Brett Cole | Wild Northwest Photography

California Redwoods

A testament to the majesty of nature and the short-sightedness of humanity, the Coast Redwoods are the tallest trees on Earth, and among the oldest and largest. More than 95% have been logged though, with tiny fragments remaining in the National and State Parks. They live so long and grow so tall due to good genes, perfect growing conditions, and chemicals that protect the thin bark from fire and insects.

Canadian Rockies

A jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring region of giant rocky mountains, large mammals, icy rivers, glaciers, lakes, and towering waterfalls. A landscape in which one can truly feel small, it's one of the most scenic regions on Earth and an important refuge for wildlife. The glaciers of Banff and Jasper parks, visited by millions of people, are almost certain to disappear due to global warming.

Costa Rica

I've worked all over Costa Rica as photographer for the Tropical Science Center, a prominent NGO, and for the Fisher Fund for Neotropical Conservation, York University, Ontario. The country is a natural wonderland, with high biodiversity packed into the many different ecosystems and land types. Contrary to its reputation as a model for conservation, Costa Rica has an above average rate of deforestation and faces daunting problems due to its ballooning population.

Cusco, Peru

Almost 1,000 years old and the sixth highest city on Earth, the ancient Inca capital and the crossroads of traditional Andean culture in Peru, Cusco and its people are resilient and endearing. As the most popular tourist destination in Peru, there are many stereotypical photos of Cusco. I've spent time off the beaten path to try to document the Cusco that most tourists don't see.

Garibaldi Park, British Columbia

The Alps of North America, Garibaldi is a beautiful park full of shimmering lakes, sprawling alpine meadows, and lots of bears. Located near the famous Whistler ski complex, Garibaldi features more than a million acres and dozens of difficult but rewarding hikes. Destinations like Panorama Point and Singing Pass are worth the trip to British Columbia all by themselves.

Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia

The largest remaining temperate rainforest on Earth at about 15 million acres, the Great Bear Rainforest is critically endangered by logging. It's home to grizzly bears, wolves, salmon, and eagles, and to dozens of First Nations native peoples. Most of the Great Bear Rainforest is still pristine, but a recent long-term logging deal will destroy much of this global treasure.

Klamath Basin, California and Oregon

The most beautiful place in the world to me, the Klamath Basin is an agonizing case of man spoiling nature. Once the largest wetlands in the Western US and one of the most spectacular areas for birds anywhere on Earth, the Basin was basically destroyed when the lakes and wetlands were drained about 75 years ago to irrigate the surrounding desert for farming. The "National Wildlife Refuges" of the Basin are among the most degraded public lands in America.

Lost Coast, Alaska

The Alaskan Coast from Anchorage south to Cape Yakataga, including Cordova, the Copper River Delta, and the Chugach national forest. The public lands along the Lost Coast were not included in the vast National Parks that make up the region, and so have been subjected to clearcut logging, desipte their fragile ecology and importance to wildlife.

Maryland

Where I grew up (although I lived in Oregon from 1995-2007) and where my family lives. I've photographed some of the few tiny remnants of old-growth or native forests left in Maryland. The majority of the state - and the Eastern US for that matter - was once covered in native forests, with less than 1% remaining.

Monteverde Cloud Forest, Costa Rica

I'm honored and privileged to be photographer for the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve, one of the most famous tropical protected areas in the world. With habitats from low elevation rainforest to elfin cloud forests on the Continental Divide, the Preserve is not only beautiful and enchanting, it protects an outrageous diversity of life, much of it yet to be explored.

New York State

Upstate New York is full of beautiful landscapes and old, quaint towns. The Catskills provide a prelude to the big wild areas farther north in the Adirondacks. The vast stretches of wild secondary forest in Adirondack Park are a haven for wildlife and people alike, and, along with Great Smoky Mtn. Park, represent one of the most significant intact ecosystems in the Eastern US.

Olympic Rainforest, Washington

The premiere remaining example of temperate rainforest in the US, with Olympic National Park at its center. A rainy, lonely landscape with few human inhabitants, the Western half of the Peninsula has six major rainforest valleys, with fir, cedar, and spruce trees up to 1,500 years old and 15 feet wide. Outside of the Park the national forest and industrial timberlands are in horrible shape due to aggresive clearcutting.

Oregon Cascades

Rugged mountains stretching from Southern Oregon to Southern B.C., the Cascades are reknowned for their ancient forests, volcanoes, waterfalls, iconic snowcapped peaks, salmon rivers, and lava flows. Unfortunately, the Cascades in Oregon and Washington are largely national forests and have been hacked to bits by clearcut logging. Much of the land that isn't national forest is owned by the timber industry and is much worse off yet.

Oregon Coast

Everyone who visits the Oregon Coast falls in love. One of the most pristine coasts in America - even though none of it is actually pristine - it is special nevertheless. The entire coastline is public and open to everyone free of charge. With no big cities, and giant cliffs, furious storms, and abundant wildlife, the Oregon Coast is beautiful and captivating. The Coast Range, much of it private timberland, is in dire need of dramatic management reforms.

Peru

Peru is a fascinating country and is one of my favorite places, from its dramatic landscapes and rich culture to its friendly and interesting people. I've photographed around the country, including Arequipa, Lima, Huaraz, the Cordillera Blanca, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Isla Tacquille, Yanque, the Colca Canyon, Cusco, Urubamba, and Machu Picchu.

Tropical Rainforests

Earth's ultimate expression of life, tropical rainforests hold more species than any other ecosystem. It's a very difficult environment in which to work - hot, humid, buggy, and wet - but the richness of life is unparallelled, and the more tiime you spend in these forests the more secrets you uncover. Habitat preservation in tropical forests is one of the most critical environmental imperatives of our time.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

The Willamette Valley runs North-South through Western Oregon, nestled between the Cascades and Coast Range, and is home to the vast majority of Oregonians. A broad, fertile valley with mild temperatures and relatively high rainfall, it has been radically altered by farming, with 95% of the original wetlands gone. All other ecotypes in the valley have been severely degraded.