My name is Marty Hulsebos and I've been a passionate landscape photographer since the late 1980's. Here is the story of this image.
The Tunnel of Trees
The journey began with a dream—a vision of the Monterey cypress trees arching into a cathedral of green and gold. Point Reyes was calling, but the odds were stacked against me. Living in the Midwest meant I rarely set foot in Northern California. Timing had to be impeccable, with the tunnel illuminated by the fleeting golden glow of sunset. Success depended on light, weather, and determination.
An art show in the Bay area brought me to the area on a long drive across the country. After the show, the trip to Point Reyes lay ahead, winding through rugged coastal landscapes. Hours passed as the road became narrower, framed by tall pines and eucalyptus, their scent mingling with the cool Pacific breeze that filtered through my open window.
Finally, I arrived. The Tunnel of Trees stood like a portal to another world. These majestic Monterey cypress trees, unique to this stretch of coastline, arched gracefully overhead, their gnarled limbs reaching for each other as if in eternal embrace. It was a scene I had studied countless times in photographs, but the reality was more mesmerizing.
The air grew cooler as the sun dipped lower, and I set up my camera. The soft crunch of gravel underfoot and the rustle of leaves added texture to the stillness. A faint brine lingered in the breeze. My fingers trembled—not from cold but from anticipation.
The golden hour was brief, and I only had one chance. As the sun kissed the horizon, the light poured through the tunnel like liquid fire, illuminating the trees in warm amber hues. Shadows stretched long and elegant, dancing on the gravel path. My heart pounded as I clicked the shutter, each shot feeling like a prayer offered to the angels of photography.
The moment passed too quickly. The light faded, the tunnel returning to its serene, shadowed form. But I had done it—I had captured the Tunnel of Trees as I had envisioned it. The long journey, the uncertain weather, and the endless planning were all worth it.
Driving back under a star-speckled sky, the sensation of fulfillment was overwhelming. I carried more than a photograph; I carried the memory of a dream made real.
