redwood, 2007

Thank you Murray (and everyone!)

The 19" lens is just a little long on 8x10, so I was worried a little that the lens might compress the image. But working in the dense old-growth, one usually does not have the option of moving around for different angles, closer up, etc. For this image, I am about 12 feet (4 meters) off the ground, with the 8x10 set up on some criss-crossed fallen redwoods -- not very stable, but it worked because I could stand on a different log than the camera was on -- so no vibrations.

Most of the time I just wander thru the redwoods looking for the light, but I had photographed in this spot before -- using a 159mm lens to photograph my 3 boys. This scene was part of the larger image of my boys and attracted my attention. So I returned specifically to photograph this -- I made 4 images of it (two sheets of film) -- the changing light just kept on getting "better".

I have been photographing in this particular forest (along Prairie Creek) since my first 4x5 shot there in 1979. Never get tired of it...always changing, always new.

Vaughn