In 1987, I went to Connecticut to do color consulting work for the Meriden-Stinehour Press. After my work was done, my wife Ruth took a five month leave of absence from her job as a paramedic and came from Oregon to join me. We traveled throughout the U.S. and eastern Canada, photographing everywhere from sunup to sundown.

When we were in Nova Scotia, we spent several days at Cape Breton Highlands Provincial Park. The main road travels north and east through the very rugged, mountainous region of the park. I caught a fleeting glimpse of part of this particular scene as we drove up and over the pass. We made this journey about ten times during our stay, as the lighting conditions frequently changed. On this day, the clouds were beginning to thin out at about 10:30 in the morning.

Hiking out to an overlook, I saw that the scene had real potential. Rushing back to the car, I excitedly picked up all of the 8x10 gear and carried it back. The image composed itself on the ground glass exactly as I had visualized it. The wind was calm and the light perfect: high thin clouds softened the rays of the sun but allowed clear shape and definition throughout the scene.

As of 1995, this is the only photograph I have printed of a predominately evergreen forest, taken from a distant viewpoint. While I absolutely love these types of forests, I find it difficult to get a cohesive composition with strong graphic design elements. Usually these forests, as seen from a distance, appear too nondescript, have too many distracting elements, or appear to be randomly chaotic, lacking a unified feeling.

This image works for me because it shows the harmonious integration of the trees into an entire forest—in this photograph you literally can see the forest for the trees.

All stages of trees are shown: from young seedlings, to vigorous trees in their prime, to fading old growth and the bleached, white trunks of past giants. The strong circular composition reinforces the feelings of unity and wholeness and the balance which can be attained in these untouched woods.