Words By Blake

Returning to California’s far northern coast, I spent a week exploring beneath giants in the world’s most incredible old growth redwood forests. Having tried for years and always coming up empty handed, I continued my search to find the perfect moment to really capture the feeling of being among these majestic trees. The right location was challenging and in previous trips I still hadn’t yet discovered a place that really inspired me enough to make an image. I knew I’d have to find an ancient grove, close enough to the ocean where the fog would roll in and out for the best chance at a dynamic scene. During the week I tried many new locations, but one afternoon at sunset while hiking down the steep coastal mountains I found myself in a truly enchanting scene. I’d ventured into an area where the forest became gigantic and the fog was beginning to pull back out to sea. Light began to pour in through the trees and I knew my moment was here. I looked through the lens and hurried to set up a shot but I just didn’t have the right tree in the forefront of the frame. My beautiful girlfriend, Alejandra, left me to myself in my sudden pressure and anxiety, continuing down the trail by herself. I fumbled some moments with my shot not lining up until I heard a shout from far below. She knew exactly what my vision had been, so I trusted that I needed to grab everything and move down the trail to her and fast! I ran and rounded a corner to see her standing below the most stunning ancient redwood that I had ever seen, with beams shining straight to it through the canopy. I clicked the shutter and lasting just a matter of seconds, I only had the time to take this one single frame before the magic had ended. I finally had it and we spent the rest of the trip simply enjoying all of the other beautiful scenes the coast had to offer. In this capture I hope you can imagine yourself here as well, immersed in the cool fog and nearly able to taste the fresh forest and salty coastal air in this enchanted forest.

ENCHANTED FOREST