23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Drone/Aerial
Checker Boarding
The forests of western Oregon reveal a fractured geometry, vast checkerboard grids of clear-cuts and regrowth carved into the landscape by a century of industrial logging. Originally sectioned off as Oregon & California Railroad lands, these alternating parcels were sold and harvested to fund expansion and maximize efficiency. The result is an inorganic landscape defined by sharp, human-made edges that disrupt the natural continuity of the forest.
Photo Detail
| Date Taken: | 10.2025 |
| Date Uploaded: | 11.2025 |
| Photo Location: | Oregon, United States of America |
| Copyright: | © Avery Nielsen-Webb |