Old-Growth Coastal Douglas-fir Forest

This photo is a tribute to the great old-growth Coastal Douglas-fir forests that once covered most of eastern Vancouver Island. Now ranked as the 4th most endangered ecosystem in all of Canada and home to many rare plant and animal species, I hope the last remaining stands will be preserved in more that just photographs. Knowing that, the chances of capturing this image are very slim. First, you need to find an intact old-growth area and with less than 1% of that remaining, it is sadly quite difficult. Since forests are not typically neat and tidy places you'll rarely have a lovely bed of ferns perfectly set in front of  giant trees as well. Asking for the sun to then set over the whole scene would be over-the-top but somehow it all came together for this moment in Metchosin. Magic in the woods.