Enchanted – 2024

This nature photograph was taken in a grove of old-growth forest along the Giant Cedars Boardwalk near Revelstoke, British Columbia.

The Giant Cedars Boardwalk near Revelstoke is a beautiful, short hiking trail that winds through an old-growth forest of Western Red Cedars and hemlocks, some of which are hundreds of years old. It’s a peaceful place to experience the unique beauty of these ancient trees, which tower above visitors and create a magical, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

I first visited it in 2016 without my camera and then again in 2019 with my camera, eager to capture the ancient beauty of the towering cedar and hemlock trees. Wandering along the boardwalk, I felt a deep sense of peace and awe at the timelessness of this old-growth forest. The filtered light through the canopy created beautiful shadows and highlights, and I captured one of my favourite images of 2019.

This year (2024), we returned to the Giant Cedars Boardwalk as a family. The boardwalk had been closed for a few years due to heavy snowfall that damaged the forest and boardwalk. While I was initially disappointed to hear about the closure, I was also eager to see how the forest had fared and what changes might have been made. Walking the freshly repaired boardwalk, I could appreciate the effort that went into keeping this special place safe and accessible.

This return visit was an opportunity to see the forest with new eyes. I captured the same scene I did all those years ago but in a new way. Looking back, I can see the difference in my approach and processing techniques to the same scene. Even though this might be a familiar scene, it feels different than before. A symptom of what happens as landscape photographers gain more experience; developing an emotional connection to a place. When it’s less about the scene, but the feeling it evokes.

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