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