REDWOOD NATIONAL PARK
In Northern California, the Redwood National Park system is a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve that proudly protects the tallest trees on Earth. Covering extensive areas of untouched wilderness, it conserves almost half of the world's remaining old-growth redwood forests. Some of these trees reach heights over 370 feet. This protected area not only ensures the preservation of these impressive trees but also provides a vital habitat for numerous species of plants and animals that depend on its distinctive ecosystem.
Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park boasts some of the most spectacular redwood groves anywhere, with many situated in trailless, pristine, and silent areas. This photo exemplifies the serenity and elegance of this forest. It is rare to witness 20 mature Redwood trees of such scale and with such cohesive, simple undergrowth in a single view. Most of the visible trees have a diameter exceeding 10 feet. One of the centrally located trees carries a large burl that hosts a clump of leather ferns, a common occurrence in the redwood forests. The multi-row panoramic technique allows, as seen with all the other photos in this exhibit, a 180-degree view, capturing the entire forest as it stands in front of you.
This towering redwood giant stands at an estimated height of 300 feet. A decade ago, capturing this photograph would have been an impossible feat. The image is a composite of 14 predominantly vertically aligned pictures merged into a single, seamless vertical panorama.
The photographer's presence at the side of the tree serves as a compelling testament to the tree's sheer size.
