Caught The Light

The forests of the Pacific Northwest are unlike any other. Tall trees stand like pillars, with the canopy high above. It makes you feel like you’re inside a cathedral. Dust floats through the air, with the silence periodically broken by the sounds of pine needles gently landing in a slow rhythm. 

The unique structure of the forest creates dramatic beams of light as if they’re pouring in through windows out of sight. The lighting is what stands out to me when hiking through the forests. I enjoy these nature spotlights because it illuminates trees, moss, ferns, wildflowers, streams, and other elements by the trailside. 

The beams draw my attention away from the distant mountains, hills, and ocean. I focus on these small elements, which is what I chose to capture with my camera. The scenes have so much detail, which is only enhanced with the advent of better digital cameras. In every photograph, I noticed tiny elements that I could not see with the naked eye. 

Colorful bugs greeted me when I examined each shot, covering leaves, flower petals, and branches. Dust and water vapor frozen in time created geometric patterns behind a patch of saturated grass. These insects and textures brought me much joy because they are a part of the landscape that would normally go unnoticed. I aim to celebrate these tiny creatures and natural forms caught in the holy light of the forest. May they act as a reminder that the landscape contains multitudes of life that climbs, pollinates, and exists even if we can’t see it.