other horizontal trunk. Had this been in B&W I would have guessed the photographer was Clyde Butcher, the Ansel Adams of the Everglades. This effort could only be appreciated more fully if displayed as a huge (as big as you could successfully place on your livingroom wall) enlargement. Best, LM.

A magical place, and you captured it perfectly.

I agree with Stephen's opening comment. The power and beauty of nature. Probably overlooked by many who seek more epic sites. If you know Freeman Patterson, the east coast photographer and gifted writer on photography, you will likely agree with his contention that beauty and mystery are in the details, and in the everyday places, even in one's back yard.  Perhaps one could subtitle this image 'nature's back yard.'

Thanks for your generous comments on my photos. I am truly elated that you as one of my favorite top notch photographers would notice my work. I have been amazed at the vividness of your photographs it is as if it is tridimensional because of the depth of field you are able to impart, it makes me feel like I am actually present in the location where you shoot. Many thanks and regards.

Arturo and others (some from years past), thanks very much for your comments.  Though I may not always respond, I do read all of the comments and suggestions that have been left on photos I've posted.  Just a comment on this particular photo:  I was out with a friend, and we wandered off the road a bit in a very dense and hard to navigate forest.  I found this little spot, and I thought the light was simply magical.  i got this photo.  I've since wanted to return to try a different (and larger) format, but I can't find this location!  I've searched diligently on several occasions, but it just can't be found.  The same happened to me in Joshua Tree a few weeks ago when I was looking for a particular flower growing on a granite boulder that I had photographed perhaps 10 years ago.  I have found it again in the past (but not blooming), but now I can't find the boulder at all.  Which tells me I really need to make the first one count.