Moss Monster

Washington State, 2023

Limited edition fine art print of 6 – In the fall of 2023, I was on assignment to shoot a documentary on the Southern Resident Killer Whales. Part of that trip was gathering behind-the-scenes footage and telling a deeper story about the region. One cannot tell a story about the Pacific Northwest ecosystem without going into Olympic National Park. This was my first time in the region. Nothing prepares you for the endless shades of green and density of the forest. I set out hiking on one of two very sunny days. This region gets over 170 inches of rain a year, and I end up with two back-to-back sunny days. While some may think this is a good thing, for a photographer looking to capture the mood of this place, it is torture. However, setting off on my second day at sunrise, I was able to bring out the deep greens before the sun cast too many shadows and harsh highlights. This image screams Pacific Northwest to me. I can smell the sweetness in the air just looking at it. I love how the green moss covers just about everything deep in the forest. This photo was taken near the Hall of Mosses. Photo © copyright by Derek Nielsen.