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Photography

An Inspiring Partnership From The Start

Like Sempervirens Fund, photography preserves the beauty of the Santa Cruz Mountains forever. In a click, photographers capture the wild, rugged, and diverse landscapes, and it’s majestic plant and wildlife inhabitants in an image that inspires others to connect with and protect them for future generations. It was a photographer who founded Sempervirens Fund in 1900, launching the redwood conservation movement and the largest State Park system in the nation. And it is photography today that continues to help illustrate what is at risk and what can flourish when preserved and cared for, for people and wildlife to enjoy for generations to come.

Here you can enjoy the work of talented and dedicated photographers.

photo by I. Bornarth.

Photographers

These are some of the amazing photographers whose work helps to inspire change and curiosity—protecting the Santa Cruz Mountains and connecting people with them.

Insta Worthy

You can see stunning photos from the photographers above and many others at work inspiring protection and connection of the Santa Cruz Mountains on our Instagram feed below and at @SempervirensFund on Instagram.

On this Endangered Species Day, we stand at a crucial crossroads. The majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains are under dire threat from the relentless march of climate change. These ancient giants, guardians of biodiversity and sanctuaries for countless species—such as the marbled murrelet and San Francisco Dusky-Footed Woodrat—are now facing their greatest challenge yet. But there is hope, and it lies within your hands. 
🐛 🦉 🦎 
As a supporter of Sempervirens Fund, you recognize that understanding the strength and resiliency of redwoods also means appreciating their roots. Without a strong root system holding these towering trees in place and bringing moisture and nutrients into the core, redwoods wouldn’t survive. You are an integral part of this vital root system. 
🐟 🦅 🦃 
We have exciting news for you today! A generous donor has stepped forward with a special, limited-time offer: they will match every dollar you give between now and June 30, up to $124,000, doubling the impact of your support. Will you please contribute today? To donate, navigate to the 🔗 link in our bio.
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Photo credits: Cindy Roessler/SCMBC (woodrat), Rich MacIntosh/USFWS (marbled murrelet), NMFS/Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Salmon Ecology Team (coho salmon)
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #endangeredspeciesday #endangered #endangeredspecies #animal #animals #wildlife #wildlifephotography

On this Endangered Species Day, we stand at a crucial crossroads. The majestic redwoods of the Santa Cruz mountains are under dire threat from the relentless march of climate change. These ancient giants, guardians of biodiversity and sanctuaries for countless species—such as the marbled murrelet and San Francisco Dusky-Footed Woodrat—are now facing their greatest challenge yet. But there is hope, and it lies within your hands.
🐛 🦉 🦎
As a supporter of Sempervirens Fund, you recognize that understanding the strength and resiliency of redwoods also means appreciating their roots. Without a strong root system holding these towering trees in place and bringing moisture and nutrients into the core, redwoods wouldn’t survive. You are an integral part of this vital root system.
🐟 🦅 🦃
We have exciting news for you today! A generous donor has stepped forward with a special, limited-time offer: they will match every dollar you give between now and June 30, up to $124,000, doubling the impact of your support. Will you please contribute today? To donate, navigate to the 🔗 link in our bio.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Photo credits: Cindy Roessler/SCMBC (woodrat), Rich MacIntosh/USFWS (marbled murrelet), NMFS/Southwest Fisheries Science Center; Salmon Ecology Team (coho salmon)
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #endangeredspeciesday #endangered #endangeredspecies #animal #animals #wildlife #wildlifephotography
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Not everyone loves snakes. We get it. But even if they aren't your favorite animal, we hope you can appreciate the important role they play in the Santa Cruz mountains. They keep rodent and pest populations in check, and also act as food for a lot of other creatures, such as falcons, owls, eagles, and even foxes. They are critical members in California's rich web of biodiversity. ✨ 🐍 ✨ 
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📹 : @orenda_orenda
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #snakes #snake #reptiles #reptile #snakesofinstagram #reptilesofinstagram #animals #wildlife

Not everyone loves snakes. We get it. But even if they aren`t your favorite animal, we hope you can appreciate the important role they play in the Santa Cruz mountains. They keep rodent and pest populations in check, and also act as food for a lot of other creatures, such as falcons, owls, eagles, and even foxes. They are critical members in California`s rich web of biodiversity. ✨ 🐍 ✨
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📹 : @orenda_orenda
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #snakes #snake #reptiles #reptile #snakesofinstagram #reptilesofinstagram #animals #wildlife
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36 4
🌄 Aloha ‘Āina is a concept worth carrying around. In Hawaiian, it literally translates to "love of the land," but means much more than that: it suggests that we are all interconnected, both humans and non-human beings, including oceans, redwoods, frogs, and banana slugs. How do you plan to move through the world with aloha ‘āina in mind?
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📸 : @ianbornarthphotography
ID: The background image is of Mill Creek, rich with fresh water, running through the redwood forest. 
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #hawaii #hawaiilife #aloha #alohaaina

🌄 Aloha ‘Āina is a concept worth carrying around. In Hawaiian, it literally translates to "love of the land," but means much more than that: it suggests that we are all interconnected, both humans and non-human beings, including oceans, redwoods, frogs, and banana slugs. How do you plan to move through the world with aloha ‘āina in mind?
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📸 : @ianbornarthphotography
ID: The background image is of Mill Creek, rich with fresh water, running through the redwood forest.
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #hawaii #hawaiilife #aloha #alohaaina
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💚 Happy Mother's Day to the Mother of the Forest, to Mother Earth, and to all other moms out there! 💚
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📸 : Mike Kahn
ID: A photo of the base of the Mother of the Forest, Big Basin's tallest tree measuring 329 feet in height. Some hikers look at the tree from outside its fence. 
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #mothersday
 #mothersdaygift #mom #mother #happymothersday #motherhood

💚 Happy Mother`s Day to the Mother of the Forest, to Mother Earth, and to all other moms out there! 💚
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📸 : Mike Kahn
ID: A photo of the base of the Mother of the Forest, Big Basin`s tallest tree measuring 329 feet in height. Some hikers look at the tree from outside its fence.
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #mothersday
#mothersdaygift #mom #mother #happymothersday #motherhood
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128 3
🌲 The Santa Cruz mountains are overrun with banana slugs! Members of the mollusk family, banana slugs are important detritivores of the redwood forest ecosystem. They kind of eat everything on the forest floor, which is very helpful: their diet consists of leaves, fecal matter, moss, dead plant material, fungi, and more, which they consume and then convert into nitrogen-rich fertilizer. They also snack on berries, excreting the seeds in the fertile humus environment of their waste. This, in turn, supports the plant's germination. 🍓 
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📹 : @orenda_orenda
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #bananaslug #ucsc #bananaslugs #mollusks #animal

🌲 The Santa Cruz mountains are overrun with banana slugs! Members of the mollusk family, banana slugs are important detritivores of the redwood forest ecosystem. They kind of eat everything on the forest floor, which is very helpful: their diet consists of leaves, fecal matter, moss, dead plant material, fungi, and more, which they consume and then convert into nitrogen-rich fertilizer. They also snack on berries, excreting the seeds in the fertile humus environment of their waste. This, in turn, supports the plant`s germination. 🍓
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📹 : @orenda_orenda
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest #bananaslug #ucsc #bananaslugs #mollusks #animal
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56 0
You'd never think it given their height, but redwood cones are only about one-inch long! A cone-bearing tree will have both male and female cones. The male cones contain pollen, which is used to fertilize the female cones, which eventually become seeds. After fertilization, the female cone starts to grow seeds—these seeds are held inside the cone until they reach maturity and are ready to be released into the world. Some cones won't open until they reach the optimal temperature, which sometimes comes with a forest fire—after the fire, they then release their seeds into the fresh soil. 
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📸 : Amanda Krauss
ID: Two redwood cones sit on an person's extended palm.
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest

You`d never think it given their height, but redwood cones are only about one-inch long! A cone-bearing tree will have both male and female cones. The male cones contain pollen, which is used to fertilize the female cones, which eventually become seeds. After fertilization, the female cone starts to grow seeds—these seeds are held inside the cone until they reach maturity and are ready to be released into the world. Some cones won`t open until they reach the optimal temperature, which sometimes comes with a forest fire—after the fire, they then release their seeds into the fresh soil.
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📸 : Amanda Krauss
ID: Two redwood cones sit on an person`s extended palm.
#redwoods #californiaredwoods #santacruz #norcal #northerncalifornia #california #santacruzmountains #travel #nature #naturelovers #hiking #mountains #outdoors #landscape #forest
...

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PROTECT REDWOODS NOW

SPRING MATCHING GIFT CHALLENGE

Goal: $124,000 by June 30

Double your impact protecting redwoods! Every dollar counts towards safeguarding these majestic giants. Act now to ensure a thriving future for our redwood forests.

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