Amphitheater at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve is located about an hour and a half north of San Francisco, so prepare for a bit of a drive. From San Francisco, take the 101 north into Sonoma. Get off the freeway at the exit for River Road, heading towards Guerneville. Continue on River until you reach Armstrong Woods Road; turn right onto Armstrong Woods and follow the road until you reach the parking lot and visitors center. From the entrance to the park, look for signs for the amphitheater and follow the trails accordingly.

All months of the year are suitable to photograph in the amphitheater. Spring brings some of the best opportunities for visiting the park, as temperatures will be mild and the weather is fairly stable. Wildflowers may also be in bloom. In Summer, weather can be variable, with light fog in the morning or evenings and temperatures getting fairly hot during the day, especially if you hike into the upper elevations on the trails. In Autumn, you can take advantage of some changing colors, and the smaller trees may stand out more boldly against the redwoods. The falling leaves also add visual interest. Winter may be colder and brings increased chances of rain.

Much of the park remains in shade underneath the looming canopy of the redwoods. Visiting in mid-day and afternoon will grant you the brightest conditions for photography.

When shooting in the amphitheater, there's great play between the geometric lines of the benches and stage and the soaring organic shapes of the trees. I framed my photo so that the lines of the center aisle cut through the horizontal bench lines and draw your eye towards the center of the photo, where it meets the redwoods draws up to the big organic shapes of the trees with lighter leaves.

It can be hard to meter exposure well inside the forest, especially if you're capturing the sky in your frame as well as the trees. I made the choice to optimize for an even exposure and left the sky out of my shot entirely.

To capture the trees and the redwoods, be prepared to do a lot of walking — and walk further back from your subject than you anticipated. Give yourself time and freedom to walk around the space and experiment.

A wide-angle lens isn't necessary, but may be helpful if you have one with you. Just beware of curvature towards the edges of your fame.

Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve itself has lots of wonderful hikes at varying levels of intensity for beginner and expert hikers alike. Check in at the visitors center for maps and advice on the various trails to explore. Be sure to visit Colonel Armstrong, the grove's oldest tree, which has stood for over 1,400 years.

The nearby town of Guerneville is also worth exploring with shops and restaurants along the mains street and close proximity to the Russian River (and Russian River Valley vineyards and tasting rooms).